On Friday, 25 August 2023, President Čaputová awarded certificates to the graduates of the Summer Climate Academy, whose objective is to support and develop knowledge and competencies in the area of climate protection and green transition.

During the summer school, participants gained knowledge, skills and contacts useful for their future work in solving these major societal challenges in the public and private sectors. The president is glad that another group of young climate leaders has been created this year.

“Their mission will be to bring into public discussion as many facts and arguments as possible. This is because a well-informed society will not tolerate the deception or inaction of politicians. Moreover, climate change knows no political preferences, election seasons or geographical boundaries. It is impossible to lie to it or ignore it.”

The President therefore believes that the graduates of the Summer Climate Academy will contribute to raising the discussion about climate change in our public space to a higher level and, in particular, to enable us to take measures to curb the current adverse developments.

“It is our mission as public officials to talk truthfully, responsibly and without populist intent to portray climate targets as a nightmare for the average citizen. We must explain this patiently.”

Norbert Kurilla, the adviser to the president on the environment, added that thanks to the lecturers, the academy’s graduates learned how the state, the private sector and the civil society are tackling the climate crisis and its solution.

The week-long program consisted of a series of lectures, field trips, and workshops led by experts with professional experience in the area of climate change.

Once again, 25 university students attended the Summer Climate Academy, which was organised by the President’s Office together with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.