European Commission in search of the best climate solutions in Europe

Connie Hedegaard, EU Commissioner for Climate Action, has launched a low-carbon contest, calling on creative and innovative minds from across the EU to put their green initiatives to the test. 'The World You Like Challenge' is part of the European Commission's climate action campaign: A world you like.

Commissioner Hedegaard said: "The Challenge is a great opportunity to move beyond mere talking about climate change. By submitting your project, you help us show that building a world we like with a climate we like is both feasible and affordable. And it won't make our lives dull and grey."

During three months, starting 11 February, you can submit your own low-carbon success story for the World You Like Challenge. All projects, big or small, coming from individuals or organisations based in an EU Member State will be considered, provided that their main aim is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This could be an electric bike that serves to transport goods; an innovative production process that drives down greenhouse gas emissions and energy bills; sustainable buildings or heating solutions. Across Europe there is a plethora of practical examples of a low-carbon way of life that help the climate while also improving our quality of life. The World You Like Challenge aims at providing a platform to showcase these projects and to honour the most creative, practical and effective ones.

In May and June visitors to the campaign website http://world-you-like.europa.eu/en/   
will be able to vote for the most creative and inspiring initiative amongst those short-listed. From the ten most popular projects, a jury led by Connie Hedegaard will select three winners, who will be honoured at the Sustainia Award Ceremony in Copenhagen in October 2013 hosted by our campaign partner Sustainia, an international sustainability initiative - spearheaded by Arnold Schwarzenegger - working to identify and elevate readily available solutions.

The campaign has a special focus on five countries - Bulgaria, Italy, Lithuania, Poland and Portugal. In these countries, national winners will see their projects featured in a national billboard campaign in autumn 2013.