The Safer Climate network (Initiative for a Safer Climate) aims to creating new spaces for climate discussion and action at the intersection of academia and civil society.  We facilitate events, campaigns and dialogue to redefine the role of civil society in climate safety. Climate safety is a reference both to climate security and a safer space for climate discussion.

We are a growing community of researchers, students, non-governmental organizations and other civil society representatives, artists and creatives. You can join Safer Climate as an individual or organizational member for free.

Safer Climate is coordinated at the Institute for Atmospheric and Earcth System Research (INAR), University of Helsinki, and we are a part of the outreach work of the Atmosphere and Climate Competence Center (ACCC), which allows us to work with top-level climate and environmental scientists.

ACCC is a Finnish Flagship Programme funded by the Research Council of Finland. ACCC constituted by the University of Helsinki, Tampere University, University of Eastern Finland and the Finnish Meteorological Institute working to address two of the most urgent global Grand Challenges: climate change and deteriorating air quality.

PRINCIPLES

• OPENNESS

  Safer Climate is a network and a community that is formed and keeps changing by the people involved. We welcome new participants and members from all walks of life as long as you respect our mission and your fellow humans. We value feedback, criticism, discussion and new openings. We aim to support a more inclusive and critical discussion on climate and sustainability in Finland and beyond.

• EXPERIMENTATION

  Safer Climate’s work is piloting and experimenting, trial and error, based on expertise, experience and research. Instead of having a fixed project plan, we bring people together and see what we can do for a safer climate in terms of climate action, research, art and other means.

• BEING PRESENT

  Safer Climate aims to resist the idea that we don’t have time for real discussions or meaningful encounters without an agenda or pressure to produce something. Sometimes the fastest way is not the best, or even the most efficient one. This applies to establishing collaborations, getting to know people, planning activities and communicating about them.

• LOW HIERARCHY

  Although operating within/with big organizations, Safer Climate aims to remain a low hierarchy. This means that our activities can be initiated by anyone who is committed and has the right expertise, experience, motivation and good ideas.

• ACTION

  Action is not just big projects or events, but also everyday choices: how do you communicate, who do you hire, who do you ask to be in your working groups, what kind of environmental choices you make, what kind of resources and opportunities could you share, and so on - let’s go from ‘we should do’ to ‘we do’.

• POLITICAL & RELIGIOUS NEUTRALITY

  Safer Climate is not committed to any specific political or religious views. We do recognize the value of (science-based) climate action, human rights and respectful treatment of humans, non-humans and the environment

SAFER SPACE GUIDELINES

We follow these guidelines in all Safer Climate activities, both in person and online. Basically it’s simple – just be a decent human being! Let’s focus on meeting each other as humans first, beyond titles, hierarchies, background etc.

• Let’s meet others with respect, compassion, kindness and acceptance

• Let’s take care of the physical, mental & emotional well-being of ourselves and others

• Let’s respect everyone’s opinions and experience, and be open to diverse and creative views

• Let’s not assume things about others’ gender, identity, sexuality, health or background

• No discrimination or harassment; no racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, ableism, ageism

• Let’s acknowledge and be mindful of our own privileges, positions of power, prejudice and the time and space we occupy   

Violating the guidelines might result in removal from events or activities. That being said, we all make mistakes & there’s no such thing as perfect; we also encourage everyone to be patient with their own and others’ learning. Also, sometimes it’s good to say I’m sorry. 

Please contact us if you have any suggestions related to the guidelines, or if you want to report any harassment or discrimination. If you wish, you can use the anonymous form below. Safer Climate is based in the University of Helsinki. you can read more about the university’s equality, diversity and accessibility plan and principles for a safer space here. The principles have been inspired by experience, discussions and other guidelines such as these ones from UrbanApa.