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International Partnerships
Project

SPARK a change for climate justice

Climate activist Elizabeth Wathuti addressing other activists in Brussels to demand climate justice
Climate activist Elizabeth Wathuti addressing other activists in Brussels to demand climate justice © SPARK

Climate change perpetuates inequality, with the people who contribute the least to the climate crisis being hit hardest by its consequences. In addition, women and girls are disproportionately affected by climate change and often excluded from action strategies because of systemic inequities. These interlinked issues of climate impact, mitigation and inequality are collectively known as climate justice.

SPARK is a diverse consortium of 20 organisations in 13 European countries, which raises awareness, builds capacity and facilitates EU citizens, particularly youth, to build and mobilise public support for ambitious gender-transformative climate justice actions and development policies in line with Agenda 2030.

This project is supported by DEAR - the EU's Development Education and Awareness Raising Programme.

Results

SPARK has raised awareness of climate justice with over 36 million people across Europe and mobilised over 700,000 people to support climate justice in various ways including marches, petitions and online actions. The project has trained over 20,000 young people to support and organise climate justice actions.

SPARK handed over thousands of hand-drawn postcard messages from young people to COP27 negotiators
SPARK handed over thousands of hand-drawn postcard messages from young people to COP27 negotiators © SPARK

Highlights so far

  • SPARK supported Kenyan climate activist Elizabeth Wathuti’s open letter on loss and damage financing. The open letter gathered over 140,000 signatures. Elizabeth met with MEPs and victims of climate change in Europe, gained strong media attention and travelled to COP27 where the letter was handed to the COP27 President. A historic Agreement for a Loss and Damage Fund from all nations was secured at COP27, which was an unexpected and major campaign success
  • In the first week of COP27, SPARK handed over thousands of encouraging hand-drawn postcard messages from young people all across Europe addressed to COP27 negotiators. They all call clearly and creatively for climate justice and several delegates used the postcards to emphasise this in their speeches
  • SPARK conducted a two-year research into the climate justice attitudes and perceptions of youth in Europe. The report Communicating Climate Justice with Young Adults in Europe gathered data from 6 000 young people, and captures key information not previously explored. The findings show that when a climate justice analysis is presented to young adults in Europe, there is alignment but there are gaps in their understanding, as well as resistance to some climate justice principles

Implementing partners

  • Belgium: Oxfam Belgium, Climate Action Network Europe (CAN), 11.11.11, Ecolise, Oxfam International
  • Bulgaria: Za zemiata
  • Czechia: CDE (Centre for Transport and Energy)
  • France:CliMates, Oxfam France
  • Germany: Oxfam Germany
  • Hungary: NSC-FOE (National Society of Conservationists-Friends of the Earth)
  • Italy: ICN (Italian Climate Network)
  • Latvia: Green Liberty
  • Netherlands: WECF (Women Engage for a Common Future), Oxfam Novib
  • Portugal: ZERO (Association for the Sustainability of the Earth System)
  • Romania: ART (Asociației România în Tranziție)
  • Spain: Oxfam Intermon
  • United Kingdom: Oxfam GB, Climate Outreach