The impending climate crisis is not something unknown or under-covered by the mainstream media. Countless international summits, national plans and local action can be seen in every corner of the continent and the globe. However, a lumbering political system has struggled to turn discussions and even promises into meaningful action. In response, a swell of citizens has taken action into their own hands. Some furiously ring the alarm bells, others innovate eco-solutions, and some change their lifestyle altogether. While the approaches differ greatly, their message is clear and unified. Change is needed now . We explore four powerful citizen-driven initiatives based in Europe to understand why these individuals have taken action into their own hands, and what we can all learn from them.
The Tiny House Movement in the Netherlands focuses on sustainable housing, urban gardening in Germany focuses on healthy and ecological food that is cutting the supply chain. In the UK, Birth Strike pledges to abstain from having children aiming to be a catalyst of system change. In Spain the phenomenon of eco-villages is popular. These citizen-driven responses to climate change across various countries in Europe show together an international trend. Presenting some interesting questions; have citizens become the agents of change in response to the climate crisis, and what are their motivations, goals and limitations?
The project was partly funded by a Reporters in the Field Grant of the Robert Bosch Stiftung. A collaboration with cross-border journalist Luke Ambrose.