The GCA-350 Challenge

Objective: Create a Climate Change Awareness Event

Leading climate scientists say that we need to be aiming to stabilize CO2 in the atmosphere at a level below 350 ppm. As of this writing we are at 384 and rising. So, we have to cut carbon from our energy diet and fast! Your team's objective is to create awareness in your school and community through some creative means that you devise. You can leverage technology, or knock "door-to-door," to create high impact awareness and reach a large number of people and convince them to sign a declaration towards the 350 goal, or meet up in some exotic location to take a picture with "350" in it, or create a performance art piece (e.g. the college students who hung up 350 pairs of underwear and socks!). Brainstorm and have fun!

Here is an outstanding example from a team from Bulgaria in 2010.

Meet Angel and Cvetilena:      Here is their project logo

See their website:

And here, you can read their award-winning final report

You are in control of scheduling what you want to accomplish and when

As you undertake the sections below, submit evidence of your progress to your team space and seek feedback from each other and your mentors, parents, and scientists - even the staff of the Global Challenge can give you helpful feedback! Use the feedback plus your own self-assessment of your work using the GCA-350 Rubric to make steady improvements in your work until submitting the final document for Awards.

Getting to Know Your Team

Begin by working through these team-building exercises.

Challenge 1: Nice to Meet You

Challenge 2: Getting to Know You

Challenge 3: How to Decide How to Decide

Challenge 4: Resolving Conflicts

Getting Started

The next few challenges will help you understand the importance of the number 350. You will learn what actions you can take as an individual and as a community to create a positive impact. Be as creative as you can while making choices about your campaign!!

Challenge 1: Green House Gases and 350 ppm Basics

Challenge 2: Make Your Choice: Create a Project and Campaign

Plan Your Campaign

This challenge will help you develop your campaign to build awareness. It will help you define the activities, time frame, roles and responsibilities of team members, and outline how you'll coordinate activities across the countries that constitute your team. Submit your plan in eFolio to secure your points.

Challenge 1: Develop Your GCA-350 Work Plan

Spread the Word, Assess the Impact of Your Campaign

Now run your campaign in full swing and spread the word to thousands of people across the globe. Tell people why is 350 important to all of us, and what can each one of us do to save the world! Beyond just telling others and spreading the word, the challenge includes making sure that people are making commitments to make this world a better place for all of us. This set of activities will help you plan how to measure and assess the effect of your campaign, and make adjustments to maximize the results of your actions.

Challenge 1: Spread the Word, Execute Your Plan

Challenge 2: Analyze the Impact of Your Campaign

Final Steps & Finishing Touches

Challenge 1: Executive Summary

Challenge 2: Key Personnel

Challenge 3: Bibliography