Sustainable Solutions
Your team designs a real, workable plan to make the Czech Republic more sustainable — then pitches it like experts in front of decision-makers. You'll research the problem, propose a solution, and persuade your audience it's worth doing.
What you'll do
Your team takes on a real challenge facing the Czech Republic — in waste, energy, transport, or nature — and designs a project to make a genuine difference.
You'll research what's already happening, propose your own realistic solution, plan how it would actually work (with a timeline and rough costs), and then pitch it for 15–20 minutes, persuading your audience that your idea is worth backing.
Think of your class as a panel deciding which projects to fund. Your job isn't just to inform them — it's to convince them. Real, local, and realistic always beats big but impossible.
How to do the project
Work through these six steps as a team. A great pitch is built backwards from one idea: a realistic solution to a real problem. Find that first, and everything else follows.
Pick your area and form your team
Choose one area of sustainability where you think the Czech Republic could do better.
- Pick from waste management, renewable energy, transport, or nature conservation.
- Choose something local and specific — your town or city, not "the whole country".
- Give each member a clear role: research, planning, visuals, and presenting.
Research the situation
Before you propose anything, understand what's already happening. Strong proposals are built on real facts.
- Find out what already exists — for example, Prague's sustainable mobility plan, recycling schemes, solar and wind energy, or community gardens.
- Identify the real problem your project will solve, with facts and numbers.
- Use trustworthy sources — government and EU data, city websites, and reliable news.
- Note where every fact came from, so you can defend it later.
Design your solution
Now propose your project. Be clear about what it is, who it helps, and how it works.
- Write one clear objective: what will be different if your project succeeds?
- Explain how it works in simple steps.
- Say who benefits — students, the city, the environment.
- Be creative but realistic — original ideas score well, impossible ones don't.
Plan the practical side
A good idea needs a plan. This is what turns a wish into a proposal a panel could actually approve.
- Make a simple timeline — what happens, and when.
- Estimate a rough budget — what it would cost and who could pay.
- List the resources and people you'd need.
- Think about impact: how would you measure success?
Build a persuasive presentation
Structure your 15–20 minutes so it builds an argument, not just a list of facts.
- Follow a clear shape: the problem → your solution → the plan → the impact → next steps.
- Use persuasive language — reasons, benefits, and evidence.
- Design clear slides with charts and images, not walls of text.
- Prepare for tough questions about cost and practicality.
Rehearse, then pitch it
A 15–20 minute talk needs real rehearsal. Practise as a team until the joins are smooth and the timing is right.
- Practise the whole pitch out loud, at least twice, as a group.
- Time it carefully — aim for 15–20 minutes.
- Agree who answers which kind of question.
- End with a confident call to action: what you want your audience to support.
Your proposal must include
Use this as a final team checklist before your 15–20 minute pitch. A panel will expect every one of these.
Grading rubric
Your proposal is marked on four areas, each from 1 to 4 points. Read the "4 points" column first — that's exactly what a winning pitch looks like.
| Criterion | 4Excellent | 3Good | 2Developing | 1Needs work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Understanding & ResearchConcepts & local context | Strong grasp of the issue, accurate facts, and real Czech context. | Good understanding supported by solid facts. | Basic understanding; thin facts or a weak local link. | Little understanding or noticeably inaccurate. |
| Creativity & InnovationThe idea itself | An original, thoughtful solution that genuinely fits the need. | A solid, sensible idea. | Predictable, or only partly developed. | Very limited or unclear idea. |
| Feasibility & PracticalityCould it really work? | Realistic plan with timeline, costs, and resources clearly thought through. | A mostly realistic, workable plan. | Plan is vague or unrealistic in places. | Not workable; little or no real plan. |
| Communication & PersuasionDelivery & argument | Clear, confident, persuasive delivery; strong visuals; handles questions well. | Clear and mostly persuasive, with helpful visuals. | Understandable but not convincing; weak visuals. | Hard to follow and not persuasive. |
Everything you need to succeed
A model pitch you can open part by part, the vocabulary of sustainability and planning, and the phrases that make an argument persuasive.
Sample pitch — safe cycle routes to school
This shows the shape of a persuasive pitch: problem, solution, plan, and a reason to act. Notice the persuasive language that turns facts into an argument.
The problem Set up the need
"Let's start with the problem. In our town, most students are driven to school by car, which adds to traffic and air pollution. The issue is that the roads near the school don't feel safe for cycling, so families don't risk it."
Our solution Propose the idea
"That's why we propose a network of safe, separated cycle routes on the three main streets around the school. Our goal is to make cycling the easy, obvious choice for students who live within three kilometres."
How it works Plan & costs
"Here's how it would work. In year one, the city paints protected lanes and adds bike racks; in year two, it runs a cycling-safety week at school. We estimate the cost is modest compared to road repairs, and EU green-transport funding could help pay for it."
Why back it The case to act
"So why should you support this? It cuts traffic, improves air quality, and makes students healthier — and the best part is it could start next year. We're asking you to back a small change with a big, lasting impact."
Sustainability & planning vocabulary
Precise language makes you sound like you know the topic. Use these and swap in words for your own area.
Sustainability & environment
Planning & feasibility
Persuasion
Useful phrases for your pitch
Persuasion is "claim + reason + evidence." Learn a few from each group to build a convincing argument.
Presenting the problem
- "Let's start with the problem…"
- "The issue is that…"
- "Research shows that…"
Proposing your solution
- "That's why we propose…"
- "Our goal is to…"
- "Here's how it would work…"
Persuading your audience
- "The key advantage is…"
- "Imagine if every school did this…"
- "Not only…, but also…"
Concluding with a call to action
- "So, what should happen next?"
- "We're asking you to support…"
- "A small change with a big impact."
Become a better presenter and researcher
This project builds two skills that matter far beyond the classroom: persuading people with a clear argument, and building a case strong enough to defend. Here's how to grow both.
Pitch like you mean it
A pitch isn't a report read aloud — it's an argument delivered with conviction. These habits help you win the room.
- Lead with the problem, not the solution. Make the audience feel the problem first; then your idea lands as the answer they were waiting for.
- Claim, reason, evidence. Don't just say "this is great." Say why, and back it with a fact. That's what persuasion actually is.
- Speak with conviction. If you don't sound like you believe in your plan, no one else will. Slow down on your strongest points.
- Welcome the hard question. "How much will it cost?" is your moment to shine — answer it calmly and you've won trust.
- End with a clear ask. Tell the audience exactly what you want them to support. A pitch with no ask is just information.
Time your run-through
This is a long talk, so pacing matters. Rehearse the full pitch as a team and aim for the green zone: 15 to 20 minutes.
Share the time fairly: in 15–20 minutes, every member should get a real speaking slot.
Build a case you can defend
A panel will test your facts. Strong research is what lets you answer "How do you know that?" without hesitating.
- Use official data. Government, EU, and city sources carry real weight — far more than a random article or blog.
- Check the date. Sustainability data changes fast. Recent figures make your case; old ones weaken it.
- Keep it local. Facts about the Czech Republic — or your own town — are far more convincing than facts about somewhere else.
- Anticipate objections. Find the weakness in your own plan before the audience does, and prepare an answer.
- Cite as you go. Note every source. Being able to say where a number came from is what makes you believable.
Can I trust this source?
Found a fact for your pitch? Tick everything below that is true about its source. Your verdict updates as you go.
Now go and make the case
You've got the steps, the language, the research tips, and the rubric. Find a real problem, design a solution you believe in, and pitch it well enough to win the room.