Episode 196

Generation Carbon Italy, Reaching 1000 Primary Schools And Teaching 25000 Children by Barbara Orsi

Episode Summary: Join hosts Leekei, Rob, and Kristina as they talk with Barbara Orsi about her progress with the Generation Carbon Italy association, the achievements so far, and more particularly about the activities on Earth Day in Turin.  

Topics explored in this episode: 

  • Generation Carbon has reached 1000 classes and 25,000 children in primary school  
  • Activities on Earth Day in Turin which was attended by 600 families! 
  • Providing actionable teaching resources to teachers 
  • The role of parents and educators in supporting children’s climate action 
  • The power of children to influence household decisions and engage parents in climate conversations 
  • Why talking about food waste is a quick win 
  • What’s next for Generation Carbon Italy? 
  • How this experience has transformed Barbara’s approach and perspectives  

Listen to Episode 142: Scaling Climate Education to 1,000 Italian Schools with Barbara Orsi

For more information on the project and to order your copy of the Carbon Almanac (one of Amazon best-selling books of the year!), visit thecarbonalmanac.org 

Download a free copy of Generation Carbon go here (available 22 languages and dyslexic fonts)

Want to join in the conversation? 

Visit thecarbonalmanac.org/podcasts and send us a voice message on this episode or any other climate-related ideas and perspectives. 

 

Don’t Take Our Word For It, Look It Up! 

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Featuring Carbon Almanac Contributors Leekei Tang, Barbara Orsi, Rob Slater and Kristina Horning.  

Based in Milan, Italy, Barbara is a mom and marketing executive who has been actively involved in building a better and brighter future for our planet since November 2021. She has contributed to the Carbon Almanac and serves as the Italian coordinator for the Carbon Almanac Network. During fall 2023, she co-founded Generation Carbon Italy, the Italian spin-off of the Carbon Almanac Network 

Leekei is a fashion business founder, a business coach, an international development expert and podcaster from Paris, France.  

Rob is from Birmingham in the UK, he is an orthodontist, triathlete, coach and podcaster. 

Kristina has a background in architecture and engineering. Currently in Prague (that it is where she is originally from) and her base is US 

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The CarbonSessions Podcast is produced and edited by Leekei Tang, Steve Heatherington and Rob Slater. 

Transcript
Speaker:

Hi, I'm Christina.

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I'm from Prague.

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Hi, I'm Jen, and I'm from Canada.

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Hi, I'm Oladunji, and I'm from Nigeria.

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Hello, I'm Liki, and I live in Paris.

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Hi, I'm Brian, and I'm from New York.

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Welcome to Carbon Sessions, a podcast with

Carbon Conversations for every day, with

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everyone, from everywhere in the world.

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In our conversations, we share ideas.

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Perspectives, questions, and things we

can actually do to make a difference.

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So don't be shy and join our Carbon

Sessions because it's not too late.

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Leekei: Hi, I'm Liki.

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ROB: Hi, I'm Rob.

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KRISTINA: Hi, I'm Christina.

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BARBARA: I'm Barbara.

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Leekei: Yes, today we

have Barbara with us.

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We've heard from Barbara six months

ago, she was on this podcast, I

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think in September or in October.

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At the time she was launching

Generation Carbon Italy, a movement

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And no, actually that's not a

movement, it's an association.

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She was , kicking off the Generation

Carbon Italy, uh, serving primary

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schools in Italy with an aim to reach

A thousand primary schools in Italy.

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That is a very big and,

uh, very big and bold goal.

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And, um, and so here we go.

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We are six months after

we talked last time.

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And so I think it's time to catch up.

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I think a way to start our conversation

is for you to tell us about Earth Day.

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BARBARA: Wow.

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Thank you for having me and for giving

me the chance to talk about once again,

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about generation carbon association.

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, , our main goal is trying to spread

a message of the carbon monarch,

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trying to, uh, help people get

well informed and especially kids.

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Um, for this reason, we launched

a project at school and we reached

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almost 1, 000 classes that is.

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25, 000 kids, , with our beautiful

materials that, , come from our

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generation carbon kit guide.

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And we also had the chance to, , do

different workshopping, uh, at schools.

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And, uh, some kids are, were very,

very lucky because they had the

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opportunity to visit, uh, the wind

turbine in, uh, in some plants.

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So they had the opportunity to, to see,

uh, from reality how green power, no green

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energy can be produced just from wind.

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And it was amazing.

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And, uh, regarding the health day

as we are, focusing our activity on

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kids, had a great opportunity to be

there in Turin celebrating her day,

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um, just a few days ago, where almost

40, 000 people visiting the event.

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And there were a lot of families and

kids, and we had the chance to meet them.

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to organize some different activities

in order to involve not only the

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kids, but especially the grownups.

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Because, you know, we, we, we often

talk to the kids in order to talk to

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the grownups because what I've seen so

far, it's incredible, but the kids are

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very, you know, Keen on being curious and

being more informed than the grownups.

