On 28 November 2024, Zagreb hosted the Final Conference of the Erasmus+ project “Media and Information Literacy for Climate Change and Environmental Topics” (MILGreen), organized at Gradišćanska 24. The event brought together experts, educators, representatives from NGOs, and young people interested in media literacy, ecology, and digital technologies.

The conference started with welcoming speeches and the presentation of project results by Domagoj Morić, followed by researcher Filip Gospodnetić, who shared insights from the study “Echoes of the Digital Age.” Participants had lots of questions, and were actively involved.

A panel discussion on “Media and Information Literacy in Green Topics” featured Ivana Sučić from Croatian Radio-HRT, Iris Knežević from GONG, and Jakov Stevanović, a high school senior from XV. Gymnasium. During the panel, we have heard what is the responsibiltiy of journalists to cover topics of green and environment, but also we have heard more form young journalist from XV. Gymnasium who shared that he thinks that these topics are important for young people, but sometimes there is a lot of things happening on social media that occupy our attention. Representative from GONG shared how they are working with teachers and contributing to the education of experts in this field.

Participants actively joined parallel workshops focusing on specialized topics, including “Artificial Intelligence in Youth Work,” led by Damir Firšt and Lorena Barić from the Croatian Artificial Intelligence Association (CroAI). Additionally, an online discussion engaged international experts about the future directions of media literacy. Both of the parallel workshops were discussing important topics for young people.

Virtual session with other experts from Croatia, Estonia and Portugal  focused on the urgent need to educate youth workers and youth on media literacy, critical thinking, and environmental issues. Key topics included AI, fake news, and digital ethics. Participants emphasized the importance of integrating media literacy into all projects and suggested using games and both digital and tabletop formats to engage young people. They discussed the role of influencers in promoting environmental causes and the need for youth to understand digital ethics, data privacy, and environmental impacts. The conversation highlighted the challenges media faces in addressing climate issues and the importance of teaching young people lobbying and advocacy skills.

During the final evaluation round, participants emphasized the importance of continuing research in this area. They highlighted media literacy as an essential skill for young people today, particularly regarding environmental and sustainability issues. Participants also suggested further research is necessary, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence, green topics, and media advertising.

Domagoj Morić summarized the conference conclusions, emphasizing the critical role of media literacy as an essential skill for young people navigating contemporary challenges, especially related to environmental awareness and sustainability.

And how was it for us, you can see in the gallery down below!