Our team has been working hard over the past few months to improve the website and add some new features, such as reorganised content and improved look & feel. This process began with a survey during the 2022 General Assembly where members gave their input into the improvements needed to the website, followed by a redesign co-creation session, and working with the web design agency Douglass Digital. Thanks to all collaborators for your support!

We invite you to submit your events, news, and resources to the website. We are committed to building a vibrant and supportive online space and we hope that it will serve as a platform for us to come together and work towards a more sustainable future. 

We are excited to announce that 2023 will bring an event for ECOLISE members, team, and Council to meet in-person for a Climate Outreach Training on capacity building for advocacy campaigning. The event will take place at Koningsteen, Belgium, on 13-16th March 2023 (travel days included).On this training we are collaborating with the Good Lobby to synergise with our ongoing policy consultation process. The training will empower us all to embody the 10 Theses towards transformative community-led local development and make use of them for advocacy campaigning on national levels. The event and travels are fully funded for 20 participants and food costs are covered for 10 additional participants (ideally people from nearby). Secure your place by signing up before February 6th. You’ll reach us for more info at info@ecolise.eu.

We recommend reading this in-depth article on the experience of ECOLISE’s network weaver Laura Kaestele at the COP27 climate summit. 

Despite a theme of "together for implementation," the conference saw very little progress made on climate action and achieving net zero emissions. The article explores the ways in which the conference was sponsored by major corporations and presided over by a repressive government, leading to frustration among attendees about the lack of real action and greenwashing. If you are interested in learning more about Laura’s experience, we encourage you to read the full article on our website.

The Just Transition Fund aims to support regions and workers affected by the transition to a low-carbon economy. A survey has been created to gather insights on policy approaches and projects that have been successful in addressing the challenges of this transition. Your participation in the survey, which should take about 10 minutes, would be greatly appreciated and will contribute to the creation of a new Just Transition Platform Knowledge-repository section.

Climate Campaigners is developing a mobile app designed to help cities achieve their climate goals by effectively mobilising citizens towards a more sustainable lifestyle.

They are looking for Amplifier Cities to expand their research data and reach more people. These cities come in many sizes and represent a diverse range of regional, cultural, and demographic contexts. Local governments from any continent are welcome to join the project.

If you’re a city representative, read more about the initiative or apply directly here.

For more information, you’re also free to reach out to the Amplifier City initiative leads Ricardo (ricardo.silva@ecolise.eu) and Sophie (sophie.callahan@iclei.org). You can also follow their community on Instagram and Facebook.

Are you ready to begin designing thriving communities and societies that live within our planetary boundaries? Join the Global Ecovillage Network’s online learning community and learn from renowned ecovillage educators from around the world in this 4-month live online certified Ecovillage Design Education Course.

Register before January 25th for 20% off!

The winners of the 2022 Transformative Cities People’s Choice Award were announced at an international online event Friday, 9 December. The 2021–2022 Transformative Cities People’s Award went to four initiatives for their work in the areas of water, energy, housing and food systems. Up to 16,000 people from across the globe voted online to determine the winners, out of a selection of 12 international finalists, through a process that is one of the most participatory of any public city award in the world.

Maria Sanchez has joined the ECOLISE team as a Communication and Marketing specialist to help us inspire and share the Communities for Future mission widely, as well as bring her experience in storytelling, content, and project management to the program. She has worked with profit and non-profit organisations, including coordinating the Communications department at Sunseed Desert Technology, a community-led initiative in Spain, and as a Course Organizer for Ulex Project.  

We invite you to visit the resources section of our website, where you will find very valuable information and learning materials. From publications and webinars to podcasts and courses, these resources will keep you up-to-date and will be useful for your ongoing development.