Interview

EUKI-Interview: Fostering Climate Protection with a Traveling Museum

by Sina Goeschen and Pia Ahmed, GIZ/EUKI 

Gediminas Kondrackis is the co-founder of Lithuania’s Active Youth Association and director of EUKI project Climate Change – See, Feel, Change. In October 2022 he was awarded with the Baltic Sustainability Award for his outstanding work as a Changemaker in the country. We spoke to him about the idea behind his mobile Climate Museum and youth climate activism in the Baltics. 

Gediminas Kondrackis with bycycle helmet.

Gediminas Kondrackis, Photo: Gediminas Kondrackis

How did you come up with the idea of the mobile Climate Museum and was there a key moment that motivated you to realise it?   

The idea of creating a mobile Climate Museum came to me when I realised how people were lacking access to information and hands-on experiences that could help them understand the urgency of the issue. There was, of course, a key moment that motivated me to bring this idea to life. I was once a frequent flyer and saw the massive impact it had on climate change. That turned me into a reluctant flyer since air travel is one of the contributors to it. Yet, when I tried talking about it back in Lithuania, I fell on deaf ears. It was then that I knew I had to create something that would inspire action and help people understand the stakes. With the Climate Museum, we can bring this message directly to students and communities, no matter how remote. 

You just won the Baltic Sustainability Award 2022 for your role as a Changemaker. Congratulations! What are the next steps you want to take to educate people and change habits relating to sustainability and climate change?  

Thank you! I am incredibly grateful to EUKI for their support of the mobile Climate Museum, as it would not have been possible without them. Moving forward, we are focusing on collaborating even more closely with teachers and students. The mobile Climate Museum placed a strong emphasis on the digital side of things, and as a result, we have built a substantial list of subscribers who are eager to learn more. This provides us with an ongoing opportunity to share valuable information and updates with a dedicated audience, helping to build a stronger, more informed community of climate advocates. 

The perspectives on climate action vary greatly among different groups. It’s no secret that younger generations are generally more open and supportive of climate action, while some older individuals may be more sceptical.

Gediminas Kondrackis with bycycle helmet.

The Climate Museum educates people about climate change and its consequences. You probably spoke to many people during the tour. How would you assess their attitudes towards climate change and energy issues? 

The perspectives on climate action vary greatly among different groups. It’s no secret that younger generations are generally more open and supportive of climate action, while some older individuals may be more sceptical. Additionally, there seems to be a divide between rural and urban areas. It was fascinating to discover that the topic of electric cars, for example, elicits strong reactions in rural areas. Despite the many benefits of electric vehicles, there is still a lot of misinformation and negative propaganda surrounding them, particularly regarding their batteries. In my eyes, it’s yet another testament to the need for continued education.