Make.Climate.Fair.

Participatory project on climate justice

Climate education for everyone, anytime, anywhere

“Make.Climate.Fair.” focuses on climate justice and participation. The organisations Green City, Mikado UMdieWELT and Initiativgruppe Interkulturelle Begegnung und Bildung joined forces for the project in the beginning of 2023. With financial support from the Munich Re Foundation, they train young people with and without a refugee background in train-the-trainer workshops as multipliers for climate protection and climate justice, who can then hold workshops themselves for their peer groups in schools or as part of events.

The young generation in particular is facing huge challenges and an uncertain future due to climate change. Environmental movements such as Fridays for Future are the first initiatives to motivate large groups of young people to get involved in climate protection. However, over 40 percent of the demonstrators come from the upper middle class, are white and have good access to education.

People with a migration background are underrepresented in these movements compared to the population as a whole. This is neither due to a lack of interest nor a lack of willingness. Very often, people with a migration background simply do not have the same educational opportunities.

At the same time, the debate on climate justice in particular shows that it is mainly people with a migration background, from precarious backgrounds and in the global South who feel the effects of climate change more keenly. This is despite the fact that they have contributed the least to climate change.

As well as time and financial resources, commitment to greater climate protection requires an awarenessof the problem. The central goals of “Make.Climate.Fair.” are empowerment instead of powerlessness, concrete action and giving everyone a say. The project builds on the abilities, strengths and resources of young people up to the age of 27. At the same time, it offers a space where they can gather experience and where their participation is welcomed – regardless of their specific background.

Strengthening the commitment to climate justice

The initiators of the project want to value the skills, strengths and resources that young people with and without a migration background have. At the same time, they want to open up a space in which experiences can be made and participation is encouraged - regardless of the background. This is why even the project title was developed by the young people.

Following the success of the initiative in 2023, the project addressed a further group of young adults in 2024. In the project’s second year, it was important to maintain its peer-to-peer approach and participative character. Personal contacts and the bring-your-own-friend rule worked very well. New first-time participants brought even more diversity to the group. The participation of refugees was particularly valuable. One important aspect of the project is maintaining the relationships with the young people and providing them with continual support at the regular meetings.

Room for more engagement

The workshops for young multipliers were once again well received in 2024. The same criteria were applied for the selection of the venues as for the regular meetings: the locations had to be open to diversity and offer room for commitment to climate and justice. The workshops in 2024 were held at a range of venues, including the Münchner Kammerspiele theatre, at the Münchner Klima.Dult event, and as an open-to-all offering in an international student residence hall. The project team is not only responsible for organisational matters and partnerships, but also supports the young multipliers as they take their first steps as educational speakers on climate justice. The scope of this task varies, depending on the self-confidence, experience, level of knowledge and language skills of the respective multiplier.

We at the Munich Re Foundation are delighted to be able to provide financial support for this innovative project. By supporting this initiative, we are doing our part for the debate on climate justice in Munich – empowering young people and preparing them to make valuable contributions, while at same time helping them gain new experience. After all, it is also our aim to motivate more people to protect the climate.

Project partners

Climate mitigation

Greencity