In 2024, why not make local climate campaigning a priority?

Join Act Local, where local action can have a global impact

 

As we step into the new year, it’s hard to ignore the fact that we are leaving behind a year that was officially the hottest year on record, marred by heatwaves, floods and wildfires that ravaged across the globe. It can be easy to fall into despair at these new extremes, but as Professor Hannah Daly said in her Irish Times New Year column, ‘we are not all doomed’. We have the climate solutions we need. All that is stopping us is the lack of political will to take real action and challenge vested interest groups, such as fossil fuel companies, that are preventing the action we need. 

And as Hannah highlights, for activists like Greta Thunberg, hope is something you earn through activism, by challenging the systems that disempower us. As we start 2024, why not make it your New Year’s resolution to get involved with local climate campaigning where you can act together to make a difference? 

There are many different ways to be a climate activist and support the climate movement. Friends of the Earth’s campaign Act Local, which empowers you and your community with the tools to step up and speak out for fast and fair climate action, is one way — and a hugely powerful one at that. 

Many of the things we need to do to address the climate and biodiversity crisis require changes at the local level, in your community, townland, town or suburb. We know that these changes are essential and will make for a safer, cleaner and healthier future. In a world where the urgency of climate change and biodiversity loss is felt more than ever, Act Local is your gateway to creating real change, starting where you live. 

Will you join Act Local? Act Local enables you to Think Global, Act Local!

Yes. I'll register for Act Local

Everybody has the potential to have power and agency in advocating for climate action and holding governments and corporations accountable to address the climate crisis. We just need to get organised, join with others and get campaigning! Everyone has a part to play. No one is too big or small, too old or young to make a difference. We deserve to breathe clean air, drink clean water, eat healthy food and live in warm, secure homes and together, we can build the people power needed to make this a reality. 

The significance of campaigns like Act Local is all the more pronounced as we are entering a year where both local and European elections will be held, as well as possibly a general election, and we need to fight to ensure the climate is a top priority for politicians. But we also need to be organised to put pressure on local and national decision-makers outside of election time.

We’ve split the Act Local campaign into two; focusing on two important issues or campaigning topics; Space for Nature and Connected Communities. Space for Nature, which gives you the tools to make your community a sanctuary for biodiversity, and Connected Communities, which empowers you to advocate for cleaner and sustainable communities, tie in with issues where local decision makers have a big influence. And YOU can influence the impact that they have!

The power of local campaigning and action is perfectly captured by Oisín Coghlan, our CEO, in our Impact Report September 2023, where he says:

As decision makers grapple with actually rolling out the policy changes we need to cut pollution, we need local people being visibly and vocally supportive of climate action, whether it’s challenging our “car first” culture or demanding more space for nature. Otherwise local media and local decision makers will only pay attention to those opposing action because they see it as disruptive. We know that climate breakdown would be a much bigger disruption and we have to speak up before it’s too late.

Join Act Local

 

Late last year, we launched our Act Local toolkit, a nuts and bolts campaigning guide and a series of ideas/suggestions for topics you and your community can take action on now and see real results.

When you sign up to join Act Local, you will be able to connect with like-minded people and community groups in your area. Connecting with these people and groups will help you be a more effective change-maker on climate than acting alone. We’ll offer ongoing support to help you organise as well.

You will also get a survey to identify your needs and desires so that, in so far as practical, we at Friends of the Earth can offer support tailored to your needs. For instance, one place to start is a Cuppa for Climate where you can meet other like-minded people who care about climate and the environment, share common anxieties, and begin to work out solutions, including local action.

We are building up to having an Act Local Spring Gathering in Dublin this March to connect people and have space to put forward our demands and strategy before the next elections (and beyond). Watch this space!

The global Friends of the Earth movement brings together more than two million people in 75 countries, combining people power all over the world to transform local actions into global impact. Together, with us, your voice is louder, your actions more significant, your impact greater. Together, with you, we are determined to change the world for good, for everyone.

It is all too easy to fall into cynicism and hopelessness, but every fraction of a degree of global warming matters in terms of minimising the impact on millions affected by climate catastrophe. 

You can play your part in that by getting involved in local climate campaigning today.