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Um, probably you don't know that, but,

uh, after one of my workshop, some kids

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of a class organized a movement, uh,

for, uh, that they called, uh, Chitta

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Clima, which is a town climate, for

example, to be translated in English.

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And they, they are just.

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three or four kids that they

are sharing some information and

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they also created a manifesto.

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So the kids are, are, are

very, very, very resourceful.

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And so it's, it's a way to talk into kids.

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It's a way to talk into growing up.

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Going back to Earth Day.

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In my opinion, uh, it, it, it has been

a, you know, a great example once again

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of our page 19, uh, because, uh, uh, we

plan everything and prepare everything

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in just three weeks because one of our,

um, volunteers gave us this kind of

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opportunity because, uh, uh, the company,

uh, She works for, uh, couldn't, uh,

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attend even as they did in the past.

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And so she proposed us, why

don't we do it as association?

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And of course I couldn't say no, because

it was a great opportunity for us to

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spread our messages and say, okay,

of course, even though I didn't have

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any clue how to do that, because it

was the first time that we had the,

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you know, a place and we had to put

together the materials, the ideas,

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but we brainstormed all together.

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And, uh, the funny thing was that,

uh, I had a quite a clear idea in

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mind how to, you know, organize.

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And then of course, as usual happens,

it ends up being something different

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and more, more, more beautiful than

it was at the very beginning, you

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know, because I was so focused, okay,

but they have to learn through our

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kids guides and they have to, uh,

and can be, um, a treasure hunt.

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And so they have, but it

was quite complicated.

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And then, uh, one girl said,

okay, why don't we just.

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create some symbols, some icons,

and we can, you know, just trying

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to explain, uh, something related

to the icon and trying to find all

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this, , these kind of, uh, drawings.

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And so they can go back to our

booth and tell what they, they've

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seen so far and talking about.

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So we were in, of course, in a part of,

um, The Royal Palace in Turin, which is

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a very, very good, beautiful location.

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We were in the gardens, and we were

at the entrance of the gardens.

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So we were very lucky because everybody

coming in, uh, was seeing us, and

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so they stopped to know what we were

were doing or what we were proposing.

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I think that, uh, almost, uh, 600

families at least stopped during

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the day because first thing, uh,

we were the only one that, uh.

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Uh, we're proposing some, an activity all

day long, not just in specific moments,

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but we prepared this kind of activity.

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, so that, uh, it, it, uh, could

be possible to be, you know, the

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people could participate whatever

they want, whenever they wanted.

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And then, uh, we also and, uh, create, uh,

different places for the kids to, to draw.

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And to write a message for us, and it was

beautiful because at the very beginning

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we just had, you know, a poster with

our logo generation carbon association

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with fax connection action as payoff.

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And then at the end, our

world was full of beautiful,

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beautiful drawings and messages.

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Wow, I was, I can't find the word

to express my feelings after, you

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know, it was tiring and it was

stressful, but it was completely

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rewarding for the effort we did.

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And finally, it was a special occasion

for us to meet in person for the first

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time because Because I had the chance to

meet in several occasions some people,

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but not everybody had the opportunity

to meet in person, so it might be a

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sort of risk, you know, because we had

only the opportunity to talk via Zoom,

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but when you have, when it comes to

collaborate and be in the same place,

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maybe, you know, There can be some issues.

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Let me see.

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But instead it was beautiful because

it was for us a chance also to talk

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about our story and why we were there.

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So great opportunity.

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Leekei: Is it all, is it the first

time for everybody or just, just,

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for a few of you?

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BARBARA: Well, I knew and I met

more or less all the people, but

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for the majority of them was the

first time they met each other.

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Leekei: sharing this, but there's

so many things I want to ask you,

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but maybe I should let Rob or

Christina ask the questions first.

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ROB: I'm quite, I'm quite interested,

Barbara, in how you engaged with

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a thousand classes, that, that,

that process that you must have

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gone through, because that, that's

quite a big achievement in itself.

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BARBARA: Well, once again, I'm

pleased to say that I'm lucky.

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Probably I'm lucky, probably not.

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I don't know.

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But the fact is that, , I found,

uh, another partner quite expert in

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working with, , with schools that,

uh, uh, was willing to participate

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without, any fear requirement.

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So they had all the network to reach me.

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This, uh, the primary schools in Italy.

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Uh, what we had to do is just to give

the material that we already have

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because of the fact that we have the

beautiful generation carbon kid guide.

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And of course, finding a partner that

was helping us with several activities.

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And unfortunately, one of our carbon

monocle network partner here in

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Italy, which is so helped us on this.

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ROB: These schools in your local

area, or they cross the whole of

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BARBARA: the whole of Italy and we

also had the support of our energetic

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and environmental ministry so we

have a sort of recognition that

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is quite a great project for us.

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KRISTINA: I'm just curious.

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How does it look on

weekly or monthly basis?

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Do you guys meet or how often do you meet?

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I guess I'm curious about the logistics

when if I want to start something

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like that, what makes it sustainable?

