CommunityMunichChampion gender-just climate and health action in MunichChampion gender-just climate and health action in Munich WECF connects ecofeminist groups that link clean air, toxin-free homes, and reproductive health in Munich. Their Gender Just Climate Solutions Awards recognise grassroots projects that already protect bodies and ecosystems together. The 2026 application window closed on 12 July; winners are celebrated at COP 31 in Antalya (November 2026). What you can do - Read Climate Justice Starts at the Roots for field-tested finance and policy asks - Follow WECF and the Women and Gender Constituency for 2026 winners and the next award round - Host a neighbourhood conversation using WECF toolkits on chemicals in everyday products How it works WECF funds and mentors women-led organisations, then brings their evidence into UN and EU climate spaces. Local groups test solutions first; advocates scale what works. Why it matters Climate policy that ignores gender misses who cooks, cares, and lives nearest to pollution. Grassroots women already hold the blueprints.healthgenderclimate +2
CommunityCologneGreener carnival: sustainable Veedelszüge in CologneGreener carnival: sustainable Veedelszüge in Cologne The AG Nachhaltige Veedelzüge brings together BKB Verlag, Cradle to Cradle NGO Köln, Scientists for Future Köln/Bonn, and Zero Waste Köln. The aim: carnival tradition that respects materials: costumes, floats, Kamelle: without preaching from the sidelines. What the AG offers - Growing guide “Zoch ohne Driss” with tips for costumes, throws, and parade logistics. - A shared database of ideas and field reports (filter “Idee Karneval”): submit your best practice with photo rights. - Second-hand costume markets and swaps across Cologne in January/February (dates on their page). - Mini booklet giveaway “Pänz feiern Jeck - ganz ohne Dreck” for participating parades. Get involved Ideas, photos, and questions: AG-Nachhaltige-Veedelszuege@posteo.de Why it matters Karneval draws huge crowds; lighter throws and reused costumes cut parade-day waste without dampening the festivity.carnivalreuseadvocacy
Repair & ReuseLeipzigAdvocate for a local repair bonusRepair before replace: with public support From May 2022, Stadtreinigung Leipzig and SMEKUL (Saxony’s environment ministry) ran a pilot Leipziger Reparaturbonus: residents received support to choose repair over new purchase. Evaluation: 682 products repaired; about 40% of participants said the bonus motivated them to repair. What you can do elsewhere - Map repair cafés and trusted craftspeople in your city. - Ask local government for voucher schemes like Saxony's follow-up statewide repair bonus. - Share success stories so repair stays visible in policy debates. Why it matters Small public subsidies tip the balance toward repair, the Leipzig pilot showed vouchers can motivate real fixes.repairpolicyadvocacy
Repair & ReuseKielTry cloth nappies: a proven Kiel pilot patternSauber gewickelt: weniger Restabfall A child uses roughly 6,000 disposable nappies before potty training, about one tonne of waste. From 2022-2024 Kiel subsidised cloth nappy starter kits (up to €200); 496 households joined and saved an estimated 80 tonnes of residual waste per year. Why it matters The Kiel pilot showed hundreds of families can divert tonnes of nappy waste when cloth is affordable and supported.familyreuseadvocacy
LearnCommunityMunichHelp Munich become a Zero Waste CityHelp Munich become a Zero Waste City Since July 2020 the city council tasked AWM to develop a Zero Waste concept with residents, businesses, and departments. Munich aims to cut roughly 720,000 tonnes of annual household waste and keep resources in use. What you can do - Join workshops and stakeholder sessions on the AWM project page - Start with one habit this week: repair, reuse, or better sorting Three pillars - Zero-Waste lifestyle: mindful consumption in everyday life - Zero-Waste economy: cleaner production and processes - Zero-Waste administration: municipal operations lead by example Why it matters A million-tonne waste cut needs everyone, residents, businesses, and city hall, pulling toward the same circular habits.zero-wasteadvocacylocal
