Youth in action on on climate climate change:

24 <strong>Youth</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>action</strong> on climate change: <strong>in</strong>spirations from around the world
ChepeCletas,
Costa Rica
ChepeCletas is a social
enterprise run by
young, dynamic and
<strong>in</strong>novative people that
helps demonstrate the
potential we have as
<strong>in</strong>dividuals to contribute
to a more susta<strong>in</strong>able
future. Launched <strong>in</strong> 2010
as a response to Costa
Rica’s goal of be<strong>in</strong>g
carbon neutral by the
year 2021, ChepeCletas
focuses on develop<strong>in</strong>g and
implement<strong>in</strong>g strategies
<strong>in</strong> San José, Costa
Rica’s capital city, that
decrease the dependency
on private automobile
use while promot<strong>in</strong>g
walk<strong>in</strong>g, bik<strong>in</strong>g and public
transport. ChepeCletas
considers commut<strong>in</strong>g
and transportation with<strong>in</strong>
the city as a means to
build a stronger and more
susta<strong>in</strong>able community.
Its activities are organized
by youth and <strong>in</strong>clude
everyth<strong>in</strong>g from guided
night walks and bicycle
rides to open-air movie
view<strong>in</strong>gs, conversation
nights, free concerts and
organized dances with<strong>in</strong> San
José. Planned activities are
effectively communicated
through social network<strong>in</strong>g
media as well as the national
and <strong>in</strong>ternational press.
ChepeCletas has formed
strong cooperation with
the local government and
the <strong>in</strong>stitute of tourism and
has worked jo<strong>in</strong>tly with
the Dutch and German
embassies, UN-Habitat and
the United Nations High
Commissioner on Refuges.
ChepeCletas has managed
to engage more than 10,000
people <strong>in</strong> its activities <strong>in</strong>
the city and has rek<strong>in</strong>dled
an <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> the city as a
cultural, f<strong>in</strong>ancial and social
center. Through education,
<strong>in</strong>frastructure development
and a strong cultural
change, ChepeCletas
visualizes a new city where
public space and transport
becomes truly democratic
and allow for a cleaner
and more accessible city
that will boost Costa Rica
towards its carbon neutral
goal.
Name of organization:
ChepeCletas
Name of contact person:
Roberto Guzmán Fernandez
E-mail:
roberto@chepecletas.com
Website:
www.chepecletas.com