“An avalanche of hope and energy”: The power of Paris

Our Climate Champions 2020: Melissa Capcha.

Five years on from the signing of the Paris Agreement at COP21, and at the end of one of the most difficult years for climate action in recent history, in this series we celebrate five individuals that remind us of the power of the people in the climate movement.

Five years ago today the landmark Paris Agreement was signed, signalling a new era of hope and global ambition in the face of our most complex challenge – climate change.  

Today in 2020, in the shadow of COVID-19, political turmoil and the emergence of timelines more pressing than originally modelled by scientists, the challenge could seem more daunting than ever. The systemic nature of the problem has also revealed itself, and the way in which climate change is connected to issues of racial justice, gender, health, our economies, infrastructure and wellbeing. 

But that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been progress, and that’s because of the people who make up the climate movement – individuals that over the last year, or five years, or for even longer, have continued to drive the transition forward with ambition, innovation and energy. 

The moment had “finally” arrived

Melissa Capcha is originally from Huancayo, in the central highlands of Peru. She has worked in the climate space since 2012, contributing to projects in Hungary, Costa Rica, Indonesia and Ghana. She is president of the Perú-based NGO Centro de Innovacion Climatica y Sostenibilidad, or The Centre of Innovation for Sustainability and the Climate, and this time five years ago she was at COP21 watching the agreement unfold. 

“It was the most glorious and rewarding experience I’ve ever had as a climate activist,” she recalls. 

Melissa was in Paris as a representative of the civil society group of the Peruvian government, and despite the long hours, hard work and pressure that comes with the annual negotiations, she says she felt like the moment had “finally arrived” for her and other young people around the world. At last, they had an agenda they could take to their leaders in the effort to combat the threat of climate change.

“I remember the feelings of hope I had the day the countries of the world reached an agreement and signed,” she says. “It was a symbol that decision makers were finally deciding to act together to save humanity.” 

Five years on

Today, Melissa lives in northern Germany, where she is doing a Masters in Sustainability, Society, and the Environment at the University of Kiel. This summer she participated in EIT Climate-KIC’s summer school programme, The Journey, and on December 12 2020, five years on from Paris, she’ll be participating in the EIT Climate-KIC Alumni meeting.  

“It is an incredible coincidence.” She says. “But having the Alumni meeting on that day reminds me that we are many that want to fight for a better world.”

She says that compared to 2015, she feels like the climate coalition has grown exponentially. “I’m looking forward to commemorating the anniversary of the signing of the Paris Agreement alongside talented people and other fighters from the EIT Climate-KIC community, especially as COP26 – a key moment for the Paris Agreement – was postponed this year due to COVID-19.”  

‘Urban click’

COVID-19 might have slowed down political negotiations in 2020, but it didn’t put the brakes on Melissa’s contributions to climate action.

As well as her Master’s thesis on reducing emissions and greenhouse gases in the construction sector, this year she has been working with a pan-European team of other summer school participants to develop a project called Urban Click, which focuses on tackling construction and demolition waste in cities.

“Technological innovation should not promote these systemic patterns.”

Separately she also has an individual project, a virtual game that tackles construction waste and the circular economy called ‘Cities are material banks’. The initiative was recently selected to receive funding from the EIT Climate-KIC Alumni Micro-Award. 

“Innovation plays an important role in promoting solutions to climate change,” she says. “But with innovation, and especially technology, we must take into account the impact on people and quality of life. All earth’s resources are not renewable, and many are scarce due to over-exploitation. Technological innovation should not promote these systemic patterns.” 

A day to remind us

Although 12 December this  year won’t have the same level of global attention or feel like such a landmark moment in the climate movement, for Melissa the experiences are connected by a belief in people power and systemic change. 

“December 12 is an important day to remember, but it is only a date,” she says. “What the signing of the Paris agreement in 2015 brought is an avalanche of hope and energy from people around the world, from the southern globe and the northern globe, who day by day fight to combat climate change. December 12 is a date to remind us that yes, the inhabitants of the world have the will and strength to stop climate change.” 

 
Location
Perú
Articles you may be interested in
In The News
For cities to become climate-resilient, they need to invest in capability buil...

As cities grapple with transforming and adapting to meet...

For cities to become climate-resilient, they need to invest in capability building
In The News
EIT Climate-KIC signs declaration ‘EU Green Deal: from local to global’

All around the globe, cities and regions are driving...

EIT Climate-KIC signs declaration ‘EU Green Deal: from local to global’
In The News
EIT Climate-KIC organises first Festival of Circular Economy and Bioeconomy in...

Running from November 28 to December 2, the activities...

EIT Climate-KIC organises first Festival of Circular Economy and Bioeconomy in Santander
In The News
What does climate action look like for the Culture and Creative Sector Industr...

The Culture and Creative Sector Industries (CCSI) can play...