CommunityViennaGraz "(Zero) Waste in the City?": civic dialogue between activism and urban agendaA panel that brought zero waste into the policy conversation In September 2024, Zero Waste Austria participated in a panel discussion in Graz: "(Zero) Waste in the City? Between Activism and Urban Agenda", organised by the Waste in Motion (WiM) research network. The panel brought together experts from WiM, representatives of the City of Graz, Zero Waste Austria, and Katja Sres from Ekologi Brez Meja (Slovenia): one of the strongest Zero Waste Europe member organisations. The format is designed to be replicable in other Austrian cities. What the panel discussion format provides - A structured dialogue between zero waste advocates, researchers, and city officials - Cross-border learning: Slovenia's experience via Ekologi Brez Meja adds an EU best-practice dimension - A public record that zero waste is a legitimate part of urban policy discourse in Graz - A template that other Austrian cities can use to host similar panels with city council involvement How to engage - Austrian municipalities and research institutions: contact Zero Waste Austria or the Waste in Motion research network to organise a similar panel in your city - Activists and civil society: use the Graz format as a model for connecting with local researchers and city officials: the research network provides academic legitimacy - Students and academics: engage with the Waste in Motion network and connect zero waste scholarship to local policy advocacy Why it matters Zero waste needs a seat at the urban policy table, not just protest outside it. The Graz panel brought advocates, researchers, and city officials into one room, a replicable format for turning activism into municipal agenda.advocacyeducationpolicy +2
CommunitySofiaEcoObshtina: Bulgaria's national zero waste municipality competitionThe competition that raised the stakes for Bulgarian local government The EcoObshtina (Eco Municipality) competition is Bulgaria's largest annual award for sustainable municipalities, organised in partnership with the French Embassy. Za Zemiata shapes its evaluation criteria to prioritise measurable waste reduction outcomes: ensuring the competition rewards genuinely impactful programmes over greenwashing. In 2024, both Svilengrad and Gabrovo received the EcoMunicipality award, boosting the visibility of zero waste solutions at the level of national ministries and the National Association of Municipalities. What EcoObshtina does for zero waste - Evaluation criteria designed by Za Zemiata to reward source separation rates, PAYT implementation, and community engagement over less measurable commitments - Award ceremonies provide media coverage that amplifies zero waste success stories nationally - Partnership with the French Embassy brings international credibility and comparative benchmarking - Winning municipalities become reference cases for other local authorities to study How to engage - Bulgarian municipalities: apply for the next EcoObshtina cycle: follow Za Zemiata for application deadlines and criteria - Community groups: nominate your municipality for EcoObshtina recognition and document the waste programmes it runs - Policy advocates: use the competition results to name and praise municipalities that are leading: and ask the Ministry why national policy has not yet caught up with local practice Why it matters National awards turn local zero waste wins into stories ministers and neighbouring mayors cannot ignore. When Svilengrad and Gabrovo took EcoMunicipality honours in 2024, they gave every Bulgarian council a visible benchmark, and a reason to aim higher than greenwashing.advocacyawardspolicy +2
CommunityFlorenceLivorno incinerator closure: community mobilisation winsHow Livorno permanently closed its local incinerator In 2024, Zero Waste Italy helped mobilise the community of Livorno, a port city on the Tuscan coast, to secure the permanent closure of its local incinerator. The campaign combined technical advocacy: showing that alternatives existed: with community organising to build broad public and political pressure. What happened - ZWI supported local residents and civil society groups in building the case against continued incineration - Community pressure alongside technical evidence persuaded decision-makers to close the facility permanently - Livorno joins a growing list of Italian cities phasing out waste incineration in favour of source separation and reuse Why it matters The Livorno closure shows that communities do not have to accept incineration as the default. With the right information and organised residents, the economics and politics of waste can be shifted. ZWI's experience here is now a template for similar campaigns elsewhere in Italy. What you can do - If your city has a waste-to-energy facility under review, contact Zero Waste Italy for advocacy support and technical materials - Attend public consultations on local waste management plans and raise the zero-waste alternativeadvocacyanti-incinerationcommunity-mobilisation +1
