The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has chosen Kopernik’s Ibu Inspirasi/Wonder Women initiative as a Momentum for Change 2014 Lighthouse Activity.
The Lighthouse Activity Awards are spearheaded by the UN Climate Change secretariat to shine a light on some of the best examples of climate solutions – to inspire increased climate action around the world.
Kopernik’s Ibu Inspirasi/ Wonder Women initiative empowers Indonesian women to become clean energy micro-social-entrepreneurs. Women participate in training in order to successfully sell simple solar lights, clean cookstoves and water filters in their communities, boosting their income and expanding access to these life-changing technologies.
Since 2011, more than 300 Indonesian women have participated in Kopernik’s women’s economic empowerment programs in East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, East Java and Aceh. They have sold almost 10,000 technologies which have reduced carbon emissions by more than 5,000 tonnes to date.
Ibu Inspirasi is one of 12 Lighthouse Activities recognised in 2014, and the first Indonesian initiative to win this prestigious UN award.
“THESE ACTIVITIES ARE ASSISTING COMMUNITIES, CITIES, BUSINESSES, GOVERNMENTS AND INSTITUTIONS TO MOVE TOWARDS A LOW-CARBON, HIGHLY RESILIENT FUTURE,” UNFCCC EXECUTIVE SECRETARY CHRISTIANA FIGUERES SAID. “THE 2014 LIGHTHOUSE ACTIVITIES SHOW THAT ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOT ONLY POSSIBLE BUT THAT IT IS ALREADY HAPPENING – INJECTING CONFIDENCE INTO THE GLOBAL MOVEMENT TOWARDS A UNIVERSAL CLIMATE CHANGE AGREEMENT IN PARIS IN 2015.”
The 2014 Lighthouse Activities will be showcased at a series of special events during the UN Climate Change Conference in Lima, Peru (1-12 December, 2014). Tech Kiosk Outreach Officer Monica Christy Wibawa will travel to Lima to represent Kopernik, together with two women who are participating in Kopernik’s programs in East Nusa Tenggara: Yeni Kase and Kamsinah Bolen.
Kopernik is an Indonesia-based non-profit organisation connecting simple technology with last mile communities to reduce poverty. Kopernik’s Wonder Women Eastern Indonesia initiative is generously supported by ENERGIA, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency; the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade ‘Empowering Indonesian Women for Poverty Reduction’ (MAMPU) program; USAID’s Development Innovation Ventures program; the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Direct Aid Program; and individual donors.
DIGITAL ASSETS:
High-resolution images, fact sheets and infographics of each of the 12 Lighthouse Activities are available for download at: http://j.mp/m4c2014assets
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Citra Savitri, Kopernik Communications Officer
citra.savitri@kopernik.info | + 62 822 3664 8829 (mobile)
Nick Nuttall, UNFCCC Spokesperson:
nnuttall@unfccc.int | +49 228 815 1400 (phone) or +49 152 0168 4831 (mobile)
Sarah Marchildon, UNFCCC Communications Officer:
smarchildon@unfccc.int | +49 228 815 1065 (phone)
