How can we catalyze transformative change by connecting networks in climate justice and ecological regeneration?

It's indisputable – we're at a critical moment of an intersecting crisis impacting both the planet and people. Countless networks, movements, and communities of practice are working tirelessly to address issues like biodiversity preservation, climate crisis, pollution, nature-based solutions, and connection with the earth through a social justice lens.

Yet despite their shared goals, many of these networks are disconnected – operating in silos, often with limited resources, duplicating efforts and limiting their overall impact.

Imagine if we brought together dozens of climate and ecological networks, all with overlapping goals but slightly different approaches and geographical focus, to explore how we can collaborate for large-scale change.

This is what we aim to do in our inaugural "obstacle course" for climate and ecological networks.

Through combining our vast pools of knowledge, resources, capacities, and reach, we can share critical lessons learned, co-design innovative solutions, identify ways to scale and increase reach, and generate actionable strategies that propel us toward a sustainable and just future.

Why Might I Participate?

We invite all network and movement leaders, funders, and coordinators passionate about climate justice and ecological regeneration to join us in this transformative obstacle course. Through participating, you will:

• Foster new and unlikely connections with trailblazers across diverse networks
• Identify synergies for learning, sharing knowledge, and peer support
• Map avenues for larger collaborative work that can serve the field and have a meaningful impact
• Build bridges between practitioners and funders who are willing to support and invest in collaborative efforts towards climate justice and ecological regeneration

Your Co-Hosts

Amazing leaders who each, in their own and diverse ways, are global advocates and network-builders in the environment, climate, and regeneration spaces:

• Neeshad Shafi, Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar. Neeshad is an environmentalist, speaker, and policy-oriented social change advocate, best known for his work on environmental and climate change education, advocacy, and policy in the Gulf region. An active civil society member from the Gulf, he has been a prominent presence at international climate summits, especially UNFCCC’S climate summits since 2015 in various capacities. In March 2019, he was named in the Apolitical’s List of the 100 Most Influential People in Climate Policy 2019. Neeshad is currently the Co-founder & Executive Director at the Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar, a Board Member at Climate Action Network (CAN) Arab World and CoalitionWILD, on the steering committee of UNESCO Youth Climate Action Network (YoU-CAN), and a UNEP Youth Regional Facilitator for the Middle East. His articles and interviews on various topic related to climate change impacts in the Middle East, decarbonization in the Gulf, energy transition, sustainability, and role of youth and civil society for climate action have appeared in Al Jazeera, BBC, France24, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Wired Italia, Anadolu Agency, The Gulf Times, Qatar Tribune, Qatar Today, Peninsula Qatar, and others.
• Eva Rehse, Global Greengrants Fund. Previously Executive Director of Global Greengrants Fund UK, Eva in 2022 transitioned into this new global role working on strategy, global integration and cultural transformation processes. Prior to joining Global Greengrants Fund UK as its first full-time member of staff, Eva worked for Amnesty International as an International Projects Advisor, and with CIVICUS/Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations. Eva has a M.A. from Bonn University in Political Science and Sociology. She is a member of the Board of EDGE Funders Alliance, the Alliance Magazine Editorial Advisory Board, and a Trustee of the Environmental Funders Network.
• Kimberley Jutze, Climate Safe Lending Network. Kimberley is a social impact leader with over 25 years combined experience in the civic and private sectors. Collaborative leadership, facilitating systems change, and organizational capacity strengthening are common themes that underpin her diverse career. Kimberley is Managing Director of the Climate Safe Lending Network as well as founder and Chief Change Agent of Shifting Patterns Consulting.
• Edna Martinez, Proactivo Sostenible. Edna has for over a decade and a half, been involved in the design, development, and implementation of public policies focused on sustainability. She has successfully adapted international agendas to the Mexican context, including areas such as sustainable production and consumption, waste management, eco-labeling, and, most recently, the 2030 Agenda, commonly known as the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Lauren Minis, Regeneration Pollination

Hosted at the Obstacle Course

You've browsed the workshops zone, attended the wellbeing lounge, mingled in the pitch tent – and as you're about to depart the festival grounds, the corner of your eye happens to catch a colorful obstacle course to you right. It looks challenging, enticing. There are prizes just for trying. You read the rules: for groups only. But you came to the festival alone. You look around – are there others you can ask to join the obstacle course with you? 

At the Networks Festival, our obstacle courses bring together movements, networks, and funders who don't know each other for:

• Rapid storytelling sharing significant changes we have witnessed in our work related to climate justice and ecological regeneration
• Collective vision sensing exploring shared – and differing – visions as our driving forces for systemic change
• Mapping key areas of work identifying opportunities, needs, gaps, and challenges within the broader system
• Networking and support deepening connections, building new relationships, and identifying opportunities for learning and peer support
• Focused discussions on common themes, allowing us to delve deeper into specific, common areas of interest
• Statements of collective action around immediate things we can undertake, and long-term visions we can begin to work towards

What is the Networks Festival?

Embark on a month-long journey filled with connection, curiosity, and play bringing together thousands of changemakers, funders, conveners, companies, and governments to explore the power of networks to transform our world.

As you step into the festival grounds, you'll be greeted by a buzzing atmosphere of excitement and innovation. Everywhere you look, there are people eagerly discussing the latest breakthroughs in network theory, sharing stories of how networks have changed their lives and communities, and dreaming up new ways to harness the power of connections.

Leveraging the power of lived experience, we will strengthen our collective practice, directly increase funding opportunities for networks, and foster new collaborations to scale innovations and amplify transformational impact on the lives of billions around the world.

Whether you're a seasoned networker, curious changemaker, or philanthropist interest in "doing things differently" – there's something for everyone at the Networks Festival. Join us!