Sustainability Cafe: Episode 3

Episode 3: Behind the scenes of the Carbon Neutrality Challenge (Part 1)

Welcome to the third episode of the Sustainability Café! 

This is a special episode for all students out there who are thinking of launching their own student-led events, contests and initiatives! Join our hosts, Camille and Chiara, as they interview the founders of the student-led Carbon Neutrality Challenge: Gaia Bellevista and Tommaso Buso. 

The Carbon Neutrality Challenge was a three-day event that took place from 12-14 november 2021, and which was fully dedicated to the design of policy and project solutions by Sciences Po students to tackle the pressing issue of achieving carbon neutrality. The challenge is a space for students to develop and showcase original ideas and gain the opportunity to influence policy making in the field at the national and international level from a multidisciplinary perspective. The very successful challenge required months of preparation and lots of effort and coordination. In this episode, Tommaso and Gaia share their experiences and insights on what is required to plan and launch a successful student-led initiative. They will also share information of the amazing winners of the challenge!

In 2021, the policy category first-prize winners were Marion Chetaille and Louise Bigot with their proposal on how to decarbonise shipping and the project category first-prize winners were Jean Crosetti and Ilo Rakotonavahy with their proposal on how to reduce emissions of music festivals. Their ideas were rewarded with, among others, a pitch in front of the OECD, a 6-month incubation at Creative Valley, several mentorship sessions with the industry experts…and the next episodes of this podcast!

In this episode, Camille and Chiara also talk to Emilie Berger, who was in charge of the partnership between We Start, the Sciences Po entrepreneurship association, and the Carbon Neutrality Challenge.

Tune in to learn more about the Carbon Neutrality Challenge and how your idea could win the next edition. And most importantly, be inspired by our guests to follow your passion and do what you believe in.  

You can find more information about the challenge on: 

– The EIB Institute website

– The CNC website

– The CNC LinkedIn page

Student podcast producers: Camille Canivet and Chiara Feldberger

Music by Giorgio Coppola

Please note:  This podcast is student-produced. The views and opinions expressed in the episodes are solely those of the guests. They do not represent or reflect the position of the European Chair for Sustainable Development and Climate Transition, nor that of Sciences Po.