What is Spark ClimAct?
Climate change perpetuates inequality. The people who contribute the least to the climate crisis are being hit hardest by its consequences. That's unfair. That is why we stand with the people who fight for climate justice, especially women and girls.
As women and girls are disproportionately affected by climate change and often excluded from climate justice strategies because of inequities, SPARK aims to be gender transformative, and has a strong gender justice strategy at its core.
Spark ClimAct is delivered by a diverse consortium of 20 organizations in 13 European countries, working together for climate justice. We do this by raising awareness, building capacity and facilitating EU citizens, particularly youth, to build and mobilize public support for ambitious gender-just climate action and development policies in line with Agenda 2030. Spark A Change
SPARK
SPARK is supported and maintained with the financial partnership of the European Union, through the EC-DEAR (Development Education and Awareness Raising) and implemented by several partners across Europe.
Standing behind climate activist
We supported Kenyan climate activist Elizabeth Wathuti’s Open letter on Loss and Damage financing. The open letter gathered over 133,000 signatures, Elizabeth met with MEPs and victims of climate change in Europe, gained strong media attention and travelled to COP27 where the letter was handed in to the COP27 President. A historic Agreement for a Loss and Damage fund from all nations was secured at COP27, which was an unexpected and major campaign success.
Mobilizing the Power of People in 2022
With our partner Climate Outreach, we have conducted two-year research into the attitudes and perceptions of youth to climate justice. This report which gathered data from 6000 show that when a climate justice analysis is presented to young adults in Europe, the views of those who are concerned about climate change align with many aspects of that analysis. However, there are gaps in their understanding, as well as resistance to some climate justice principles. See report - ‘Communicating Climate Justice with Young Adults in Europe
A selection of our results from 2021-2022
700.000 +
People were mobilised to take climate action
27,000+
people were trained
390,000+
people attended events such as festivals, concerts and film screenings
36,000,000
people were reached through online and offline campaigns
Youth Activism for Climate Justice – COP26
A group of youth ambassadors travelled with our partners to COP26 where we engaged them in a program of training and engagement.
Rail to COP26
Youth activists travelled by rail from Europe with the ClimAct project to Glasgow. During the train journey they heard from inspirational climate campaigners and received campaign training. Upon arrival there was an Activist Welcome Workshop which was an information exchange and networking opportunity. Many shared their experiences via social media, and to the World Climate March campaign with some extra help from ‘Tony Chocolonely’ chocolate bars supporting the campaign with a QR code on the wrapper.
Loss & Damage Op-Ed Workshop
Together sixty young activists from different countries working online and offline, with editorial support, wrote an Op-Ed called ‘The kids will be alright (if they are not lost and damaged by COP26)’. They crafted a piece that highlights the material and psychological impacts of climate change and the critical need for loss and damage financing. This was published on Global Youth Day in the CAN Eco-Bulletin, which is read by negotiators and policy makers at COP26. It was also published on The Energy Mix and Oxfam’s Medium.
Young Activists address MEPs
ClimAct arranged an exchange between young activists and MEPs at Civic House in Glasgow for youth activists to engage directly with members of the European Parliament, set out their views and asked questions. The MEPs in attendance were: Malin Bjork –Sweden; Silvia Modig –Finland; Manuel Bompard –France; Manon Aubry –France; Cornelia Hernst –Germany; Sira Rego –Spain; Joao Pimenta–Portugal; and Anja Hazekamp –Netherlands.
Voices of Eco-Feminism
This inspiring discussion with a live and online audience explored the experiences and challenges of gender transformative climate activism, with Nadiah Dzulfakar, Co-founder of Klima Action Malaysia, Ineza Umuhoza Grace, community focused climate activism Rwanda, and Gabriela Franco Prieto, peace building and climate action Colombia.
World Climate March
On November 6th 2021 on the Global Day of Action, ClimAct activists with the World Climate March campaign took to the streets of Glasgow and other European cities. Using pedi-cabs, bikes and screens to project images, climate activists both physically and virtually joined hundreds of thousands of people in cities around the world demanding climate justice. Tens of thousands of people in more than 40 countries signed up and joined the march, and images and messages from these activities were projected around Glasgow during the COP.
Contact us
For more information, please contact Emma Boles - Communications Lead ClimAct - emma.boles@oxfamnovib.nl
