YIP Community Commitment

We are 38 students from 15 different nationalities living as a young, vibrant international community in Ytterjärna, Sweden, raising awareness worldwide by taking part in global climate action. “Think globally, act locally” is the core ethos of our initiative as we strive to practice what we preach.

Committed to sustainability

As a student community we are committed to achieving a sustainable, climate-conscious lifestyle.

• We live in a communal house with shared responsibilities and facilities. Our main modes of transport are cycling, walking, hitchhiking, a car share (1 car for 40+ people) and public transport, and we have collected and repaired unused bicycles from the community in order to reduce our carbon footprint.
• We have shared meals using organic and biodynamic produce grown predominantly in the local area.
• Our wastewater is treated via an ecologically sensitive filtration system that purifies the water without chemicals and returns it to the natural environment. 

To facilitate this process we strive to use only 100% biodegradable toiletries and cleaning products. We use a local, sustainable and renewable energy resource and clean technology for our home heating system.

The grounds and facilities of our campus were designed and built in a non-harmful manner that preserves and makes sustainable use of the natural resources of the area. But this is not enough.

Raising awareness

As of September 2009 we have begun a climate-action awareness-raising campaign. In line with the widespread global climate action leading up to COP15, we are designing and implementing unique and popular events, including:

• A prominent ‘flash mob’ in Stockholm central station on September 21, in which we delivered a creative message to our world leaders for the Avaaz.org / Tcktcktck Global Wake Up Call campaign.
• A bold, public event for the October 24 350.org initiative, which included an interactive art space, a bicycle-powered stereo, an information space and an aerial photo of the number 350 in human formation. (Coverage in the newspaper Dagens Nyheter)
• Co-facilitating a public event in Stockholm on November 7 to highlight the 30-day count down to COP15, with a focus on generating enthusiasm and positive attitudes towards the outcome of the COP15 process.

Local involvement

Being an international group and having a host of complimentary skills as a young and vibrant community of budding change-makers, we are developing a strong capacity to shift perspectives in our respective and collective spheres of influence.

Our engagement with local communities includes active involvements such as volunteering in sustainable initiatives and inviting schools & students into our climate actions.

These continuous group activities are educating members of the public whilst delivering a message to global authorities and decision-makers, and promoting the necessity of positive climate policy. But this is not enough.

Initiative for Copenhagen

We call on our leaders to commit to their promises. We are also conscious of the need to commit to making conscious sustainable changes to our own lifestyles.

Therefore, in the lead up to COP15 we have taken the initiative to sign our own “fair, ambitious and binding climate treaty”, which will ensure that we commit to supporting each others’ initiatives surrounding climate change issues as we strive to live in the most sustainable way possible. This seemingly small gesture gives our student community a clear goal to work towards, to live a lifestyle that is in harmony with the natural environment and inspire others to do the same.