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BARBARA: on our, you know, uh, effort

and on the activities we need to develop,

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when it came to Earth Day, uh, we met

each other weekly because of the fact that

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we need to, uh, check, uh, the progress

of the activities, but otherwise we try

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to meet every two weeks quite regularly.

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And it's amazing because, uh, you

know, it's almost, six, eight months

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that we are meeting quite regularly.

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Yeah.

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Since we, um, we made the, the association

official, because what I wanted to do

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here in Italy is just to make our group

official because otherwise here in Italy,

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it's not that easy to find opportunity,

especially when it comes to Proposed

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project because many institutions as

well as companies as well as, you know,

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other people want to know, okay, who

are you, what are you doing and what

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kind of, uh, uh, organization are you?

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So I made this decision to go through

the old bureaucracy and it's quite

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difficult and to, you know, establish

our group as a nonprofit association.

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But I think that the It's also for

us opportunity to be more involved

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and more participant because, uh,

you know, it's, uh, it's true.

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We have a VAT number.

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So we have a bank account.

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We have, you know, all this

kind of things that the org has.

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So,

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ROB: I'm also interested in how, uh,

you, I'm not sure if, did you, uh, have

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any resistance at all at any stage,

and if so, how you overcame that?

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Teachers being busy, for example,

and fitting extra things into their

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curriculum, that kind of, uh, problem.

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BARBARA: well, the fact is that actually

our project is an opportunity for them

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because they have to fill, at least here

in Italy, we have a couple of hours that

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we call citizen education, more or less.

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And the teacher had to fill in

with, um, uh, with some contents.

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And it's time to, we gave.

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the teacher the opportunity to have

a great content that also responded

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to 2030 Agenda and so for them was a

sort of win win situation and it was

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free because sometimes they had to

insert in their curriculum the school

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curriculum some projects but they had

to pay and instead we we gave this kind

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of contents and material and workshop.

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for free, so quite effortful

from our side, but a great

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opportunity for the teacher.

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Interesting was the fact that, uh,

it happened that maybe there were

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several schools that participated with

several classes, just because of, for

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example, one teacher talked with the

other And so, you know, they accept

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it and they join us all together.

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This is happening, for example,

for this Matilda's school.

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I talked with Matilda's teacher

and informed all the other teacher

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and we ended up with 10 classes.

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And so I had to run 10

different workshops.

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It was quite, um, you know, a

little bit, uh, tiring, but.

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Leekei: I was also very surprised

because the other day I attended a,

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um, , conference of, um, education,

uh, climate and environmental

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education, , , there were different

speakers from different countries,

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mainly, mostly in Europe, I think.

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And I was surprised.

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that basically what happened to

teachers is that they've been told by

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the government that they need to teach

climate change and environment and all

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that, but they have no real support.

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And so this is really an opportunity.

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There is even, uh, an organization in the

UK, maybe Rob, you've heard about them.

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, there's an organization, they claim

themselves and they started themselves,

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um, inside with a teacher, uh, who

created a ministry of eco education,

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because there was no material to teach

eco, uh, or environmental education.

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So they created a

ministry of eco education.

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I was really, really surprised that

this was, that was going on this way,

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because they, okay, the government told

the teachers, you need to teach this,

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and you are really doing, helping the

teachers, the primary school teachers.

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And I think it's the same case in a lot

of countries, because it's really new.

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BARBARA: absolutely.

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But the fact is that here in Italy, they,

they are not, uh, Yeah, thankfully, even

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forced to talk about climate change.

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This is something that is up

to the teacher to talk about.

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And so, this is the first challenge,

and this is the first block for us.

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This is the reason why once everything

will be more, you know, will be done.

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We, we tried and we worked a little

bit at the very beginning of the year,

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but we needed to, you know, do more.

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Put a little bit in standby, but we

would like to work on a petition in order

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to ask for climate change and ecology

actually as mandatory subject here in

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Italy, and then you're perfectly right.

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The teachers are not well prepared.

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And, uh, they have no

idea how to teach them.

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And I think that, uh, the, the most

difficult part is trying to explain

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and being of course, quite, uh, you

know, scientific given the right

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information without terrifying

or adding anxious to the kids.

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And this is the trick.

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And this is, you know, and I think

that our job is, is going to the right

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direction for this reason, because

we, we tell the truth, but we try

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to show also what we can, we can do.

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Right now, uh, except for the part

that of course, uh, the first thing is

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talking about and, uh, talking about

grownups and trying to inform people.

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And, and of course the main party is

voting, but kids don't vote at the moment.

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Uh, part they can influence their,

their family when they vote, but then

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apart from, from this, we, we gave them.

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little, uh, action they can, you know,

already take for making the world better.

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Leekei: Yeah.

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And I think also that, uh, eco and

anxiety is a real thing, uh, with kids

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because they are very kids are very

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BARBARA: Absolutely.

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Leekei: And so I think as a teacher, as

an educator, um, it's our responsibility

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to give them answer and to help them

through that process of, okay, well,

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um, how should I put that?

