Hopenhagen Ambassador arrives

The 1,8 mill Hopenhageners have elected their first ambassador – and now he’s in Copenhagen cycling and reporting as a “citizen journalism “ on behalf of the Hopenhageners’

And the Hopenhagen Ambassador is…..: David Kroodsma
Kroodsma is a scientist, environmental educator, and worldwide bike traveler. Kroodsma arrived in Copenhagen Saturday, December 12th. He brought his fold-up bicycle with him, and biked from the airport to Hopenhagen Square in Copenhagen’s center.

Kroodsma was selected from a field of candidates worldwide in an online contest where other Hopenhageners voted for the person who would best represent the global Hopenhagen community.

As the Hopenhagen Ambassador, Kroodsma will be in Copenhagen during the final week of the UN Climate Conference. He will meet with everyone from Al Gore to the Mayor of Copenhagen, doing interviews, writing blog posts and making videos. The duties of the Ambassador from Hopenhagen include representing the people of Hopenhagen to the media and at official events throughout the week, reporting on events in blogs and video posts. He’ll be doing interviews and spreading the message of hope on the streets and everywhere he cycles around in Copenhagen.

David will encourage people to engage with critical climate issues via citizen journalism and user-generated content which is an effective way to drive awareness.

David's passion for the environment has been demonstrated by his 21,000 mile bike trip from California through South America meeting people from all walks of life and giving climate presentations to schools and groups along the way. A climate scientist by training, David has demonstrated his ability to translate science-talk into layperson-speak and has shown a strong commitment to connecting with people worldwide. Based in San Francisco, David has worked with 350.org and is working on book about his bike trip, tentatively titled, The Road to Tierra del Fuego.

Facts:

To ensure that the voice of the “people” was represented at the Copenhagen Global Climate Change Summit (COP 15), the Huffington Post, Hopenhagen.org, and Ogilvy & Mather the agency that created Hopenhagen, launched the search to select a “citizen journalist.”

The Hopenhagen movement is a global movement to inspire people of the world to share their voice of support for a positive outcome at COP15. Those voices are shown in the messages from the citizens of Hopenhagen on hopenhagen.org

Hopenhagen activities in Copenhagen include:

Hundreds of ads displayed all around Copenhagen, including the airport, buildings, freeways, the Bella Center, bus stops and the Hopenhagen globe in City Hall Square, which has been renamed Hopenhagen Square

Appearances and media availability of David Kroodsma, a climate scientist and serious biker who was elected as the Hopenhagen ambassador for the COP15 conference

Appearances and media availability of Bradley Whitford

Hopenhagen videos broadcast in the airport and on the Copenhagen metro

Concerts at the “Hopenhagen LIVE” stage in Hopenhagen Square

“Experience stations” in Hopenhagen Square where Hopenhagers can learn about clean energy, ride bikes that work without chains and confess their hopes for a better world in writing and on video at the Hopenhagen studio

Stationary bicycles to ride that power the LED lights of the enormous Christmas tree in Hopenhagen Square

Daily news, updates and research from the Global Observatory

“Earth Hour Hopenhagen” at the Hopenhagen Live stage in cooperation with World Wildlife Fund on Wednesday, December 16 at 18.00 in Hopenhagen Square

Hopenhagen online elements of the campaign include:

Online registration to become global citizens of Hopenhagen with the ability to electronically express individual messages of hope for a better planet

News engine with updates on the COP15 negotiations and overall news and events relating to climate change

Facebook fan page pictures and updates from the negotiations and from the streets of Copenhagen

Daily Twitter updates on the negotiations and broader climate change debate

Hopenhagen passports allowing citizens to earn stamps for making the world a better place

T-shirts available for purchase on the Web site to declare support for Hopenhagen

Hopenhagen e-mails that can be sent to friends to invite broader participation in the campaign

The Hopenhagen movement, overseen by the International Advertising Association in conjunction with Ogilvy & Mather, represents support for the United Nations, which calls for a climate treaty that is “ambitious, fair and effective in reducing emissions.” Through the support of the IAA and a coalition of the world's leading advertising, marketing and media agencies, Hopenhagen will become an empowering platform, giving voice to global citizens in the climate change dialogue and helping voice their opinions to the leaders from 192 countries attending the conference. The outcome of the new international global climate treaty has garnered public concern due to the U.S. refusal to sign the Kyoto Protocol in 2005. Additional information and campaign creative is available at www.Hopenhagen.org, which will expand and evolve over the course of the campaign.

Contact

Lotte Hansen (Danish Hopenhagen office)
Mannov
lh@mannov.dk

For additional information and photography, go to www.hopenhagen.org.