30/06/2026
In May, ECON's Executive Director, Martin Avila, joined the Youth Climate meeting by Legambiente
Here is what Martin shared with us:
“The future will not be won by organisations acting alone. It will be won by movements learning to act together.” This feeling was present throughout the recent Youth Climate Meeting organised by Legambiente.
Across conversations with young people, activists, organisers and civil society organisations from across Europe, there was a growing recognition that climate justice, social justice and democracy are deeply interconnected. Climate breakdown is not only an environmental challenge; it is increasingly linked to inequality, resource scarcity, conflict and democratic decline.
What left us hopeful was the willingness to reach beyond organisational boundaries, sectors and methodologies in search of common ground and shared action. There we met old friends like Centar za promene, ECOLISE and The Artivist Network and new made new friends like Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, Openpolis, and Acuda, all committed to taking this approach.
At ECON, we believe that intersecting forms of injustice are among the greatest barriers to a just and sustainable future. This is why we continue to build relationships not only within the community organising field, but also with partners such as Communities 4 Local Green Deal, Friends of the Earth and many others working towards the same future from different starting points.
Thank you to Legambiente for creating a space where these conversations and connections could happen, and to the many young people, and those organising alongside them, who are building the solidarity, imagination and courage that Europe needs.
Perhaps one of the most important questions for our movements is not who agrees with us, but who we are willing to build with.
When was the last time you worked with people who wanted the same future as you, but had a completely different way of getting there?