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It's just, um, maybe it's, it's not, it's

not , as, as horrible as doom and gloom.

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That's that you might, you might hear in

the media, because I don't know about the

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media's voice in, in Italy or in the UK,

but in France, if you just listen to the

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media, it's just like, Oh, wow, we're all

going to die in and you have no future.

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And I think it's a horrible message.

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Well, young generation

generation for kids.

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So I think it's a it's a real job.

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It's a to tell health Kids process

that and show them that they can do

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something and it's not as horrible

as the media want you to Think

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BARBARA: Yeah, absolutely.

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Because I think that, uh, the side

effect is that people don't take

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any action at all because We are all

doomed to, to a, uh, a certain end.

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So I don't think that in fact, this is

something that I'm, you know, mulling over

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a lot and a lot and a lot, what kind of

message and what kind of information and

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what kind of language do we need to, uh,

take into consideration and of course.

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As a marketing people, I can say it

depends on the audience and so, but

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I'm not sure that this kind of, uh,

catastrophic messages are the right ones.

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Leekei: No.

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Yeah.

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No, we we had a conversation about

that Which was basically the idea

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is from an article that I've read

that says that Being doom and gloom

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about the climate is as bad as being

climate deniers, because basically the

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result is that you don't do anything.

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Because if you think that there's

no way, there's nothing you can do

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about it, you don't do anything.

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And you think that doesn't

exist, you don't do anything.

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So as a result, it's as bad

as, you know, in both cases,

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it's, it's, it's not helping.

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BARBARA: Yeah.

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Yeah, absolutely.

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Definitely.

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ROB: But I think the good thing is

that, um, children tend to be very, very

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adaptable, and, uh, when they, When they

get, um, a positive message, then, uh, in

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some ways they're almost the best people

to be teaching their own parents, really.

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I think that's been one of the values

of the Carbon Almanac, uh, is that

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it's, um, not top down, it's, it's

kind of bottom up, if you like.

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BARBARA: Yeah.

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And I think that, uh, sometimes we, uh,

we, we overlook the power of children.

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Um, instead, I think that if properly

educated or if we give the right tools

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to them, to them, they are very, very,

very, you know, powerful and resourceful

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because it's not that, that they have

ideas and, and you know, and they have

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hope and they have to imagine, uh, , a

beautiful and a special word for them.

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So I think that it's our duty.

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And to, to, you know, to make,

make this possible for them.

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Uh, and so I'm really happy when

it happens that a group of kids

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or teenager trying to collaborate

or create a group, in fact, uh,

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one volunteer proposed to create.

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The Generation Carbon Club, which is

an opportunity for people, families,

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kids to create their, their own

generation carbon group, uh, within their

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neighborhood, within their city, whatever,

whenever they, wherever they want.

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And maybe we can help them with

the tools, with the contents.

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And maybe, of course, it's a

dream, but it can be, you know.

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Um, great opportunity because at the

moment, the kids and teenager are not so

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they have idea and they have energy, but

they are not, uh, Uh, how can I explain?

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Um, they have no knowledge

how the world goes, you know?

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Or there are some relationship or that

you need to take into consideration.

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Istan, we have the savviness of the, the,

the grownups because we are quite, uh,

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people of a certain, a certain expertise.

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Everybody in the in the association

has at least 20 years of

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experience in in corporations.

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And then, with all this kind of

expertise we can, you know, help

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them, trying to be more effective.

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And support them.

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ROB: Do you find that there are

different schools across Italy now

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collaborating with, with each other

now that things are set up as they are?

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BARBARA: Well, this can be

a great next step, actually.

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Great idea.

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No, at the moment, they are

working, unfortunately, in CELOS.

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So, all the school and, and actually,

uh, all the teacher, uh, have the

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freedom to take our material and, you

know, explain or focus on, you know,

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Some parts more than others, depending

also on what they are teaching at the

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moment related their school programs.

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For example, with Matilde, I'm going

to propose a pilot workshop related to

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biodiversity because of the fact that at

the moment they are working in science,

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they're working on endangered animals.

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Thank you And so I'm taking this

chance to, you know, insert the,

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the generation carbon project within

their program in order to, you know,

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have something quite, uh, uh, fluid,

uh, and, uh, uh, and, and, you know,

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something that the kids can link to.

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ROB: Yeah, we found that was

so good with the audio book.

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:

People really engaged with it

when, uh, they were offered the

325

:

opportunity to, um, speak for it.

326

:

And, um, and, you know, I think Matilda

was one of the best examples because

327

:

she, she did pieces in English without

328

:

having that much knowledge

of English at the time.

329

:

And she did so well with it.

330

:

So it shows how adaptable children are.

331

:

BARBARA: yeah, definitely.

332

:

Um, you know, how willing to help are

333

:

Leekei: I was wondering, because kids

have so much power in families, that

334

:

through children, you have some parents

that got engaged in climate change through

335

:

the children, through being exposed

to the, the work that you're doing.

