Less Carbon, More Future – 30-Day Challenge Begins This Week! | Join YMCA Europe’s Climate Action Campaign!
We’re excited to invite your national movement to join YMCA Europe’s “Less Carbon, More Future – 30-Day Challenge!” As we prepare for COP 2024, starting on November 11th, we’re asking our YMCA family to come together and take collective action toward a more sustainable future.
This October, we’re launching the “Less Carbon, More Future” campaign, developed by young leaders from the European Youth Representation Network (EYRN) during their recent International Activity in Salderuo, Spain. These 27 youth advocates from over 14 national YMCA movements created this initiative to tackle some of the most urgent issues facing young people today—climate action and sustainability being at the heart of their efforts.
Now, we’re calling on your national office and local associations to help us make an even greater impact. The campaign will run from October 11 to November 11, with daily challenges starting on Sunday, October 13.
Why We’re Taking Action
As global leaders prepare to gather at COP 2024 to make crucial decisions about our planet’s future, this campaign sends a clear message: if ordinary people can take meaningful steps to reduce their carbon footprints, we expect those in power to follow suit. By showing that individuals and communities are ready to act, we’re holding leaders accountable to live up to their commitments and push for the ambitious, systemic changes needed to combat climate change.
This isn’t just about making small changes; it’s about demonstrating that the will for a more sustainable future exists on every level—local, national, and global. YMCA’s “Less Carbon, More Future” campaign embodies this collective movement, signalling to decision-makers that the time for action is now. We are ready, and we expect them to be as well.
What’s the Challenge?
The “Less Carbon, More Future” campaign invites everyone to make daily eco-friendly changes over 30 days, aiming to reduce their carbon footprint and inspire a greener future. As part of the challenge, we encourage individuals to calculate their carbon footprint with this calculator to discover the size of their current carbon footprint. After completing the 30 days, the calculator can be used to measure the progress and impact the individual made!
Each week will have a different theme of challenges with a new one being presented daily to help the individuals adopt more sustainable habits. The week’s theme includes:
- Reducing energy consumption at home
- Making sustainable transportation choices
- Cutting down on waste and promoting recycling
- Opting for plant-based meals
- Embracing reusables over single-use items
Throughout the challenge, participants are encouraged to post about their experiences—share which challenges you’re taking on, the impact it’s having on your life, and how it’s inspiring others to follow. They will be encouraged to use the hashtags #LessCarbonMoreFuture and #30DayChallenge to track the momentum and connect with others.
To stay on track, individuals taking up the challenge can download the Challenge Calendar to remember what eco-friendly action to take each day.
How Your National Movement Can Get Involved
Your national office plays a key role in spreading the “Less Carbon, More Future” campaign and inspiring action across our YMCA movement. Here are ways on how you can get involved:
- Promote the Campaign: Use the resource kit to launch the campaign on your social media platforms. Post the list of daily eco-friendly changes weekly over the next 30 days to encourage participation. By keeping the conversation alive, you can help engage more people in taking climate action.
- Engage Your Local Movements: Share the campaign with your local YMCA movements, encouraging both online and offline involvement. The wider we spread this message, the greater our collective impact will be. Every local action contributes to our shared goal of reducing carbon footprints.
- Engage Online: Help amplify the campaign by resharing YMCA Europe’s social media posts and engaging with them. Comment, like, and share to increase visibility and create a ripple effect that reaches even more young people across Europe. Your interactions can make a real difference!
- Join the Challenge and Share Your Story: Lead by example! Take the carbon footprint test, download the challenge calendar, track your progress, and share your journey with others. Use the hashtags #LessCarbonMoreFuture and #30DayChallenge to post about your efforts. Let’s showcase the incredible impact YMCA can have when we work together for a common cause.
We provide a resource kit with media materials, templates, and social media assets to support your efforts. These tools will make it easy to engage with the campaign and spread the message across your movement.
Together, We Can Make a Difference
The “Less Carbon, More Future” campaign represents a united YMCA effort to reduce carbon emissions and create a sustainable future. Every action counts, and with your support, we can amplify our collective impact across Europe and beyond. Whether your national movement is just promoting action against climate action or leading by example with small or big changes, your contribution is vital to this campaign.
We’re counting on your national office to step up and join us in this critical movement for climate action. The challenge starts soon—let’s work together to create less carbon and more hope for future generations.
For more details on how to promote the campaign, participate, and inspire action, visit our campaign page or reach out to us directly.
Now Is the Time to Act
Join us today in this collective push for a healthier, more sustainable planet. Together, we can create a lasting impact, one action at a time.
Let’s build a brighter, greener future!
