This June, between the 6th and the 14th, the largest celebration of community action to combat climate change in the UK will once again take place. A yearly event organised by The Climate Coalition since 2021, The Great Big Green Week is an excellent opportunity for people to show how important climate action is in their communities and learn about how they can get involved in the fight to create a greener world. This year’s theme of ‘Together for Good’ is all about how communities can help make a meaningful difference and create a real benefit that they can see for themselves, so there has truly never been a better time to get involved.
Together for Good
What does this year’s theme actually mean? The theme has been chosen to highlight that when communities come together, they can create real benefits that can be seen by the people in those communities. Focus on these local benefits creates a knock-on effect that improves things on a larger scale. The more that happens locally, the bigger the impact nationally. By showcasing these local events, the big green week shows that they are part of a growing movement for action to protect nature and the environment.
What actually happens?
The Big Green Week is an extremely large event, or series of events, so there are lots of ways to get involved. Events run all over the country throughout the week and are widely varied. Everything is geared towards understanding the impact of climate change and protecting nature, but you might be surprised by how many different events there are. Some people organise nature walks in their local areas or schedule litter-picking. Others might host letter writing workshops or foraging classes. Still more could host football matches or film screenings using sustainable energy. Really the only limit on what the green week can mean to you is how creative you want to be when looking for an event. The website has a helpful tool to find events in your local area so finding something that is right for you is extremely easy.
Who can get involved?
The simple answer is anyone can. Whether you are looking to get your school, place of worship or business involved or simply trying to find something for just you or your family – anyone can organise or attend an event. In fact, the website has a wealth of tools to help out: including training, organisers guides, event ideas, engagement guides, branded materials and much more. Setting up your own event and linking it with others locally and across the UK couldn’t be easier, and the wealth of support available means you will always feel confident in your next steps. So, if you have an idea for an event that might bring your community together for climate action take a look – it could be the start of a great tradition.
What is the point of it all?
The point is to have fun while raising climate awareness in your community, but the week also shows politicians and policy makers that sustainability is a growing concern for hundreds of thousands of people. When decision makers see their local communities making a real effort to raise awareness of these issues, they start to make larger scale changes. The more this happens throughout the country, and indeed the world, the better. Many solutions already exist to preserve the natural world and slow climate change – they just need to be put in place. These solutions will likely also help with the cost-of-living crisis and create a stronger economy once they are fully embraced and implemented. As we come together to create and attend these events, we are reminding everyone to care for the environment and each other to create a world that works for everyone.
However, if that all seems like a lot to consider, then the point can still be just to have fun with your community. As mentioned, taking part can be as simple as taking a local nature walk as a group or attending a clothes swap/repair day. If you aren’t someone who can organise a big event, or simply don’t have the time, just showing up and meeting your community is great. For the more ambitious or those with some free time, organising a smaller event can be extremely rewarding. As long as you are helping to raise awareness of environmental issues you are helping to make the Big Green Week, Great.
We do look forward to seeing how big some of you can make it, though!