336

:

BARBARA: there are a few families

that hadn't had any idea or

337

:

any clue about what that was.

338

:

Uh, since this, uh, this girl.

339

:

Uh, put together this movement and

she said, Oh my gosh, you're doing

340

:

such a great, uh, you know, work.

341

:

I hadn't the clue.

342

:

And so through the, through their

kids, the, because the mom shared

343

:

me some messages, uh, they,

they, they've been learning, you

344

:

know, how bad is fast fashion.

345

:

How the how important is to not to not

to use too much plastic and how to, you

346

:

know, how to recycle and blah, blah, blah.

347

:

So, uh, I think that, uh, at least.

348

:

I'm happy, um, one, uh, that, uh, the

grownups, uh, let the kids experiment

349

:

themselves in this activity, because

I don't think that it's common,

350

:

you know, because, uh, they could

also say, well, what are you doing?

351

:

Why don't you think of just, you

know, you know, study and so on.

352

:

Instead, they, you know, they have the

kids, uh, uh, just create a specific

353

:

chat in WhatsApp for this project.

354

:

So this is a great opportunity

where the kids have the chance

355

:

to share their messages.

356

:

And then I think that, uh, It's a way

for the grown up to reflect on some

357

:

messages, especially the fast fashion,

because I'm realizing that talking also

358

:

with my colleagues, they hadn't any clue

how bad it is, you know, changing and

359

:

buying the fast fashion and the impact.

360

:

This, uh, amount of, uh, not sold

clothes, uh, have, uh, on society,

361

:

on, uh, developing countries.

362

:

And well, um, and so I think that can be

a way for the grownups to, you know, focus

363

:

on, okay, maybe I can, instead of buying

these, I can search for a different way.

364

:

To respond to my, to my need, which is

still a consumeristic need sometimes,

365

:

but I need to in a more sustainable way.

366

:

Leekei: Yeah.

367

:

This is something I noticed very

often is the, the request for, but for

368

:

making, uh, more sustainable choices

come from children in many families.

369

:

BARBARA: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

370

:

And what I've noticed so far, for

example, it's just, uh, I saw this,

371

:

um, uh, advertising campaign or, uh,

two days ago from, uh, uh, A quite

372

:

popular brand of pasta here in Italy.

373

:

The situation is that, uh, the dad,

uh, is, uh, cleaning the table after

374

:

the dinner, the lunch, I don't know.

375

:

And he's throwing away, uh, the

food waste, but then the girl

376

:

says to him, stop, you can keep

it and save it for tomorrow.

377

:

This is more or less the situation.

378

:

And it's a girl.

379

:

You know, the kid telling

the father, so you're right.

380

:

Leekei: That is so good, but

I'm not surprised at all.

381

:

Yeah.

382

:

BARBARA: Yeah, this is also food waste.

383

:

Something that I focused

a lot during my workshop.

384

:

Because it's a quite easy win win.

385

:

So trying to let the kids reflect

on how bad it is, the food waste.

386

:

for several reasons and how simple it is

to just save it for tomorrow or being,

387

:

you know, quite, uh, uh, creative in order

to reuse the food in a creative manner.

388

:

And, uh, uh, what I I'm telling them every

time is that fortunately here in Italy,

389

:

we finally have a specific law that force

the restaurants to give the doggy bag.

390

:

So please ask them

always for the doggy bag.

391

:

Don't be afraid.

392

:

Don't be shy.

393

:

Don't be ashamed because

it's a shame here in Italy.

394

:

Now, if you're asking for the

doggy bag, it's because you haven't

395

:

food at home, but it's not true.

396

:

It's just because you

don't want to waste it.

397

:

So this is something that I do every time.

398

:

ROB: Yeah, we've, we've noticed that

in more restaurants in, uh, in, in this

399

:

country that, uh, people, people offer

that service and, um, our youngest son,

400

:

um, he's, he's a big eater, but, uh,

there are certain things I think he

401

:

just thinks, yeah, I want to save this.

402

:

So there's no way he's going to leave it.

403

:

He always gets his, uh, his food

put into packaging to take home now.

404

:

And, uh, yeah, it's been nice to see that.

405

:

Leekei: Is it illegal?

406

:

Because here in France, it's a must for

restaurants to provide this opportunity

407

:

to, to provide boxes or doggy bags.

408

:

But I noticed that's not always enforced.

409

:

So some restaurants say, Oh,

we don't have it anymore.

410

:

BARBARA: Yeah, it should be illegal.

411

:

You could, you know, of course, I

don't know what kind of fine they

412

:

receive in case, yeah, at least here

in Italy at the moment, they shouldn't.

413

:

But let me say that, uh, um, I hadn't

found any particular, um, uh, difficulty

414

:

in finding a restaurant, giving, giving

us the, the boxes with the food left.

415

:

Every time I asked, I've, I

found Well, I found people

416

:

quite, uh, you know, prepared.

417

:

KRISTINA: Also, we can

get ready and carry boxes.

