Take Action: Declare a Climate Emergency Global Shapers Community & The Climate Reality Project Europe

Last update: 25 May 2022

Despite being possibly the greatest threat in human history, rapid climate change is not treated as an emergency, with many governments and leadership bodies acting in a ‘business-as-usual’ manner.

"The jury has reached a verdict. And it is damning. This report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is a litany of broken climate promises. It is a file of shame, cataloguing the empty pledges that put us firmly on track towards an unliveable world.

We are on a fast track to climate disaster. Major cities under water. Unprecedented heatwaves. Terrifying storms. Widespread water shortages. The extinction of a million species of plants and animals. This is not fiction or exaggeration. It is what science tells us will result from our current energy policies.

We are on a pathway to global warming of more than double the 1.5°C limit agreed in Paris. Some Government and business leaders are saying one thing, but doing another. Simply put, they are lying. And the results will be catastrophic. This is a climate emergency."

António Guterres, United Nations Secretary General

Is your community ready to declare climate emergency?

Let's call it what it is. We are in a state of climate emergency. Sadly, the decisions and actual policies implemented by the world's governments do not reflect it. Calling on national governments to turn their words into action seems necessary, yet painfully ineffective. It is time to switch our focus to a more receptive audience - the local communities, be it municipalities, universities, religious groups, associations, or even companies.

1. What does ‘climate emergency’ exactly mean?

An “emergency declaration” demonstrates that the local community, the local government rates the problem as very serious, that priority will be given to resolving the crisis, that we are all in the crisis together and that, officially, “business as usual” and “reform-as-usual” no longer applies.

Emergency mode provides:

• clarity of purpose to protect all people, societies, and ecosystems;
• risk management through full and transparent assessment of rapid climate change impacts;
• full and frank communication - large scale and rapid action requires whole-of-society and political bipartisanship;
• highest priority so that sufficient resources are applied to address the challenge;
• local leadership enabling the transformation of the physical economy at a great speed, as well as
• ensuring fairness so that the burden of transformation is shared in a reasonable manner.

2. What is a "Climate Emergency Declaration"

A climate emergency declaration or declaring a climate emergency is a strategic decision taken by local governments or national parliaments to acknowledge humanity is in a climate emergency and support defining an action plan to mobilize all stakeholders to address the climate crisis. The first such declaration was made by a local government in December 2016. Since then over 1,900 local governments in 34 countries have made climate emergency declarations (as of June 2021). Populations covered by jurisdictions that have declared a climate emergency amount to over 1 billion citizens.

3. Why is the climate emergency declaration important?

A Climate Emergency declaration issued by a body in authority, such as a government or local council, can be a powerful catalyst for community-wide action if paired with a clear action plan.

“To evaluate whether we are currently in a climate crisis, the public will look to each other — and particularly to the climate organizations, writers, and leaders. Are they calling it an emergency? Does the tone of their writing and statements convey alarm and a passionate desire for massive action to avert imminent crisis? Are they demanding an emergency response? Are they acting like it’s an emergency? Are they themselves in emergency mode? If the answer to these questions is “no,” the individual will conclude that there must not be an emergency, or that emergency action is hopeless because the leaders are apparently unwilling to coordinate emergency action.” Margaret Klein Salamon PhD, psychologist, founder of The Climate Mobilization in the US.

People who were previously complacent about the climate crisis may respond with fear if their local council declares a Climate Emergency, but that fear will be channelled into action if their local council also gives clear information about the most effective ways everyone can take action and the realistic outcomes to expect from those actions.

4. What happens when a local authority declares a climate emergency?

Once a local government makes a declaration, the next step for the declaring authority is to set priorities to mitigate climate change, prior to ultimately entering a state of emergency or equivalent. In declaring a climate emergency, a government admits that climate change (or global warming) exists and that the measures taken up to this point are not enough to limit the changes brought by it. The decision stresses the need for the government and administration to devise measures that try to stop human-caused global warming.

5. About the "Climate Emergency Communities" project

The objective of the project is to encourage local authorities (eg. municipality decision-makers) to declare a ‘climate emergency’, acknowledging the urgency and necessity of taking climate action at every level of society and committing to taking said action at a local level.

The immediate result of the actions taken by the Hub should be the declaration of a climate emergency made by the selected local authority (on a district/city level). An “emergency declaration” demonstrates that the local government rates the problem as very serious, that priority will be given to resolving the crisis, that we are all in the crisis together and that, officially, “business as usual” and “reform-as-usual” no longer applies.

The project is divided into 3 stages: LISTEN, CONNECT, ACT, based on the Climate Reality Europe’s ‘Climate Emergency Communities’ guidelines (click to download).

5.1. LISTEN (1-3 months)

• understand the impact of climate change on your local community, focusing on the most affected stakeholders/social groups;
• identify local communities’ strategies and plans on climate action;
• identify your allies calling for climate action at a local level;

5.2. CONNECT (3-6 months)

Initiate dialogue and cooperation with selected civil society organizations by connecting with local Climate Reality Leaders & other stakeholders, and organizing workshop & stakeholder dialogue;

5.3. ACT (6-12 months)

• Synthesize the local vision, local challenges, and the status of municipality actions;
• Communicate your demands to local decision makers, engage local/national media & influencers to support your cause;
• Maintain an ongoing dialogue with stakeholders and monitor next steps following (hopefully successful) climate emergency declaration.

6. FAQ

I want to learn more about the climate emergency declaration.

If you wish to learn more about the climate emergency declaration, please visit the Climate Emergency Declaration website.

I want to start the project with my Hub. What should I do first?

Define who is going to be the project leader & project team and ask them to finalize the Global Shapers project template with your Impact Officer. The project team should download the "Climate Emergency Community Guidelines" developed by the Climate Reality Europe volunteers, review them carefully, and plan activities accordingly to the given schedule: phases "Listen", "Connect", and "Act".

What if my community (municipality, organisation etc.) has already declared climate emergency?

If your community has already declared a climate emergency this is great news! But your action doesn't (and shouldn't) stop there! Feel free to use Climate Reality Europe's "Climate Emergency Communities" guidelines (link) and follow the steps outlined in the document to keep the local decision-makers accountable.

Got any feedback or ideas to make the project better? Please email europe@climatereality.com