Climate change discussions rarely make their way into everyday conversations and, more often even when they do, such discussions have been left mostly to policy makers, environmentalists and academics. In disrupting this trend, for the first time since its launch, climate change has found a voice at this year’s Social Media Week, Accra.
Social Media Week is a leading news platform and worldwide conference that shares ideas and insights into the impact of social media and technology on businesses, society and culture. It is scheduled to take place in Accra from the 10th September 2018 to 14th September 2018.
In partnership with the Ghana Climate Innovation Centre (GCIC), this year’s edition of Social Media Week Accra will host distinctive green economy and climate related activities, whilst also highlighting the work of Ghanaian entrepreneurs, innovators and researchers whose passion, work and innovations are providing solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Planned activities include: a green tech innovation exhibition, discussion forums, as well as presentations from entrepreneurs who are demonstrating tremendous thought leadership and creativity in the green space. These activities will be crowned with “the Search for the Next GreenGo” and launch of the Ghana Climate Innovation Centre’s DO BETTER, GO GREEN campaign.
The Search for the next GreenGo is a call to all green and eco-entrepreneurs to pitch their idea or innovation to a panel of judges and stand a chance to win over $10,000 worth of incubation support from the Ghana climate innovation Centre. GreenGo’ -a word play on “go green” and “Gringo”- refers to the green heroes of the environment who are saving the natural ecology by offering and providing environmentally sustainable solutions and products to the general populace. Applications can be submitted at: http://smwaccra.com/
The theme for this year’s event is, “Closer”. The choice of the theme explores the dynamics in social media and how it is affecting the lives of individuals globally.
Celebrated individuals and celebrities are scheduled to speak at this year’s event, including Lexis Bill of Multimedia Group; Abimbola Craig, a Nigerian Actress and lawyer who features in one of the popular TV comedy series in Nigeria, “Skinny Girl in Transit”; Joshua Kissi, a U.S based freelancer who has worked with Adidas; and Phiona Okumu, a BCC Africa news agent.
Participants will be given the opportunity to interact with event speakers as well as create and establish connections with brands and other invitees.
The Ghana Climate Innovation Centre (GCIC) is a pioneering business incubator whose objective is to support entrepreneurs and ventures involved in developing profitable and locally appropriate solutions to climate change mitigation and adaptation in Ghana. The Centre’s key focus is on building businesses operating within the areas of energy efficiency, domestic waste management, solar energy, water supply management and purification and climate-smart agriculture. GCIC is part of the World Bank Group’s infoDev Climate Technology Program Supported by the governments of Denmark and the Netherlands, the Centre is managed by a consortium led by the Ashesi University and including Ernst & Young, SNV Ghana, and the United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa.