418

:

BARBARA: Yeah, definitely.

419

:

Yeah,

420

:

ROB: About 20 years ago, when

our eldest was very young, uh,

421

:

we went to a local restaurant.

422

:

It's an Italian restaurant

called Ponte di Legno.

423

:

Um, it's in Woodbridge road,

which is why it's Ponte di Legno.

424

:

And we ordered some pasta and, uh,

uh, Our eldest was our only child

425

:

at the time and he just fell asleep

just as our food was being served.

426

:

And so his plate just sat there for

the whole time while we were eating.

427

:

And at the end the waiter came up

and said, um, I'll put this in a

428

:

container for you to take away with you.

429

:

And I remember being really

touched by that at that stage.

430

:

And, and it was very unusual as well.

431

:

And I've only just thought about

that because now it is so much more

432

:

commonplace for people to be offered that.

433

:

But, uh, I didn't, it was almost like

at that stage, I didn't think that

434

:

that was an available thing to be

able to take the food away with me.

435

:

So it's funny how my mindset has

changed over the last 20 years.

436

:

BARBARA: I think that, uh, you know, in

20 years, uh, everybody has shifted a lot.

437

:

This is me, for example, working to

The carbon monarch, uh, working in the

438

:

carbon on my project changed completely

my point of view, you know, I've realized

439

:

that I was just scratching the surface.

440

:

I didn't, you know, and so I tried to

inform myself more and more and trying

441

:

to, you know, find ways to have an impact.

442

:

Leekei: Going back to

generation Carbon, Italy.

443

:

Uh, so, what's next for until the

end of the school year, and what's

444

:

next for after the school year?

445

:

BARBARA: Well, uh, , we have,

um, Also a contest, generation

446

:

school project contest.

447

:

So the classes involved can, uh, send

us different projects that is something

448

:

we'll create with the recycled materials

or, uh, cartoons or a drawing, whatever

449

:

they want related to our contents and

climate change, and then, uh, uh, 30

450

:

classes will weigh in as Special, uh,

uh, a special, uh, uh, a prize, which

451

:

is, um, um, uh, a cardboard game that

Parmesan, uh, you know, gifted us.

452

:

And so I'm really, really curious to

receive, uh, all these, uh, projects

453

:

and, uh, see what, uh, the kids,

uh, uh, are focused on or want to.

454

:

You know, put their attention on.

455

:

So this is something that we will

receive with the end of the school

456

:

year, which is at the beginning of June.

457

:

And so we will also have a call within the

group in order to see what Well, what was,

458

:

uh, what did, uh, what went, uh, well, or

what went wrong or what we can improve,

459

:

because of course, our, uh, our dream is

to keep going and, uh, propose, uh, and

460

:

to keep on proposing projects to schools.

461

:

And, uh, of course, uh, it, it could be

already great to have this second edition.

462

:

In order for us to give, uh, in order

for us to give and to have more time

463

:

to study other kind of project for

the secondary school, because this

464

:

is focused on the primary school.

465

:

And in the in the meanwhile.

466

:

We're working on, uh,

the educator's guide.

467

:

We are trying to translate all the

amazing, uh, work that, uh, the

468

:

Carbonelmanap network has already done.

469

:

What I'm doing at the moment is

just trying to, you know, use all

470

:

these beautiful, uh, tools, kit and

resources we already have and trying

471

:

to marketing in, in Italy and trying

to adapt to them because of course

472

:

the school, uh, this, the school

system is a little bit different.

473

:

So we're working on this and

because of the fact that what we

474

:

were saying before, you know, uh,

teachers are not, uh, uh, prepared.

475

:

And so the educators guide might be

a way for them to be prepared to talk

476

:

about this, uh, uh, difficult topic.

477

:

And, uh, we're working on our website.

478

:

Um, you know, to have, uh, uh, to,

to, to, to post all our resources,

479

:

the, the kid guide translated

the educators guide and so on.

480

:

But, uh, our main, uh, my main task is

to, uh, you know, recruiting volunteers

481

:

because at the moment we are just 10

people and, and we need, you know, people

482

:

to, to put in place or all the ideas we

have, because for example, we will also

483

:

like to work on, uh, degeneration carbon

podcasts in order trying to translate

484

:

them or to use them here in Italy.

485

:

Uh, and so, so ideas, uh, many, many

ideas, um, you know, step by step,

486

:

but we are happy because I think

that just in, in a very few time, uh,

487

:

less than one here, we, we did a lot.

488

:

Leekei: How do you manage to do all that?

489

:

Because you're a mom, you have a full

time job, and you've done so much, so how,

490

:

how can you find the time to do all that?

491

:

Even if you're a team of

ten, but it just, because

492

:

BARBARA: don't know, actually.

493

:

Leekei: you say that, you know,

your family, you take, you're asking

494

:

a lot of your family time, yeah.

495

:

Yeah.

496

:

I,

497

:

BARBARA: Yeah.

498

:

This is, uh, you know, this is

the, the, the, the first key.

