12 Inspiring Examples of Green Communication
Global and European Cases with Practical Tips for Youth Workers
Across Europe and worldwide, a wide range of campaigns and initiatives are raising awareness about climate change, sustainability, and environmental responsibility. For youth workers, these examples are valuable not only as inspiration but also as practical tools to connect young people with real-life action and global movements.
This article brings together some of the most recognizable initiatives, from symbolic global actions to local programs and digital tools. Each case is accompanied by a suggestion on how it can be adapted to youth work practice, helping to spark creativity, dialogue, and hands-on engagement. Rather than being copied directly, they are intended to inspire localized approaches that empower young people and strengthen community impact.
1) Earth Hour (WWF) – Global
A worldwide symbolic “lights off” action that invites individuals, cities, and landmarks to switch off lights for one hour.
Further Info: https://www.earthhour.org/
Youth Worker Tip: Organize a symbolic ‘lights off’ night in your youth center and encourage participants to create videos and social media posts about their reflections.
2) World Cleanup Day / Let’s Do It! – Estonia
A civic movement that began in Estonia and scaled to coordinated global cleanups.
Further Info: https://www.worldcleanupday.org/
Youth Worker Tip: Coordinate a local cleanup with youth groups, map the results, and present the outcomes at a school or community event.
3) Beat the Microbead (Plastic Soup Foundation) – Netherlands
A campaign spotlighting microplastics in cosmetics, combining a brand checker app with advocacy.
Further Info: https://www.beatthemicrobead.org/
Youth Worker Tip: Ask young people to test products with the app, then design a local awareness campaign with posters or reels.
4) Zero Waste / Sıfır Atık – Türkiye
A national program promoting waste reduction, separation, and recycling through education and municipal programs.
Further Info: https://sifiratik.gov.tr/
Youth Worker Tip: Create a month-long zero waste challenge in your youth center or school, with weekly tasks and reflection sessions.
5) Too Good To Go – Europe-wide
An app that connects consumers with surplus food at local businesses to reduce waste.
Further Info: https://toogoodtogo.com/
Youth Worker Tip: Encourage youth to map local cafes/restaurants with surplus food, then prepare a short video campaign promoting food waste reduction.
6) #EUBeachCleanup – European Union
An annual campaign mobilizing volunteers to clean beaches and waterways across Europe.
Further Info: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/
Youth Worker Tip: Pair cleanup with youth-led data collection (e.g. litter categories), then publish findings in a creative way such as infographics or dashboards.
7) Our Planet (WWF & Netflix) – Global
A documentary series and resource hub linking stunning visuals with conservation action.
Further Info: https://ourplanet.com/
Youth Worker Tip: Screen selected episodes with youth and then run group activities to connect the stories with local action plans.
8) STADTRADELN (City Cycling Challenge) – Germany & Europe
A city-level competition encouraging residents to log cycling kilometers and avoid car trips.
Further Info: https://www.stadtradeln.de/
Youth Worker Tip: Organize a cycling challenge in your community, track results, and discuss CO₂ savings together.
9) Ocean Literacy Programs – Portugal
Educational programs linking marine science to daily behavior change.
Further Info: https://oceanliteracy.unesco.org/
Youth Worker Tip: Partner with local NGOs or schools to host workshops about marine protection, ending with pledges or creative projects from youth.
10) Love Food Hate Waste – UK/Europe
A behavior-change campaign helping households reduce food waste through meal planning and storage tips.
Further Info: https://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/
Youth Worker Tip: Facilitate a ‘waste-less meal’ workshop where youth cook using leftover ingredients and share recipes.
11) Fridays for Future – Global
Youth-led climate strikes and advocacy with global visibility.
Further Info: https://fridaysforfuture.org/
Youth Worker Tip: Guide young people in safe civic engagement, creating posters, digital campaigns, or local dialogue events.
12) Tactical Urbanism & City Repair – Global
Community-led street transformations like painted intersections and pop-up bike lanes.
Further Info: https://tacticalurbanismguide.com/
Youth Worker Tip: Work with youth to design a temporary ‘green corner’ in the neighborhood, then document the transformation with photos and stories.
PROJECT RESULTS
Within the framework of the GreenComm project, three main outputs have been developed to strengthen the communication and media literacy skills of youth workers engaged in environmental and climate-related work.