2 Celsius is a network of environmental journalists and thinkers as well as a virtual media platform for climate change related information and knowledge.
2 degrees Celsius warming goal for 2050 is the only practical option for inflicting the least damage to Earth’s climate system. 2C lies at the heart of efforts to craft a new pact after Rio +20 for tackling climate change in decades to come.
This website opens the way for a region-wide extended environmental media platform dedicated to the green economy and to containing climate change effects. The platform is especially dedicated to Central and Eastern Europe`s green businesses and, equally, to the advance of the green collar economy.
The recognition of the non-linear nature of all systems dynamics is the very essence of ecological awareness. This also works for (environmental) journalism and reporting. The climate crisis has created a virtual and equal global green public sphere.
The language of risk is thus related to a global environmental threat that calls for a new, organic type of reporting and of media organization. 2Celsius is an open platform for all expressions of green and equal prosperity.
2C is open to everyone that wants to share, meditate, and report on climate change, local development or green politics for the CEE and the Balkans.
OUR NETWORK TEAM
RAUL CAZAN (Romania, U.S.A.) Editor
For two years, Raul was the Editor-in-Chief of the only Romanian environmental magazine, Green Report, a product among few of the kind in Eastern Europe. Beyond his Law degree from the University of Bucharest, Raul’s interests revolve around environmental journalism and communications, enhancing topics surrounding the politics of climate change and food security. Raul holds two Master’s Degrees in political science and development from the Central European University Budapest and University of Trento, Italy. He collaborated with the World Wildlife Fund – Danube Carpathian Program, founded the Slow Food Bucharest chapter and acted as an environmental law consultant in Brussels. Between 2009 and 2010 he was International Grassroots Outreach Fellow at Earth Day Network in Washington,D.C. His latest project consists of setting-up an open virtual platform, named 2Celsius.net, regarding climate change and the green collar economy in Central and Eastern Europe. His big passion is cycling, thus he is making it a socially valued activity by promoting and carrying out “bike charity” projects such as RideAcross.eu. Currently, as president of Association 2Celsius, he is working on institutional greening projects as well as on land use change related programs.
CALIN GRUIA (U.K.) Webmaster
Based in Sheffield UK, Calin is a Test Analyst for Autodesk LTD. Born in Romania, he has lived in Spain for two years and in UK for ten years. Out of passion for well-being and environmental conviction, he doesn’t own a car and uses his bike as the main mode of transport. As member of CTC (Cycling Touring Club) he is passionate about promoting cycling to everyone especially the younger generation. He takes part in a multitude of projects that relate to ecosystem services and environmental communication.
MIHAI STOICA (Belgium) Photographer, Reporter
Based in Belgium, Mihai graduated Communication Sciences at the Ecological University in Bucharest. He started to flirt with the press photography after he followed in 2005 a photojournalism course at the Centre for Independent Journalism under the tutelage of Emanuel Tanjala, a renowned Romanian photographer. In 2007 he began working for the environmental magazine Green Report, where he united his passion for ecology to photojournalism. During this time, he made a series of photo reportages on environmental themes, and in 2008 he became self-employed, with collaborations with a series of publications, including National Geographic and Discovery Romania. Currently, he is studying social and cultural anthropology at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, where, among others, he is working as photo editor for the Flemish student newspaper, Veto.
VLAD LIMBEAN (Hungary, Romania) Intern, Contributor
A student at Central European University (CEU) Business School in Budapest Hungary, Vlad is on his way to obtaining an undergraduate degree in management and business. Beyond his field of study, in 2009 Vlad has worked as a research assistant in the Undergraduate Writing Center of CEU. His experience in composition and communication has now excited his interest toward the cause of 2Celsius.
LUBOMIR MITEV (Bulgaria) Reporter
Lubo is currently a student at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium, following an MA program in Educational Studies. He successfully completed a BA in Philosophy in the same university in 2009, followed by a MA in European Studies in 2010. Since his transition from philosophy to European studies, Lubo found out that he had a great urge to write. This made him become a freelance journalist, with a stress on environmental and energy issues. Being from Bulgaria and living in Belgium for four years (and counting) allows him to throw a Western perspective over the East, and to provide info from the East to people in the West.
CRISTINA MIRCEA (Romania) Reporter
Currently living in Cluj Napoca, Romania, Cristina graduated Journalism at the “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu. She worked as an editor for the TV channel Antena 3 in Bucharest, but also chose to specialize in “environmental journalism” and join the 2Celsius cause. She is working as a reporter and online editor for Transylvania Live TV station in Cluj Napoca.
LASZLO KEKI (Hungary) Reporter
Laszlo is a “Hungarian European Journalist”, environmental protection activist, he is writing about today’s environmental challenges, trying to understand the role and directions of UN climate institutions as well as perspectives regarding climate change and environmental protection. He has got two diplomas, in General Chemistry Technology, and Communication and Marketing. He is currently working in an international trading company. “I am living near Budapest in a small peaceful, green settlement, a perfect village. I love life, my garden, arts, forests, climate debates, good food, clear water, clean air, journalism, sciences, modern technology, people, and European history.”
GIEDRE STEIKUNAITE (Lithuania, U.K.) Reporter
Currently an editorial intern at the New Internationalist magazine (“The people, the ideas, the action in the fight for global justice”), Giedre is studying journalism and contemporary history in London, UK. Freelancing for various publications, back in Lithuania she was a reporter for a current affairs weekly, Panorama. Development, climate change, and social issues are her main topics of interest.
FOTIS KAFARAKIS (Greece) Editor, Reporter
Fotis was a TV reporter and producer (domestic-political affairs) for ERT (Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation) and lately he became Chief Editor of ERT’s TV Newsrrom. He is also collaborating with newspapers and magazines from Greece and the European Union. Climate change and travel are his main interests.
KARSTEN SCHULZ (Germany, Ghana) Contributor, Analyst
Karsten holds a Master’s degree in political science from the University of Bonn. His research focus is on international environmental governance and policy analysis; particularly in the areas of climate change, food security, and desertification. His previous work experience includes the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. He also worked with the German Agency for International Cooperation. Currently, he is a junior researcher at the Center for Development Research (ZEF) in Bonn and works for the West African Science Service Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL). WASCAL is a large-scale research-focused program designed to strengthen the research infrastructure and capacity in West Africa related to climate change by pooling the expertise of ten West African countries and Germany. Within the project his research is concentrated on climate change adaptation policies and risk management strategies in Ghana. In addition, Karsten works as a scientific editor in the field of development research.
