The European Union, in collaboration with the Hindu Centre for Politics and Public Policy, has launched an essay competition, #MyClimateMyFuture, on the challenges posed by climate change. The EU is organising a photo contest also on the subject.

Aimed at focussing attention on climate change and its consequences, the competition offers a platform for people to give voice to their concerns

and offer solutions to tackle the challenge. The contest comes in the backdrop of the extremes in temperatures recorded in the past decade — eight of the past 10 years have been the hottest in recorded history. It seeks attention to the problems of melting glaciers, rising sea levels, drying rivers and depleting reserves of coal, oil and gas. The initiative is part of European Climate Diplomacy Day observed worldwide on Wednesday to promote an informed debate on climate change in the run-up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris in December.

The competition, open for undergraduates (Bachelor’s degree) and graduates (Master’s), elicits creative, practical suggestions from youth in about 1,500 words in English.

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Entries may be submitted before August 16 on one of the following topics: “Climate change in India: challenges and solutions”; “Making India’s growth sustainable”; “Clean development in India: the way forward for towns and cities”. Three winners will be invited for a short study tour of Europe.

The photography contest from June 17 to September 17 will be open for Indian residents aged above 18. Participants can post a maximum of three photographs which best illustrate how they feel about climate change. Two “climate photo prize” winners will be chosen based on the number of “likes” on a photograph, while as many “climate photo jury prize” winners will be selected by a special editorial committee, together with the photo editors.

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