Global citizens unite against climate change

Saving the climate is not just an issue for politics and business. Only if we all change our habits and behaviour sustainably will we have a future worth living. This is the idea behind the Climate Campaigners app, which helps people living in Europe and beyond take action on climate change with exciting challenges grounded in behavioural and social science insights.

Living more sustainably is a genuine challenge for many. But it pays off for everyone, as a simple calculation readily reveals. For example, if you leave your car at home and consistently cycle 10 kilometres to the office, you will save one tonne of CO₂. That may not sound like much at first – given the 8.26 billion tonnes of CO₂, that road traffic emits into the air worldwide. But if more than just a few people switch to cycling, and many make the shift – the savings will be enormous. That’s why the Climate Campaigners initiative is a global coalition of local governments promoting the uptake of sustainable lifestyle challenges.

The Climate Campaigners app offers challenges relevant to users’ lifestyles that can help them reduce their carbon footprints. The CO₂ reducing activities are specifically tailored to individual cities; and include key focus areas such as mobility, energy, food, and consumption. Residents are supported by the innovative functions of the climate app enabling them to track and analyse their own savings in real time and in detail. And users can network, share experiences and even cheer each other on. At the same time, each challenge automatically earns points that can be exchanged for prizes. In the latest  update, users are now able generate their own local challenges directly in the app.

Have a look at two of the most popular #CCchallenges:

• Active transport only – tomorrow! – High time to get active: Use only active modes of transport tomorrow (i.e. biking, kick scootering, walking, etc.). It will make you happier, fitter, and healthier – and help the environment too. Just remember to pay attention to other people in traffic and to observe traffic rules.
• Engage in local climate policy – Ask locally elected officials to enhance their climate change policies. Go ahead and be stubborn – that’s how democracy works. Can you do it during the next 60 days? The next generations will thank you!

Local resident’s efforts then directly support their cities in making structural changes to sustainable lifestyles in their communities. Users’ efforts are fed into an anonymised data pool that is open to all. The initiative’s research partners then analyse this data, and the results inform real policy recommendations in partner cities.

With the Climate Campaigners app, everyone can do something for the environment together in a playful and sustainable way – and help their communities reach their climate goals faster. By joining Climate Campaigners you will become part of a large climate community that will set things in motion. #ClimateCampaigners are already active in 14 other cities and counting, such as Milan, Dublin, and Cape Town.

To learn more about the Climate Campaigners initiative and to download the app, visit the website and/or become part of a global community on Instagram and Facebook.