Together in Action 2026: what’s driving Europe’s climate progress?

On 23-25 March 2026, over 800 people from across Europe came together in Brussels and many more online for Together in Action 2026, the European Climate Pact’s annual event to celebrate progress in tackling climate change.

Three days of insights, inspiration and interaction

Everyone can play their part in climate action. No matter how big or small, each step forms part of a bigger whole, helping build a strong, safe, clean and resilient European Union.

Together in Action 2026 showed just that. Through an exciting programme of community-led sessions, high-level discussions on EU policy, and plenty of creative and interactive experiences, the event showed how people, policy and collaboration are driving Europe’s climate progress. 

The event kicked off with a Community Day for Pact Ambassadors and Partners on 23 March, followed by two open days of sessions and activities on 24-25 March in Brussels and online.

Participants heard from 150 speakers from 25 EU countries, including 80 Pact Ambassadors and Partners, plus climate experts and EU representatives, including the European Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, Wopke Hoekstra.

Celebrating progress and setting a course for the future

In the plenary sessions, moderated by Climate Pact Ambassador and Master of Ceremonies Alan Cappelli, Commissioner Hoekstra and Director-General for Climate Action Kurt Vandenberghe sent strong messages on the future of EU climate policy. They spoke about:

• the need to move from risk to resilience to build a stronger, safer Europe
• the importance of climate adaptation and preparedness
• the role of innovation and clean industry for economic security and competitiveness.
   

“Our economy, safety and security are at stake. We need to do more, not just in Europe but globally, to phase out fossil fuels.” Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth

In a conversation with a room packed full of Europe’s climate action community, Commissioner Hoekstra emphasised the close links between European Union priorities and climate action in shaping the future.

“Whether through the lens of climate, competitiveness, security or independence, we must double down on clean energy,” the Commissioner said.

In the plenary session ‘Building tomorrow’, speakers from the European Commission and the Pact community explored how Europe can turn growing climate risks into collective resilience.

Their discussion showed that climate adaptation cuts across many different areas – including water, food, energy, health, cities and communities – and that preparedness, social inclusion and innovation can all strengthen Europe’s long-term security and wellbeing. 

“We are mainstreaming resilience and preparedness for the future in all our policies,” explained Director-General Vandenberghe.

“We’re making sure we have not only awareness, but ownership of the risks coming from climate change in all policy areas. It’s important to turn that ownership into real action, to become better prepared for future climate impacts.”

Turning inspiration into action

Pact Ambassadors and Partners also shaped the event programme, leading 21 sessions covering themes such as:

• Tackling climate disinformation, a dynamic panel gave participants the tools to see through greenwashing and understand the intent of actors behind online disinformation
• Youth leadership, the focus of a workshop on empowering young people to shape Europe’s green future
• Just and inclusive transition, a prominent theme, including in the session on moving from energy consumers to energy communities
• Business, innovation and clean industry, which were in the spotlight in the session on data, nature and smart communities
• Promoting climate action in local communities and developing region-specific strategies to adapt to climate change
   

“Knowledge-sharing is key in these times: many have great knowledge of structures that work and we need to learn from one another to cooperate on, mobilise and upscale these structures internationally – this event is a good place for that.” Simon Meincke, Pact Ambassador for Denmark

In an inspiring session about the origins of World Cleanup Day, started by Pact Partner Let’s Do It World in 2018, Pact Ambassador Heidi Solba said:

“This was more than an idea – this was a dream: [in] a small country, Estonia, with this crazy ambition to change the world.” 

In 2025 alone, World Cleanup Day had 25 million participants across hundreds of countries, showing how local engagement and grassroots action can lead to lasting, global change.

By connecting different voices on the issues most important to the Pact community, such discussions can help shape the next stage of climate action at the local, national and EU level.

The power of community

Community spirit came to the fore at Together in Action 2026 – not just at the event in Brussels, but through the month-long series of Climate Action Days.  

Some 115 diverse activities took place across 23 European countries, ranging from youth workshops, clean-ups and debates to film screenings, walks through nature and tree-planting initiatives.

The hands-on grassroots initiatives helped to raise awareness about climate action, get people in local communities together and talking, and ultimately make a bigger and broader impact.

They also showed the creativity of Europe’s climate action community, with activities such as a student-led lecture on sustainable fashion in Lithuania, a repair and re-use workshop in Slovenia, and a climate-themed photography lesson in Croatia.

This creative flair was also on show at the Together in Action event in Brussels, where participants had the opportunity to try their hand at climate-friendly cooking or play a climate disinformation ‘bingo’ game. The event also showcased EU and local sustainability initiatives and how community members are Making an ImPact.

“Together in Action 2026 has been an amazing opportunity to connect with others interested in the same topics. I found the event to be of great importance, inspiring continuous changemaking,” said Huugo Wahalahti, Pact Ambassador for Finland at the event.

“There is still hope. There are still people actively doing their best for the world.”

How you can play your part, too

Have you been inspired by Together in Action 2026? If you also want to be part of something bigger, you’ll find many ways to get involved in climate action on the Pact website.  

We also invite you to become a Friend of the Pact! If you want to make a bigger commitment to climate action, keep an eye on our website and subscribe to our newsletter for all Pact news, including our next call for Ambassadors and Partners. 

If you missed this year’s event or simply want to re-live the action, check out the photographs on the Together in Action 2026 page and recordings via the livestream links in the programme.