Grassroots movements are transforming the landscape of climate solutions globally, addressing the multiplicity of root causes and effects of the climate crisis in lasting ways.

Grassroots movements are uniquely positioned to influence climate-related policy. We tracked the impact that grassroots groups have on climate-related policy, law, and governance practices from local to international levels.

As part of our learning and evaluation process, we employed an Outcome Harvesting methodology to learn how our grassroots movement partners are advancing systemic and policy change to address the climate crisis. We analyzed 65 grant reports from 19 of our grassroots partners between 2015 – 2021 and identified 254 outcomes (social and political changes) influencing 285 actors.

The Outcome Harvesting process helped us to better understand how CLIMA’s funding to grassroots climate action is leading to effective and sustainable change. This brief captures just a few examples of how grassroots groups change policy. The brief demonstrates that grassroots movements are critical for advancing climate action commensurate with the scenarios in the recent IPCC reports. The brief provides further evidence that grassroots-led change creates results that are long-lasting, effective at cooling the planet, and integral to upholding social justice.

To learn how grassroots movements are philanthropy’s best bet to confront the climate crisis, read Grassroots Movements and Policy Change: Investing in Grassroots Movements to Build Political Will for Climate Solutions now.