499

:

My daughter is helping me and so, uh,

whatever I need, uh, you know, support,

500

:

especially, okay, I'm doing this, how

they, for example, also, uh, at the

501

:

moment for the project that I'm running,

I run in her class and I involved

502

:

Michi for this and say, Oh, have a

look at what Michi's brilliantly doing.

503

:

I said, wow, beautiful mom.

504

:

And so, you know, having them, um, uh,

having her involved is, uh, is key.

505

:

Thanks Because, uh, she, she, she feels

part of something bigger than herself.

506

:

And second, of course, uh, having

a partner that, uh, understands

507

:

why I'm doing what I'm doing.

508

:

And so it's not getting in the

way and actually is trying to

509

:

be helpful as much as he can.

510

:

For example, uh, in Turin, uh, he

took care of Matilda because it was

511

:

the day before a religious ceremony.

512

:

And so, okay, I did it.

513

:

Uh, on your behalf and you go

to, you can go to touring and so.

514

:

Otherwise I couldn't.

515

:

So, and this is, uh, uh,

the magic I can create.

516

:

And of course, uh, uh, the enthusiasm that

I think that is quite, uh, involving for

517

:

the other component of the dissociation.

518

:

And so if I can involve them and I

can transfer my enthusiasm to them,

519

:

they are willing to help them back.

520

:

Leekei: I was reading my notes.

521

:

One of the questions I wanted to

ask is how has this experience, this

522

:

six months, or since you've started

working on Generation Carbon Italy,

523

:

how has it transformed you as a person?

524

:

BARBARA: Uh, I think that, uh, uh, I'm

transforming every day, uh, because

525

:

I'm learning something new every day.

526

:

Um, and, uh, uh, it helped me, uh, see

once again, see things in a different

527

:

way once again, because, uh, uh, I'm,

I'm putting myself in a different

528

:

perspective, which is the perspective

of the children, and I'm forcing

529

:

myself trying to explain something.

530

:

You know, uh, difficult in a, in an easier

way and in a, in a, in an anxious way.

531

:

So, um, trying to also to, uh,

rediscover my inner, my inner child.

532

:

So this is a great opportunity for me

to, to be, uh, to be a support for them.

533

:

Um, and, uh, it also helped me, uh,

try, helped me in creating, uh, network

534

:

in, in the town that I live because

of the fact that, uh, uh, I, I'm shy.

535

:

I am trying not to, you know, uh, expose

myself too much, but as I hunted to, uh.

536

:

prepare 10 workshops in 10 classes,

which, uh, I'm talking about 250 kids.

537

:

So that means 250 families that

the day after say, Oh, I see.

538

:

So, you know, uh, my kid, uh, told

me that you were in, um, in his class

539

:

or her class, uh, talking about this.

540

:

So it exposed me to, you know, to be a

little bit on the stage that I don't like,

541

:

but it helped me create a new relationship

and it gave me the force, for example,

542

:

to propose what we did at Earth Day in

Turin in, um, an event that is going to

543

:

be held, uh, at the end of May in my town.

544

:

I, I wouldn't have I thought

about it just a few months ago

545

:

about this kind of opportunity.

546

:

Instead, I, I searched for the contacts

and I say, okay, we are doing this.

547

:

And I, I put together all the information

I showed them all the picture that I

548

:

took during the evening and say, if you

want, I can do that the same for the NSA.

549

:

Wow, it's beautiful.

550

:

Do it.

551

:

So, uh, there are a lot of, you know,

sentences that, uh, were in my mind, you

552

:

know, that I learned in Altenbier with

Carmen Amalak that I say, okay, they

553

:

are beautiful sentences, but how can,

you know, make it them real actionable?

554

:

And now I'm I make an action with this

kind of, for example, no, it's always

555

:

up to you if you care enough, you're

more power than you think you are.

556

:

The other one that the other one I've

said that I love that is leadership

557

:

don't need, you know, more time

but clarity and that happened.

558

:

for example, in Earth Day touring,

because we had just three, three weeks,

559

:

but we focused and we had a clear idea,

clear idea of what will, uh, the outcome

560

:

would have been that, uh, we managed,

although the time was not so much,

561

:

Leekei: But it exceeded your, your

expectations, actually, the outcome.

562

:

Um,

563

:

BARBARA: absolutely exceeded.

564

:

Definitely, definitely.

565

:

Leekei: Any other question?

566

:

ROB: I was just wondering what you

got from the earth day that you will

567

:

carry forwards and what experience

you got from that and how you

568

:

might do it differently next time.

569

:

BARBARA: Yeah, this is something that

we are reflecting right now with the

570

:

group and for example we focused a lot

on the activity in order for the kids to

571

:

be engaged and to be To have the proper

activity, but for example, because of,

572

:

you know, the chaotic moment, a lot of

people, a lot of family coming to our

573

:

booth, that we hadn't time to spend

a few, few moments talking about what

574

:

they found in the garden, what kind of

messages, or to Um, talk a little bit

575

:

more about our generation kid guide and

how to download them because we gave

576

:

it away a lot of materials, uh, as a

gift for the, the treasure hunter, we,

577

:

we gave, uh, uh, the book signing and,

uh, the climate quest, uh, cardboard.

