Climate solutions.

That's what our work this year is going to be all about, John.

But what ARE climate solutions? And what do solutions campaigns look like on a global — and local — scale? Let's dig into it!

First, let me tell you what we're not talking about when we say solutions: technological "quick fixes" that are non-scalable, unobtainable for many, and are presented as a magic way to solve the climate crisis without making any changes to our current unsustainable and unjust global system.

Instead, solutions to us here at 350 are about alternatives to fossil fuels, firmly rooted within the context of climate justice. We want a drastic system change, away from an extractive economy rooted in exploitation, and towards a regenerative economy rooted in cooperation that benefits all people.

And in 2023 we have MASSIVE plans for campaign work that will help usher in this new era of sustainable, clean energy for all.

Don't get me wrong — our focus on solutions work might be new in terms of scale and ambition, but we are far from new to the work itself, and we have the receipts to prove that it works.

If you have a few more minutes, take a look at the highly impactful, solutions-based campaigns that we've already started. Together, we're going to scale up these solutions campaigns to unprecedented levels in 2023:

Solar Scholars in Asia and the Pacific

A participant working the soldering iron during the Solar Scholars Training in Fiji.

In February 2022, we supported a three-day training on the assembly and maintenance of basic solar power systems in the Pacific and Asia.

The goal was to train volunteers to deploy solar power for emergency response and disaster-risk reduction, providing power to communities who are left without energy during climate disasters.

In Fiji, the solar power system built was donated to the Pacific Conference of Churches, who used it as a community charging hub. And in the Philippines it was donated to a community impacted by typhoons and is helping rebuild it after Super Typhoon Odette.

Energy access is often overlooked by local governments during and after disasters. But a shift towards renewable energy can provide easy access to electricity post-disaster for island communities, and communities around the world.

Read more about the solar scholar project in the Philippines and in the Pacific.

Renewable Energy for Communities in Ghana

RE4C procession in Ghana.

Led by our affiliate group 350 Ghana Reducing Our Carbon (G-ROC) — a youth-led initiative fighting for a carbon-free economy — the Renewable Energy for Communities (RE4C) campaign strives to push the Ghanaian government to achieve the goal of having renewable energy make up 10% of their energy mix by 2030.

The initial phase of the campaign consisted of building awareness with schools, communities and local governments about the benefits of renewable energy.

Now, the campaign's main focus is on supporting five regions in the country in developing and implementing their renewable energy plans and policies, and pushing the national government to put the "Renewable Energy Act" into practice.

Read more about the RE4C project in Ghana.

Solar XL in the US

Building solar panels in Nebraska.

Here in the US, one of our favorite success stories is the Solar XL project, which was implemented a few years ago in partnership with 350 Nebraska and other allies.

It was defined as "a wave of renewable energy resistance," and consisted of using renewable energy to directly oppose the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure in a symbolic and visually appealing way.

A coalition of Indigenous groups, landowners, and activist groups came together to erect solar panels along the Keystone XL pipeline route, putting clean energy solutions in the path of the problem. The panels generate energy for the local community, and would have to be removed in order for the pipeline to be built.

Solar XL was installed just as the Nebraska government was considering whether to grant the final permit to Keystone XL or not. After a decade plus-long campaign, President Biden put the final nail in the coffin in 2021 as one of his first acts as President.

Read more about the Solar XL project in the US.

These are just a few of the many solutions-oriented campaigns 350 and our affiliate groups have worked on thus far, and exactly the type of projects your continued support will help us achieve in 2023 and beyond.

Stay tuned for more information on how you can take concrete actions to support our solutions campaigning. And if you want something to do right now, you can donate to support our work to usher in a new era of sustainable, clean energy for all.

Thank you for reading, for being here by our side, and for being part of the clean energy revolution. We could not do this work without you.

Onwards,

May Boeve
Executive Director
350.org

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