Draft:ECOLISE

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The European Network for Community-Led Initiatives on Climate Change and Sustainability (ECOLISE) is a coalition of organizations across Europe Dedicated to promoting and supporting community-led responses to climate change and sustainability challenges. Established in 2014, ECOLISE serves as a platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and advocacy among its diverse members, which include international, national, and regional networks of community-based initiatives, as well as research entities.

History

Origins and Formations (2013-2014)

The concept of ECOLISE emerged initially from a Master's thesis exploring the potential for local, community-led climate action, and from a follow-up study in 2012 that identified and catalogued a growing movement of community-led climate action initiatives in Europe. The study was sponsored by the European Association for Innovation in Local Development (AEIDL) and led to the publication Europe in Transition: Local Communities Leading the Way towards Transition, which highlighted the lack of visibility of this bottom-up movement, and the absence of a collaborative framework to support awareness raising and collective learning, knowledge exchange and advocacy. In October 2013, a workshop in Brussels brought together key contributors to the study to explore possible responses. This led to the formation of a temporary steering group, which developed a strategy and statutes for the new network, provisionally named the European Network for Local Community-Led Cation on Climate Change (ENLAC).

In May 2014, ECOLISE was officially registered as an association with 25 founding members. The network aimed to unify various community-led initiatives across Europe, facilitating shared learning and collective action.

Growth and Development (2015-2020)

ECOLISE held its first General Assembly in Freiburg, Germany, in February 2015. The organization secured its first core funding of €45,000 in 2016, enabling the recruitment of three paid team members and the launch of a new website. By 2017, ECOLISE had expanded to 35 member organizations and established a partnership with the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) for the European Day of Sustainable Communities (EDSC).​

In 2018, the network grew to 43 members and published its first Status Report, providing a comprehensive overview of community-led initiatives in Europe. The following year, ECOLISE launched the Communities for Future initiative, aiming to mobilize its members and partners towards climate-inspired transformation. The organization also received the Lush Spring Prize for Influence in 2019.​

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 prompted ECOLISE to adapt by launching online events and webinars, including the Communities for Future Sessions, to continue fostering collaboration and learning among its members.

Organizational Transformation and Recent Developments (2021–2024)

In 2021, ECOLISE initiated a transformative process to address internal challenges related to communication, decision-making, and governance. This led to the launch of "ECOLISE Transforming 2021: Caterpillar to Butterfly," focusing on developing a more inclusive and effective organizational culture. The network also published six policy papers on topics such as regenerative communities and economic diversity.

In 2022, ECOLISE launched the campaign "10 Theses Towards Transformative Community-Led Local Development," emphasizing the role of communities in driving sustainable transformation. The organization continued to invest in internal workshops to build a culture of trust and transparency.

By 2023, ECOLISE had developed internal policies on inclusive communication and published a People Care Manual outlining its commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. The network also conducted its first internal survey on gender equality.

In 2024, ECOLISE celebrated its 10th anniversary with 53 member organizations and an annual budget increase to €1.6 million. The organization launched the Funding Fairer Futures project and the Regenerative Communities Fund to support local community-led projects across Europe.​

Structure

ECOLISE operates as a member-led network, comprising international, national, and regional organizations engaged in community-led climate and sustainability initiatives. The network's governance includes a General Assembly, a Council, and various working groups focusing on specific thematic areas. ECOLISE's secretariat is headquartered in Brussels, with team members working remotely across Europe. The secretariat coordinates the network's activities and supports its members.

Main Projects and Programmes

Communities for Future

Launched in 2020, Communities for Future is ECOLISE's flagship initiative aimed at inspiring and enabling transformative change at the community level in response to the climate and ecological emergency. The program includes online sessions, policy engagement, and support for community-led actions across Europe. It also serves as a platform for sharing stories, events, and policy insights from local changemakers.

Communities for Local Green Deals (COM4LGD)

The Communities for Local Green Deals project recognizes the intersection of climate and environmental crises with social and political challenges. It promotes community-led development, climate action, and cooperation between citizens and local governments. The project includes advocacy training, scenario planning, and gender mainstreaming to engage citizens and strengthen grassroots initiatives.​

Awakening Soil Curiosity to Catalyse Soil Literacy

This project aims to enhance public understanding and appreciation of soil health. By engaging communities in interactive learning experiences, it fosters curiosity about soil ecosystems and promotes sustainable land management practices. The initiative seeks to build a foundation for informed environmental stewardship through increased soil literacy.

