We've all read about the need to recycle in our homes, to use fewer single-use plastic bottles and to eat less meat. We've watched the documentaries, re-posted the inspiring or shocking articles on social media, and followed the progress of movements such as Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion.

The growing consensus is that we all need to do more. But what are the everyday choices that each of us can take that will really make a difference? And what are the challenges and barriers that prevent many people from making these changes?

In collaboration with the British Embassy Berlin, UK-German Connection is holding a four-day youth seminar on the theme of Sustainable Consumption in Berlin from Friday, 1 November – Monday, 4 November 2019.

Against the backdrop of an increasing number of environmental initiatives, community projects and international movements, and to coincide with the start of ‘Green GB week’, young people from across the UK and Germany will have the chance to meet in Berlin to discuss sustainable consumption.

Activities will include:

• Expert-led workshops on sustainability and consumer choices

• Excursions in Berlin on the seminar theme
  

• Presenting your collective ideas about sustainable consumption during an event at the British Embassy Berlin

Under the overarching theme of sustainable consumption, the seminar will focus on three sub-areas of transport, food and fashion, with participants considering questions such as:

• What are the best ways to waste fewer resources and live more sustainably within these areas?

• How easy is it to make sustainable choices, and what are the challenges we as consumers may face?

• How could new technologies and digitisation help reduce our footprint?

• What can we do more within our homes or communities, to make more sustainable consumer choices?

The UK group will travel out together from London Heathrow to Berlin in the early afternoon of 1 November(*) and return on a group flight in the afternoon of 4 November. Please note that no individual travel arrangements to and from Berlin are possible. The German participants will join the UK group in Berlin. All participants and group leaders will stay together in a youth hostel in central Berlin.

Please note: After due consideration and research into alternative options, it will be necessary to fly all participants from the UK to Berlin. The topic of flying for such meetings will be addressed at the seminar as part of a wider discussion challenging ideal scenarios versus pragmatic realities and other requirements. German participants will be encouraged to use the train where possible, to attend the seminar in spirit with the overarching theme.

We will be closely monitoring developments regarding travel in the run-up to the event, and will keep participants updated with any information which would impact travel arrangements.

(*) Please note that depending on future developments, we may need to change travel plans to fly out on 31 October. (You can indicate your availability for this on the application form).

All participants need to have passports valid for at least 6 months from the time of travel, as well as a valid EHIC card.

UK-German Connection will cover all event-related costs, including travel and full board and lodging. Participants will book their own travel to London Heathrow (see below) in order to travel to and from Berlin with the whole UK group. The cost of your domestic travel will be reimbursed after the seminar, according to UK-German Connection guidelines. Participants are expected to cover incidental costs (including snacks while traveling, pocket money for excursions etc.)

A small fee of £25 will be requested from selected participants to confirm their participation.

For the duration of the seminar, participants will undertake activities as a group under the supervision of vetted group leaders. Further information about our health and safety policy can be found under programme safety and seminars.

If you have any questions about the youth seminar, please contact Lily Martin at:
Email: youthseminar@ukgermanconnection.org
Tel: +44 (0)20 7824 1572