7 Steps to Creating a Climate Action Initiative

1. Coordinate with interested allies to develop Climate Action commitments
2. Describe the problem and/or the context
3. Present a shared vision of the action(s) needed to respond to the context or problem described
4. Identify one or more high-impact Climate Action commitment(s) shared by all allies
5. Request each ally define goals that are specific, measurable, and achievable within a given time period
6. Establish goal-monitoring mechanism(s) and process
7. Formalize commitments with allies' signatures

Who can be part of a Climate Action initiative?

Any organization that implements Climate Actions, contributes to the SDS, and meets the criteria established by the initiative in question.

Who can present a Climate Action initiative to ActionLAC?

Groups of organization, individuals, networks, and other collective actions with at least five members and a common vision in response to climate change.

How can an organization join an existing initiative?

The organization should contact that particular initiative's founding institution to inquire about the possibility and criteria for new membership.

What are Climate Action commitments?

Climate action commitments are tangible and measurable goals developed by organizations and groups seeking to: reduce greenhouse gas emissions and global warming; make adaptations and develop community resilience in the face of climate change; and promote sustainable development, according to the SDS.

How are Climate Action goals defined?

When an organization makes a Climate Action commitment, that organization must identify any executable actions in its mission and vision statements. These actions should be expressed in terms of goals.

What are the characteristics of a Climate Action goal?

• A Climate Action goal is short. One sentence is sufficient.
• Goals should be realistic, while ambitious, and should be a reflection of current plans for the future.
• Goals should be measurable. The type of activity to be undertaken, number of people/families involved, or amount of water/land treated.
• The goal should be defined over a specific time period. When do you expect to reach this goal? 2018, 2020, 2030?

Why monitor established goals?

Monitoring helps understand and verify progress toward the established goal, the overall commitment, and addressing the problem and/or context driving the initiative. It also helps participants identify difficulties and take action to address them. Monitoring provides information for planning; avoids overlapping of actors and actions; and helps identify opportunities for complementarity and synergies.

How do I monitor Climate Action(s) via ActionLAC?

A template is available on the webpage.