A Guide to Contributing to Justice & Climate

Read about the theory here.

Introduction 

We all want to live in a world that is fairer, healthier, and kinder. But the question often is: where do I fit in?  The truth is: there isn’t one right way.

Start By:

How: Draw three circles labeled:

• Joy & Meaning

• Skills & Strengths

• Needs of the World

Then fill them out as you go through the following points.

 To act for justice and climate in the long run, we need to feel alive in what we do.

Goal: To uncover the activities, relationships, and experiences that give you energy. 

Prompts:

• What moments in your life felt deeply alive or purposeful?
• What gives you a sense of belonging or connection?
• If no one judged you, what would you spend your time on?
• Who or what do you feel protective of?

Examples:

• “I realized how happy I am when teaching kids. That’s why I volunteer in a climate-education program for schools.”
• “I feel most alive when making music with others. So I started writing songs for local protests.”
• “Walking in wetlands makes me calm — so I joined a group restoring marshes near my town.”
  

Recognizing your strengths allows you to contribute in a way that feels natural, not forced.

Goal: To recognize the abilities you already have — whether practical, emotional, or creative. 

Prompts:

• What do others often ask for your help with?
• Are you more of a detail person, a big-picture thinker, or someone who connects people?
• What tasks feel natural to you? What are your strengths?
• What have you learned through work, hobbies, or challenges in your life?

Examples:

• “I’m good at listening without interrupting, and friends come to me when they need to talk things through. I realized this is a strength — it means I can support people who feel unheard in activist spaces.”
• “I’m good at numbers and spreadsheets — so I help my local group keep their budget transparent.”
• “I have a strong voice and no stage fright — so I volunteer as a speaker at rallies.”
• “I’m good at calming conflicts — so I help mediate in activist groups when tensions rise.”

Looking honestly at what is needed helps us avoid acting only from personal preference and instead join in solidarity with others.

Goal: To understand where the world is calling for change — directing us towards real needs.

Prompts:

• What injustices or environmental harms do you notice around you?
• What do you feel anger, grief, or urgency about?
• What issues are most pressing in your local community?
• Where do you see people already taking action — and what could support them?

Examples:

• “I kept noticing how expensive public transport is compared to driving. That frustration showed me that fair mobility is a justice issue. So I started joining a campaign for cheaper train passes.”
• “In my city, housing is too expensive, so I joined a tenants’ rights group.”
• “I was furious about a forest being cut down near my village, so I joined the resistance campaign.”
• “Many of my neighbors struggle with high energy bills, so I help run an info night on insulation and solar power.”

The magic happens where joy, strength, and need meet. This overlap isn’t fixed forever — it can shift over time.

Goal: To see the overlap between joy, skills, and needs — the “sweet spot” where your contribution feels both natural and impactful.

Examples:

• Joy: Cooking. Skills: organizing. Need: hunger and food waste. → I started a community kitchen.
• Joy: Photography. Skills: visual storytelling. Need: media silence around refugee voices. →
  I began a photo project.
• Joy: Fixing bikes. Skills: mechanics. Need: affordable transport. → I set up a neighborhood repair stand.

Realism is not defeatism. By knowing our limits, we build resilience. A sustainable contribution respects both your capacities and your needs.

Goal: To recognize limits and challenges and how to work with them.

Prompts:

• When do you lose energy or motivation?
• What overwhelms you?
• What personal circumstances (health, work, finances) must be considered?
• What support would make things easier?

Examples:

• “I get tired in evening meetings, so I focus on daytime tasks.”
• “I’m bad at long-term planning, so I teamed up with someone detail-oriented.”
• “I can’t afford to donate money, so I give time instead.”
•  “I know I get anxious in large groups. So instead of pushing myself to speak at rallies, I focus on behind-the-scenes roles like designing posters.”

 The important part is to begin in a way that fits your current life and energy.

Goal: To take the first step that fits your life right now — personal, local, or broader. 

Personal — start with yourself

• Read or watch something that helps you understand an issue better
• Talk honestly with a friend or family member about something you care about
• Change one small habit (food, transport, consumption, time use)
• Write down your values or dreams for the future
• Rest, recover, or set boundaries so you don’t burn out
• Notice where you already care — and name it

Local — start where you live

• Join an existing group, meeting, or initiative
• Show up to a local event or gathering
• Start something simple: a shared meal, a reading group, a clean-up, a walk
• Offer your help or skills to someone nearby
• Talk to neighbors, classmates, or coworkers about a shared concern
• Help organize or host something small and informal

Wider — when you’re ready

• Share ideas, projects, or reflections online
• Support a campaign, movement, or cause you trust
• Participate in consultations, councils, or assemblies
• Help connect people, groups, or knowledge across places
• Advocate for change through writing, art, or public conversation
• Influence systems through work, study, or policy

Your role is not everything — but it is something, and it matters.

There is no single “right” role. Some people march in the streets. Some plant trees. Some write stories. All roles matter. The important thing is that your contribution comes from a place of joy, strength, and care.

Example:
“For me, the overlap was gardening, patience, and the need for pollinator habitats. Now I help neighbors make small gardens. It’s not huge — but it’s real, and it grows.”