CommunityBarcelonaBarcelona Zero Waste Observatory: residents and experts shaping city policyA city advisory body where zero waste is built in public The Barcelona Zero Waste Observatory is an advisory body created by Barcelona City Council to bring together Zero Waste experts, civil society organisations, and community representatives who drive the zero waste movement in the city. Rezero: the Catalan Zero Waste organisation is one of the founding participants. The Observatory coordinates communication between the City Council and the entities running projects on the ground, giving residents and advocates a direct channel into municipal decision-making. What the Observatory does - Brings together 20+ organisations working on waste reduction, reuse, and circular economy in Barcelona - Serves as the official advisory body to the city on Zero Waste policy and plans - Facilitates joint projects: from school food surplus management to plastic-free market studies - Publishes findings and recommendations publicly How to get involved - Follow Rezero for Observatory updates and public consultation opportunities - Attend open events where Observatory members present findings to Barcelona residents - If you run a Zero Waste initiative in Barcelona, contact Rezero about joining the Observatory network Why it matters Cities that embed civil society into policy structures tend to make stronger and longer-lasting zero waste commitments. The Barcelona Observatory is a governance model other European cities are watching closely.observatoryadvocacypolicy +1
VolunteerEnergyBrusselsFFRes: Fast and Fair Renewables task forceYouth-led advocacy for equitable renewables rollout FFRes (Fast and Fair Renewables) is a youth task force within the European Youth Energy Network (EYEN) that builds solutions at the intersection of young people and the energy transition. The programme won the European Climate Fund Award 2025 (E.ON foundation) for combining advocacy with practical policy work on fair renewables deployment. What you can do - Join EYEN as a volunteer and contribute to FFRes working groups on fair renewables - Follow FFRes outputs for replicable advocacy patterns your city or campus group can adapt - Connect local community-energy projects with EYEN's European network for visibility and peer learning How to participate - Apply via Join as a Volunteer on the EYEN site - Check open positions for solution-building and advocacy roles Why it matters Renewables expansion must be fast and fair. A youth-led task force that documents what works, and amplifies it across European capitals, gives local builders a template for equitable community energy.renewablesyouthadvocacy +2
EventCommunityBrusselsYoung Energy Ambassadors programmeYouth voices shaping EU clean-energy policy The Young Energy Ambassadors initiative engages 18-35-year-olds from the EU, EEA, and Ukraine who are passionate about the clean energy transition. Each year a cohort of 30 ambassadors promotes EU energy policies among peers and represents youth at the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW). What you can do - Apply to become a Young Energy Ambassador when calls open each spring - Host a local EUSEW side event featuring ambassador materials - Bring youth energy perspectives into your community council or campus group How to participate - Follow the programme via Energy and youth and EUSEW - The 2026 cohort begins its mandate at EUSEW, 9-11 June 2026 Why it matters Intergenerational fairness requires structured youth participation, not token consultation. Ambassadors create a pipeline from local action to EU policy dialogue.youthambassadorsEUSEW +2
CommunityBerlinHealth for Future local groups, heat on the agenda in BerlinHealth for Future local groups, heat on the agenda in Berlin Health for Future (H4F) connects clinicians, carers, and public-health staff who want climate action that protects patients, including heat plans in hospitals, schools, and municipalities in Berlin. What you can do - Find or start a local Ortsgruppe via Health for Future - Set heat protection on the agenda at your workplace, Kita, or clinic, use the alliance's short videos for health professions - Subscribe to the Deutscher Wetterdienst Hitzewarnungen newsletter and share alerts with vulnerable neighbours - Network with your Kommune, Betrieben, and Sozialeinrichtungen, see BZgA heat guidance linked from the H4F page About Health for Future Health for Future was launched by KLUG – Deutsche Allianz Klimawandel und Gesundheit. Local groups host Hitzeaktionstag events, roundtables, and film nights, Solarpunker reposts for discovery; H4F organisers lead their own programmes. Why it matters When health voices join neighbourhood planning, cool rooms and tree corridors show up before the next Hitzewelle, not after the emergency ward fills.Health for Futurehealth workersOrtsgruppe +2
