Community climate action
Community business at the heart of meaningful & inclusive climate action.
As the impacts of interconnected climate, energy, and cost-of-living crises increase on our society, the imperative for a fairer, greener future demands a transformative shift in our economy. While this transformation poses its challenges, it also presents an unprecedented opportunity to forge a new economy that prioritises people, planet, and communities above all else.
Community businesses are beacons of hope and crucial agents of change in combatting these crises together. Despite the barriers they face, these enterprises are already at the forefront of climate action, while simultaneously bolstering and building resilience in local economies and fostering improved social outcomes in their communities.
Community work IS Climate work
Our latest research with IPPR North and Locality scopes the role of community business in climate action, providing practical resources on viable climate action pathways.
Driving positive change
The latest case studies from community businesses all over the country taking action on climate.
Bradford Organic Communities Service
Providing organic fruit and veg, as well as recycled paint and crafts, to the people of Bradford.
Ambition Community Energy
England’s largest community-owned wind turbine powering over 3,000 homes in Lawrence Weston.
Witton Lodge Community Organisation
Community anchor organisation in Birmingham that transformed derelict land into useable green space and turned the old park keepers cottage into an eco community facility, reducing energy costs by 55%
Fordhall Farm
England’s first community-owned, chemical-free farm in Shropshire. Educates on sustainable farming and supports local communities.
Pollenize
Pollenize uses the power of community and science to fight against pollinator decline.
Banister House Solar
Residents of Banister House turned disillusion into the UK’s largest community-owned solar energy project on social housing.
Community Climate Action
In our latest blogs
How community businesses are driving climate action
Our new report, with IPPR North and Locality, explores how different community businesses models and actions are building resilient communities and the transition to a fairer, greener, future....
CATALYSING THE COMMUNITY ENERGY SECTOR
As five community businesses launch a groundbreaking community energy collective, seeking to raise £2.5m to take ownership of seven solar farms, our climate action manager explores why Power to Change backed this initiative and what we hope our investment...
What next for community energy businesses? Exploring next generation business models
Our Next Generation innovation programme has been supporting trials of alternative business models for community energy. Several models are now identified as near viable, generating considerable learnings for community businesses and wider stakeholders....
Cost of living and energy crises: Free resources and webinars
Community businesses can now access a multitude of useful resources and webinars to deepen their knowledge of energy efficiency, sustainability and community...
Learning about what works (and what doesn’t) for community energy businesses
You can learn from things going wrong as well as things going right....
Climate action support for community businesses
Supporting community businesses to make a real difference in the shift to a fairer, greener...
Real Ideas: From green shoots to mighty oaks
Real Ideas are a pioneering social enterprise supporting people to build better futures. In this blog, Ed Whitelaw reflects on the role of community business in parks and the importance of community climate...
How will COP26 encourage community climate action?
How will COP26 encourage community climate action? Will Walker, our climate action manager, blogs from...
Carbon Co-op: The people powered revolution
Carbon Co-op are a community energy organisation based in Greater Manchester. In this blog, Jonathon Atkinson discusses the importance of community climate action and reflects on what it all means at...
Sandra Salazar D'eca: Everyday Climate Hero
Sandra Salazar D'eca, founder of Go Grow With Love & head grower at Black Rootz, has been named as an Everyday Climate Hero in a new campaign shot by renowned photographer, Rankin....
“We believe that climate injustice goes hand in hand with social injustice, and that caring for the planet provides a huge opportunity to care for ourselves and our communities.”
Community climate action
How you can get involved
LEARN WITH US
We’ve partnered with AimHi to run a Climate and Sustainability Leadership training course for the community business sector.
TELL US
We want to know how your community is tackling the climate crisis. How are you engaging local people with the issue? And could your action plan be replicated and implemented elsewhere? Let us know.
REACH OUT
Get in touch to help shape a new, multimillion-pound climate action funding and support programme for the community business sector, which will launch in 2022. Contact us today.