Ready to take your climate action a step further? Here’s how

There are many ways to take climate action, and teaming up with others is one of the best!

To help as many people as possible get involved, the European Climate Pact has developed easy-to-use guides for organising group climate activities that bring people together to make a positive impact on our future. They are an easy way to get started, and you don’t need to be a climate expert to pull it off!

So, what kind of group activities are we talking about? Well, it could be as simple as a guided walk in your local forest to learn about how nature can help combat climate change; a community group discussion on local climate solutions; or an afternoon out taking photos of what climate change means for your neighbourhood.

These activities may look different, but they all contribute to spreading awareness about climate change and its consequences, while encouraging action at every level – whether it’s individual, local, national or international.

Let’s dive into a few activities our Climate Pact Ambassadors have already tried and tested to find out what works and get some inside tips so you can get organising!

Organise a climate walk

In February 2024, Italian Pact Ambassador Mia Canestrini decided to organise a guided tour of one of Tuscany’s biggest and most important wetland reserves – the Orbetello Oasis, located on the country’s western coast.

With a lifelong passion for nature and conservation, the idea to organise an informative climate walk came to her whilst hiking. And for Mia, there was no better way to encourage people to join other than posting an open invitation on her ever-growing social media channels, which she uses to raise public awareness about climate change and its impact on biodiversity.

“The idea of planning an outdoor activity has been in the air for a long time. When I became a Climate Pact Ambassador, I realised I could plan a fun hike whilst raising awareness about wetlands and their vulnerability to climate change.”

Mia brought together 35 people to walk and listen to the reserve’s biologists as they pointed out the local birdlife and talked about how wetlands play a vital role in absorbing carbon from the atmosphere whilst acting as a shield against extreme weather events.

Mia’s tips:

“People love spending time outdoors – there's no need to invent ‘tough’ experiences. They'll enjoy the opportunity to be in nature, share knowledge, learn something new and make friends. Social media platforms like Instagram can be a good medium to promote group climate activities. A local guide is strongly recommended, as they have a deep knowledge of the topic and area."

Coordinate a local action group

After recognising the need to combat marine pollution around Athens, Greece, Pact Ambassador Marina Gavrilaki sprang into action.

As co-founder of Physisorg, an NGO committed to environmental responsibility, Marina and her team seized the opportunity to bring communities, businesses and groups together to take climate and environmental action.

Physisorg has been teaming up with various organisations, including Athens University of Economics and Business, to organise a series of community beach clean-ups. On 6 April 2024, 95 volunteers gathered on a beach in the town of Palaio Faliro, and by the end of the day, the group had cleared 50 kilograms of rubbish from the shore – one of their most successful efforts to date!

“Overall, the event helped reduce beach pollution and engaged the community in environmental stewardship,” Marina told us. “Together with the other volunteers, we discussed how important it is to preserve our oceans, and to teach children from a young age the importance of keeping our beaches clean. We also collected data for the WWF Adopt a Beach programme in the Mediterranean.

For Marina, these activities not only reduced pollution but also helped safeguard marine life and improve the health of coastal areas.

But what happens to the rubbish once it is collected? Initially, Physisorg worked with local municipalities to recycle it, avoiding generating CO₂ at the landfill. However, the organisation has recently explored new ways of turning it into usable materials. As part of a new approach, the 50 kilograms of beach waste collected in April was sent to a fashion brand that upcycles plastics into swimwear.

The United Nations designates pollution as one of the triple planetary crises that humanity faces – the other two being climate change and biodiversity loss. Each issue must be tackled if we are to create a more sustainable future for ourselves and the next generation.

Marina’s tips:

“Want to get people involved? Then, find effective ways to advertise your event within the community and encourage participation. Make sure you practice what you preach by providing reusable clean-up materials, such as bags and gloves to avoid producing more waste. And remember to engage local businesses and organisations to expand your reach and impact.”

There are many types of local climate action groups to choose from, but if you are interested in beach clean-up activity, you can join an existing event or organise your own with the #EUBeachCleanup campaign.
 

Plan a group climate debate

When Pact Ambassador Aurora Audino heard that the 2024 G7 meeting on climate, energy and environment was set to take place in her hometown of Turin, Italy, it sparked an idea: let’s get more people discussing climate change. 
 
“The Planet Week, which preceded the G7, had an open call for events, and I thought it was the perfect opportunity to bring together the climate community and different initiatives that I had engaged with internationally,” says Aurora. Together with two friends, we organised an impactful discussion on global and local climate action, inspired by the Climate Pact’s peer parliament tool.”

The event was promoted through the networks and social media channels of Aurora and her friends, as well as by the speakers who agreed to join, local news agencies and associations. Their efforts were successful, with 70 people attending on the day.

“It was more than just a gathering – it brought together people with diverse perspectives and experiences in tackling climate change at international, EU, and local levels, empowering participants to take an active role,” Aurora explained.

Aurora’s tips:

“Find the right moment to host your group climate activity so that it can have a bigger impact. Invite experts who could give inspirational speeches. Count on existing initiatives where you can propose your activity and strengthen collaborations, then be creative! Shape the event and adapt it to better address your needs, interests and audience.”

Whether it’s a climate walk in your local neighbourhood, mountain range or wetland, a group discussion, a beach or river clean-up, or something completely original, there are many ways to make an impact with your community.

Ready to join our Climate Pact Ambassadors in making a difference? Check out the Climate Pact tools on our website for step-by-step guides on organising your activity. If you’re in need of more inspiration or information to design your session, our resource library is full of great knowledge sources, podcasts, climate games and the latest policy reports.

Once you’ve got a topic and you’re ready to spread the word about your event, you’ll find the Climate Pact logo, visuals and social media templates in our communications toolkit, and don’t forget to tag us and use the #EUClimatePact hashtag on social media.