The challenge: People living in poverty and marginalized groups in low-income countries face the worst impacts of the climate crisis, yet policy processes are dominated by decision makers – politicians, consultants, scientists, and corporate actors, with actors and perceptions from the Global North dominating these processes. Frontline communities, especially in the Global South, have been largely excluded from shaping and implementing the climate action plans critical to their survival. Climate movements are essential to counter these power imbalances. They unite people, challenge those responsible for the crisis, hold power structures accountable, and amplify local voices and needs. They foster grassroots action, prioritize locally led solutions, and build global solidarity.
Our solution: We support and strengthen locally-led, inclusive movements of communities, women, and youth standing up for their rights in the climate emergency. We pay specific attention to those underrepresented. Recognizing that climate activists are rights holders that face increasing repression, this program will actively protect civic space. We center our work with activists on care, wellbeing and feminist approaches, recognizing the emotional and physical toll of activism. By working with communities and activists worldwide, we help strengthen a diverse movement that stands up for climate justice, amplifies local solutions, and pushes for policies and practices that support the people most affected by the crisis and enable the transition to sustainable economies.
Like the African Climate Caravan, an initiative organized by grassroots-led mobilizations across African countries to advocate for climate justice, amplify the voices of impacted communities, and pressure governments and international bodies to take urgent, equitable climate action. These caravans, involving community movements and civil society organizations, aim to influence climate policy and negotiations by sharing local realities and proposed solutions, bringing them from local realities to national and global decision making spaces.