In this unit are seven case studies of just and transformative solutions to the climate crisis, for students to gain a further understanding of what changes in their own communities could take place. The solutions we explore are:
- Uruguay’s renewable energy transition
- Community-led solar power project in Mexico’s cloudiest city
- The Sacred Forest Law of Benin
- The rights of nature
- The Intercultural University of Veracruz
- Gujarat’s salt farmers
- Degrowing Global North Economies
Learning objectives:
- Understand systemic change through real-life case studies
- Deeply engage with just and transformative change through interviews and reporting
GreenComp alignment:
- Systems thinking
- Futures literacy
- Exploratory thinking
This unit could be used in humanities, law, or politics classes (or similar). We recommend having completed the unit titled Systemic Change before completing this unit.
Unit project:
We recommend that you break up your class into groups and assign one case study to each group. Each group should then become an “expert” in their given solution, being able to complete the tasks outlined in the Project Instructions. Students can then interview one another about their solution (“what leverage points were activated?” “could this solution be replicated elsewhere?” “what are the challenges with this particular solution?”).
Time frame:
We suggest you use three to four classes for this unit. One class for students to read through and research their solution, half a class for interviews, one class (or homework) for creating productions, and a fourth class to present to one another.
Here are the lesson slides to accompany the pdf
Extra resources for further reading
Institute for Human Rights and Business
- JUST Stories – a database of climate action examples from around the world that address both the climate crisis and inequalities. https://www.just-stories.org/
Global Tapestry of Alternatives
- Stories of Hope presents alternative modes of organising from around the world that prioritise people and the planet. https://map.globaltapestryofalternatives.org/Cases
- Stories specifically from India. https://vikalpsangam.org/map/
- Their latest report presents inspiring ways in which communities are self organising to foster systemic change. https://globaltapestryofalternatives.org/reports:rd:01
Project Drawdown outlines a variety of climate solutions that go beyond individual action. https://drawdown.org/explorer
A Future for All – Vision for 2048 is a book proposing a positive and achievable vision for the future informed by justice and ecological considerations, by Kuhnhenn, K. et al. (2024). https://mayflybooks.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Future_for_all_Final.pdf