578

:

our climate cuesta and

translated in Italian.

579

:

And so we thought that it was enough,

but probably we could, uh, I've taken a

580

:

few minutes explaining a little bit more

about, you know, the Generation Kid Guide.

581

:

This is something that, uh, uh,

I keep with me and I'll try to do

582

:

better next time, uh, at our town.

583

:

Probably there will be, uh, fewer people.

584

:

So the occasion to talk

about our Kid Guide.

585

:

In order for the people to download

it for free because the truth is

586

:

that our tool is free, you know, so a

great opportunity for people to learn.

587

:

So this is something that

we can make it better.

588

:

KRISTINA: That's such a beautiful idea.

589

:

I'm so happy that it's going viral

and I hope other countries will take

590

:

notice and check it out and do it.

591

:

I think it's amazing.

592

:

In Czech Republic, there was a ministry,

uh, That is environmental ministry.

593

:

So they have a lot of research.

594

:

They have great booklets, but

it's not going into the public.

595

:

I stopped by in their office

and there are piles and piles

596

:

of these beautiful booklets.

597

:

But, uh, like you said, idea is great.

598

:

They did what the government asked

them, but it's not out there.

599

:

And, uh, we have a little bit

different problem with teachers.

600

:

They're overwhelmed with all the other

requirements they have to meet and they

601

:

are not creating space for them to,

uh, play around this, uh, So, yeah, I

602

:

hope it will spread to other countries.

603

:

Maybe we can do the European

Union kind of requirement.

604

:

Your next step, Barbara.

605

:

BARBARA: Why not?

606

:

Why not?

607

:

We have to dream big, always.

608

:

Leekei: What I take away from

this conversation is your

609

:

enthusiasm and, uh, and the fact

that you, you started something.

610

:

And, um, I think, you know, I don't know

how to express that, but, it's like,

611

:

you have a mission and the mission has

become very clear and it's liberates

612

:

the superwoman that was inside you.

613

:

So that's, you know, that, that is

something I've, I, I take away from

614

:

this conversation and it's a very

powerful message to other women,

615

:

people who want to do something

and just, you know, just do it.

616

:

And then.

617

:

Because you didn't think

too much before signing it.

618

:

And now you've signed it, it's, you just,

you're every surprised by how big and how

619

:

big and how, um, normal it feels as well.

620

:

So this is a very powerful message.

621

:

Thank you.

622

:

BARBARA: Thank you.

623

:

Thank you.

624

:

The fact is that.

625

:

I tend to, I tend to consider what I'm

doing normal, actually, not so impressive.

626

:

But then again, when I talk to people and

say, Oh, can you, how can you do that?

627

:

And so if I can, you can,

because I'm not so special.

628

:

ROB: Yeah, it's fantastic.

629

:

Thank

630

:

BARBARA: Thank you all for having me.

631

:

Leekei: Thank you, Barbara.

632

:

And so we'll talk to

you in six months again.

633

:

BARBARA: Yeah, hopefully, probably

we will have something else to say.

634

:

You've been listening to Carbon

Sessions, a podcast with carbon

635

:

conversations for every day with

everyone from everywhere in the world.

636

:

We'd love you to join the Carbon

Sessions so you too can share your

637

:

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638

:

This is a great way for our community

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639

:

experiences, connect and take action.

640

:

If you want to add your voice to the

conversation, go to the carbonalmanac.

641

:

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642

:

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:

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644

:

For more information, to sign up for

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645

:

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647

:

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648

:

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Carbon Almanac

When it comes to the climate, we don’t need more marketing or anxiety. We need established facts and a plan for collective action.

The climate is the fundamental issue of our time, and now we face a critical decision. Whether to be optimistic or fatalistic, whether to profess skepticism or to take action. Yet it seems we can barely agree on what is really going on, let alone what needs to be done. We urgently need facts, not opinions. Insights, not statistics. And a shift from thinking about climate change as a “me” problem to a “we” problem.

The Carbon Almanac is a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration between hundreds of writers, researchers, thinkers, and illustrators that focuses on what we know, what has come before, and what might happen next. Drawing on over 1,000 data points, the book uses cartoons, quotes, illustrations, tables, histories, and articles to lay out carbon’s impact on our food system, ocean acidity, agriculture, energy, biodiversity, extreme weather events, the economy, human health, and best and worst-case scenarios. Visually engaging and built to share, The Carbon Almanac is the definitive source for facts and the basis for a global movement to fight climate change.

This isn’t what the oil companies, marketers, activists, or politicians want you to believe. This is what’s really happening, right now. Our planet is in trouble, and no one concerned group, corporation, country, or hemisphere can address this on its own. Self-interest only increases the problem. We are in this together. And it’s not too late to for concerted, collective action for change.