As millions gather globally to climate strike and government leaders meet at the UN in New York, hundreds of transformational communities who are taking practical, grassroots action towards a zero-carbon, regenerative and inclusive Europe, are celebrating the European Day of Sustainable Communities on 21 September.

Citizens in 27 countries have organised a myriad of events – from conferences on community energy to Transition Network festivals, permaculture gatherings, ecovillage open days, hackathons,  shared meals, waste clean-ups and harvest festivals, to much more – to highlight their efforts in the face of ecological and climate breakdown.

“The diversity and extent of events that communities across Europe have organised and registered is testament to the groundswell of local, citizen and community-led initiatives across the continent,” says Eamon O’Hara, Executive Director of ECOLISE, the main organiser of the Day. “These initiatives demonstrate the myriad of different ways that local people are taking action in the face of climate and ecological breakdown, with some communities reducing their ecological impact by more than half.”

“While our young people are taking to the streets, supported by growing numbers of the wider public, we are highlighting the grassroots work that is already taking place. Citizens are reimaging and creating ways of living that regenerate their social, economic and ecological systems.”

The 3rd edition of the European Day of Sustainable Communities highlights for the general public and policy makers at European Union, national, regional and local municipal level, the scope and potential of community-led action on climate change and sustainability.

A map of all events is shared on the multi-lingual www.sustainable-communities.net available in eight languages.

ECOLISE has organised a round-table discussion on community-led action with members of the European Parliament in Brussels, hosted by Sean Kelly MEP, in collaboration with the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Committee of the Regions (CoR), the EU’s assembly of local and regional authorities.

The countries where events are taking place are: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and the Ukraine.

Details of the EDSC partners and national contact points who are supporting the day are here. 

ECOLISE is supporting the EDSC national partners thanks to winning the 2019 Lush Spring Prize Influence Award. 

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For further information please contact: Iva Pocock, Communications Coordinator,  

Updated 11th October 2019