The Communities for Local Green Deals – COM4LGD project recognizes the intersection of the climate and environmental crisis with the social and political polarisation that EU citizens are currently faced with. The innovative solution we propose for a sustainable, just, democratic and inclusive future for the EU is a focus on local community development, climate and sustainability action, community organising, advocacy, and cooperation between citizens and local governments covering all 27 member states.
PROJECT NEWS
Advocacy from the Ground Up: ECOLISE’s Advocacy Training for Climate and Environmental Action
In April 2025, changemakers from across Europe converged in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg, for an energising three-day training on environment and climate advocacy. Organised by ECOLISE and led by policy expert & ECOLISE Policy Lead Laurence Modrego, the training invited activists, community leaders, and researchers into a vibrant learning space where strategy met solidarity, and where the seeds of grassroots policy influence began to take root!
Northern European Gathering
The Northern European Gathering of COM4LGD took place in Angsbacka, Molkom, Sweden, as part of the broader 2024 European Ecovillage Gathering, which took place on August 20-24, 2024. Organized under the WP4, the Northern European Gathering aimed to develop and share knowledge and insights about under-explored dimensions of democratic participation and environmental engagement by community-led initiatives (CLIs). The goal was to support for Local Action Groups and stakeholders to create sustainable and regenerative community initiatives.
Regenerative Future for Europe: Empowering Communities for a Regenerative Europe
The workshop on “Regenerative Future for Europe: Empowering Communities for a Regenerative Europe” took place in Poitiers, France, as part of the broader European LEADER Congress on October 2-3, 2024. Organized under the COM4LGD WP3 initiative, the workshop aimed to discuss about democratic participation and environmental engagement, providing support for Local Action Groups and stakeholders to create sustainable and regenerative community initiatives.
Training on collaborative local governance for just sustainability transitions
Local governments are well-positioned to connect with communities and drive equitable sustainability transitions. They are the closest to on-the-ground realities and are in charge of many pragmatic solutions to their residents’ needs. However, as the scope of local government responsibility expands, the same needs to happen with their capacity and knowledge. In response, ICLEI Europe led a training on collaborative local governance for just sustainability transitions through the Communities4LocalGreenDeals project.
RESOURCES
EVENTS CALENDAR
May 2025
Community-Led Pathways for Just and Sustainable Food Systems: Part 2 (online)
A Stronger Future for Rural Europe: ensuring LEADER/CLLD as a pillar for EU Development
July 2025
Organize Europe Festival at Civil Kollégium Alapítvány
August 2025
European Ecovillage Gathering 2025 in Hungary
October 2025
Exclusive Networking & Capacity Building for LAG Managers at Hotel Post, Austria
November 2025
Lisbon 5th International Conference Social and Solidarity Economy and the Commons: Call for Contributions
PROJECT PARTNERS:
ECOLISE is the European Network for Community-Led Initiatives on Climate Change and Sustainability.
Since 2014, ECOLISE has been supporting community-led initiatives, their networks and partners to catalyse systemic transformation within and across society.
ELARD (European Leader Association for Rural Development) is an international non-profit association set up to improve rural areas’ quality of life and maintain their population through sustainable, integrated local development. The distinctive feature of ELARD is that it brings together Local Action Groups committed to involving all stakeholders in rural development at a local level.
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is a global network of more than 2500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development and is active in 125+ countries. ICLEI Europe supports local governments in implementing the European Green Deal, the overarching EU strategy for climate neutrality, to build more resilient and equitable communities.
The Iscte – University Institute of Lisbon was founded in 1972 as one of Portugal’s first modern universities, with the central aim of studying labour and social dynamics in a rapidly changing world. The project COM4LGD is hosted at the research unit Centre for International Studies (CEI-Iscte). CEI-Iscte is dedicated to producing top-tier knowledge and conducting research of excellence, addressing global challenges.
ECON is a hub for the organizing movement in Europe. A network of groups and organisations who organize communities in Europe towards a progressive agenda for justice, democracy and sustainability.