FFF – Funding Fairer Futures

Funding Fairer Futures is a European initiative under the DEAR programme that focuses on increasing awareness, engagement, and capacity of civil society organizations. It aims to strengthen the climate movement by ensuring that diverse stakeholders, including marginalized communities, are heard and represented in climate action. The project supports inclusive and just transformations towards sustainability.

We Are Voices of Ecology

This project empowers young people to become active participants in environmental change at the local level. By bringing together youth workers, NGOs, and other stakeholders, it facilitates the development of youth-led initiatives that promote sustainability and ecological awareness within communities.

Communities for Climate

Communities for Climate is a pilot action launched by the European Commission to support 50 local communities in engaging in citizen-led climate actions. The initiative encourages the development and implementation of innovative ideas aimed at creating more sustainable and resilient neighborhoods. It collaborates with Climate Pact Ambassadors to foster community-driven environmental solutions.

Female-Led Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Areas

The Female-Led Innovation in Agriculture and Rural Areas (FLIARA) is a Horizon Project involving 10 countries that creates a European rural innovation ecosystem supporting women-led initiatives in farming and rural areas. It challenges gender stereotypes, highlights women's vital roles in rural sustainability, and develops tools and policy recommendations to better integrate and support women within innovation and rural development systems. The project lasted from 2023 to 2025.

SPARK

SPARK is designed to ignite community engagement in sustainability practices. The project provides tools and resources to support local initiatives that aim to address environmental challenges through collaborative action and innovation.

Transformative Adult Learning for Green Transition

This project explores the role of transformative learning in facilitating a green transition. By producing knowledge, events, and methods, it aims to upscale transformative learning approaches that empower adults to engage in sustainable practices and contribute to environmental resilience.

Climate Resilient and Inclusive Cities

This initiative focuses on building urban resilience to climate change by promoting inclusive policies and practices. It explores actions that cities can undertake to improve climate resilience and inclusivity, ensuring that urban development is sustainable and equitable for all residents.

Results so far

Over the past decade, ECOLISE has achieved significant milestones:

• Expanded its membership from 25 to 53 organizations across Europe.
• Secured core funding from private foundations, supporting operations until 2026.
• Launched multiple EU-funded projects and service contracts to support community-led initiatives.
• Developed internal policies promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Influenced EU policies related to climate action, community-led local development (CLLD) and smart villages.
• Received recognition through awards such as the Lush Spring Prize for Influence.

Works and Publications

• Bioregional Governance Training Guide (2025)
• Time for Collective Action Manifesto (2024)
• Stories of Collective Action - Storytelling toolkit (2024)
• Reshaping the Future: How local communities are catalysing social, economic and ecological transformation in Europe (2019)
• Reshaping the Future – Executive Summary (2019)
• Local, community-led: a new future unfolding (2018)
• A community-led transition in Europe: Local action towards a sustainable, resilient, low-carbon future (2017)
• Europe in Transition: Local Communities Leading the Way towards Transition (2013)
• *ECOLISE Status Report

See Also

These are related topics and organizations to explore for broader context:

• Community-Led Local Development (CLLD)
• European Green Deal
• Fridays for Future
• Transition Towns
• Degrowth
• Sustainable community
• Smart Villages
• Women Engage for a Common Future

Further Reading

Books, reports, or papers that align with ECOLISE's mission:

Europe in Transition: Local Communities Leading the Way to a Low-Carbon Society

This publication presents the results of research aiming to quantify the scale of activities of local communities in Europe, their development rate, types of actions undertaken, key actors involved, and existing support structures.

Time for Collective Action Manifesto

An outcome of ECOLISE's participatory advocacy process involving over 900 people from more than 140 organizations, this manifesto calls for urgent action on people and the planet, emphasizing the need for a strong, localized European Green Deal with communities at its heart.

10 Theses Towards Transformative Community-Led Local Development

ECOLISE's policy flagship project proposes a shared vision of transformative local development policies centered around communities, aligning with the European Green Deal's objectives.

Designing Regenerative Cultures by Daniel Christian Wahl

This book explores the concept of regenerative design, advocating for a holistic approach to sustainability that goes beyond mere maintenance to actively restoring and enhancing ecological and social systems.

External Links

Key ECOLISE-related websites and social channels:

Official ECOLISE Website

Communities for Future Website

ECOLISE on Facebook

ECOLISE on LinkedIn

Communities for Future on Instagram