2C NEED TO KNOW Campaign Ideas

Campaigns raise awareness and help get people excited about a climate-conscious movement. You can use the following campaign ideas on your campus:

• Review 52 climate actions for ideas and approaches for your climate campaign  
• Use 6 steps from brainstorm to evaluate to plan and execute your campaign
• Need ideas on what to consider for your climate disruption campaign? Read this
• Use existing campaigns such as the UN’s ACT NOW,  Drawdown’s Eco-Challenge, We don’t have time and TED’s Countdown

These materials serve as a base to customise and advertise awareness activities to the school or adapt them to specific needs.

Framing the narrative

It can be easy to think negatively about climate change when much of the narrative has been focused on “doom and gloom”. However, when launching your campaign, you have the opportunity to frame the narrative more positively. Focus on the benefits of climate action, such as cleaner air and water, better health, and happier lifestyles for more people. You must be realistic about the challenges of global warming and that change will require work but instil a feeling of hope rather than despair in the people you are welcoming into your campaign. Focus on the positive actions you and your fellow school community members can take now to make the world better.

Hosting events

Here are some ideas for hosting events to raise awareness about climate change and support for future Carbon-free Campus projects. Everyone is encouraged to use creativity to come up with different event ideas!  

Meatless Mondays or Meat-Free Meals Awareness Event: Use one or more days a week to highlight the importance of a plant-rich diet. Reducing meat consumption is one of the major ways campuses can reduce their carbon footprints.

Fashion Fridays: Making and distributing clothing has a huge impact on the climate. The textile industry contributes about 10% of global GHG emissions, according to the United Nations. Pick one day a week to ask students and teachers to consciously wear zero-waste fashion that is sustainably sourced. You can also ask students to use these days to upcycle old clothes and collect clothing donations. When it comes to emissions, fast fashion in particular is the main culprit. Refuse fast fashion by using clothing rental and resale, and refrain from buying new clothing in the first place.

Film screenings: Host film screening events evenings or after school of awareness-raising films. After the film, hold a question and answer session or a panel of experts so that students can explore the ideas just presented to them in the film. The following are film ideas for screening:  

Carpooling Campaign: Transportation is one major way campuses can make a positive contribution to the climate problem. Take photos of you and your friends carpooling to school with the hashtag #CarpoolingForClimate to raise awareness about the easy solutions for bettering transport. Talk with friends who live in your neighbourhood about how best to attend events together instead of in separate cars.

Join the UN’s Act Now Campaign: Use the social media at your disposal, anything from Instagram to TikTok, to share with your networks the actions that you are taking now to help solve climate change. Use the hashtag #ActNow and raise awareness about the global community that is working together as part of the UN’s Act Now Campaign.

Hold a brainstorming session in your own classroom or campus to think of campaigns that would be most effective in your particular communities and social groups. Be creative and stay positive!