Climate change is a major challenge for societies worldwide and is threatening livelihoods, food security and biodiversity. Recent studies suggest that everyone, including so-called developing countries, need to drastically lower emissions of greenhouse gases in order to avoid catastrophic climate changes. At the same time we have to preserve global ecosystems that are already close to collapse. In this context, the development model of the last centuries - based on unlimited economic growth and high flows of energy and resources - has reached its limit.

We need new, fresh ideas in order to move forward towards a future that is sustainable, attractive and fair.

November 12–16th, concerned students from the whole Baltic Sea Region will meet at the Baltic University Programme Student's Climate Conference in Szczecin to take on these serious issues. The discussions and workshops at the conference will be aimed towards formulating concrete proposals and action plans, as well as forming international project groups that can continue the processes after the conference ends. A main focus for the conference is the The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Pozna? and the international climate policy process.

The conference will address themes such as

• Global climate and development challenges, and how they relate to the Baltic Sea Region
• The role of education, innovation, investments, citizenship and lifestyle
• Best practices and good examples
• How to ensure a fair and humane development in times of decline
• How the Baltic Sea Region, Russia and the EU can take the lead in combating climate change