Communities for Local Green Deals

ongoing

The Communities for Local Green Deals - COM4LGD project recognizes the intersection of the climate and environmental crisis with the social and political polarisation that EU citizens are currently faced with. The innovative solution we propose for a sustainable, just, democratic and inclusive future for the EU is a focus on local community development, climate and sustainability action, community organising, advocacy, and cooperation between citizens and local governments covering all 27 member states. The engagement of European citizens and communities in action related to climate and environment (Priority 2) is only relevant as long as these actions are also promoting democratic participation for the common future of Europe (Priority 1). We ground our conceptual approach on Transformative Social Innovation driven by socio-environmental justice values, which we implement using inclusive deep debates, collective scenario planning, and gender mainstreaming. We aim to 1) Strengthen our transnational metanetwork of grassroots, local citizens’ community-oriented initiatives; 2) Improve the accountability and responsiveness of decision-makers and policy-makers to input from communities, and empower communities to organise; 3) Empower European citizens and communities to become aware of and actively engaged in implementing sustainability and climate actions; and 4) Promote gender equality as an essential condition for sustainable and just transformation. Building on prior complementary projects, actions and tools produced, with an expected communication outreach of half a million European citizens and extensive relevant expertise, this translocal and transnational Consortium will ensure a EU-wide and long lasting impact in terms of promoting citizens’ and representative associations’ participation in and contributions to the democratic and sustainable life of the Union, with a focus on the inclusion of women, non-binary persons, and youth.