British Author Turns Children’s Fantasy Into Global Climate Action

Fleur Rossdale, former design impresario and now founder of the Direct Climate Cooling Initiative (DCCI), is harnessing the power of imagination to mobilise a generation. Her well-received Woodland Sprite Series is not just captivating young readers - it’s fuelling a global network of schools taking tangible action against climate change.

From London ateliers to Kenyan farms, Fleur’s journey is as compelling as the stories she writes. Once a guardian of Britain’s dying trades, Rossdale now champions a cause even more urgent: cooling the planet. Through the DCCI School Awards, she has fused storytelling, science, and education into a movement that gives children the tools - and the stage - to lead.

The annual DCCI Awards, held in Brussels, bring together students, educators, philanthropists, and climate innovators for a flagship event showcasing youth-led environmental initiatives. Schools perform Taken by Storm—Rossdale’s breakout book—and fundraise for real-world projects in partnership with leading organisations such as Klim, Justdiggit, and Communities EverGreening Africa.

“Children don’t need more lectures. They need hope, heroes, and a part to play,” says Rossdale. “The awards give them all three.”

Her work is already inspiring a wave of school-led performances, cross-border collaboration, and tangible climate interventions, all rooted in the empowering fantasy world of the Woodland Sprites firmly based in reality. The initiative provides a rare blend of credibility and charm - appealing to scientists, policymakers, and storytellers alike.