What does climate action look like for the Culture and Creative Sector Industries?
In The News
Collaboration and knowledge sharing is key to unlocking capital for climate ne...

In order to reach net zero by 2030, or...

Collaboration and knowledge sharing is key to unlocking capital for climate neutrality
In The News
Gipuzkoa shapes the green future with local actors

Gipuzkoa is taking action towards sustainability through collaboration with...

Gipuzkoa shapes the green future with local actors
In The News
How can we enable African climate innovation to thrive?  

Much of the discussion around COP27 this year has...

How can we enable African climate innovation to thrive?  
In The News
EIT Climate-KIC and partners publish recommendations to include systemic lands...

The European Green Deal represents a unique opportunity for...

EIT Climate-KIC and partners publish recommendations to include systemic landscape thinking into EU policies to achieve the Green Deal
In The News
The challenges of building a resilient farmers’ community in Africa

Audrey S-Darko is a researcher and a farmer from...

The challenges of building a resilient farmers’ community in Africa
In The News
EIT Climate-KIC joins business and civil society to call on governments to uph...

As the official COP27 outcomes are being drafted this...

EIT Climate-KIC joins business and civil society to call on governments to uphold commitments to 1.5
In The News
Climate innovation: “The purpose is people, everything else is just the mean...

Massamba Thioye is leading the UN climate change Global...

Climate innovation: “The purpose is people, everything else is just the means”
In The News
Become a European Climate Leader

The Climate-KIC International Foundation is looking for a Supervisory...

Become a European Climate Leader
In The News
EIT Climate-KIC launches open-access database to map start-up ecosystem, now w...

Climate start-ups supported by EIT Climate-KIC are now worth...

EIT Climate-KIC launches open-access database to map start-up ecosystem, now worth €11.8 billion in combined enterprise value
In The News
Slovenia higher education reform aims to create a supportive environment for s...

Slovenia’s ministry of higher education is gearing up for...

Slovenia higher education reform aims to create a supportive environment for students and teachers
In The News
Co-designing the future of coal regions

EIT Climate-KIC launches the Post Coal Future Lab initiative...

Co-designing the future of coal regions
In The News
Bringing in business is key to achieving systems transformation on the climate...

“What does it mean to enable businesses to deal...

Bringing in business is key to achieving systems transformation on the climate crisis
In The News
What will it take to build the New European Bauhaus?

“Beautiful, Sustainable, Together”. These are the values – and...

What will it take to build the New European Bauhaus?
In The News
EIT Climate-KIC selects five partners in Global South to implement gender main...

The intersection of climate and innovation remains a male-dominated...

EIT Climate-KIC selects five partners in Global South to implement gender mainstreaming into entrepreneurship
In The News
Citizens inspire a car-free Leuven

A broad survey, possible solutions displayed on screens, inspirational...

Citizens inspire a car-free Leuven
In The News
EIT Climate-KIC accelerates climate tech solutions for a net-zero Africa 

Climate-focused start-up teams in developing countries face distinct challenges...

EIT Climate-KIC accelerates climate tech solutions for a net-zero Africa 
In The News
New European Bauhaus Hackathons will reward most innovative solutions

EIT Community New European Bauhaus partners will be hosting...

New European Bauhaus Hackathons will reward most innovative solutions
In The News
Slovenia takes a pivotal turn towards circularity

Slovenia has decided to actively combat climate change by...

Slovenia takes a pivotal turn towards circularity
In The News
Innovative climate projects part of EIT Community New European Bauhaus initiat...

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) has...

Innovative climate projects part of EIT Community New European Bauhaus initiative
In The News
A new air and climate plan for Milan

The City Council of Milan approved the Air and...

A new air and climate plan for Milan
In The News
Meet the three EIT Climate-KIC innovators nominated for EIT Awards

Three innovators from EIT Climate-KIC’s community have been nominated...

Meet the three EIT Climate-KIC innovators nominated for EIT Awards
In The News
100 European cities take up the challenge to become carbon neutral by 2030

On Monday 13 June, the representatives of the 100...

100 European cities take up the challenge to become carbon neutral by 2030
In The News
The role of cities and regions in transforming wood value chains

Climate smart forest economies It’s a crucial decade for...

The role of cities and regions in transforming wood value chains
In The News
Glasgow City Region pioneering forest economy innovation to drive climate acti...

Scotland’s largest city region is actively tackling climate change...

Glasgow City Region pioneering forest economy innovation to drive climate action
In The News
Forging sustainable timber construction in Europe

EIT Climate-KIC and Built by Nature, announce an initiative...

Forging sustainable timber construction in Europe
In The News
EIT Climate-KIC launches new Circularity Thinking training programme

EIT Climate-KIC is launching Circularity Thinking courses to tackle...

EIT Climate-KIC launches new Circularity Thinking training programme