In the context of rapidly accelerating climate change, communication is an essential tool for enhancing awareness, shifting attitudes, facilitating partnership, attracting funding, and inspiring action. Local leaders are critical climate communicators: not only is the local level where people ultimately experience climate change and where tangible climate action is implemented – local leaders are also in a unique position to understand and connect with communities. Nonetheless, climate change is an inherently difficult topic to communicate, and rampant mis- and disinformation hamper the efforts of champions. At the same time, there is a lack of guidance and resources to overcome some of these challenges targeted at the local level and especially at the Global South.

The Climate Communication Toolkit for Local Leaders initiative involves the development and dissemination of a Climate Communication Toolkit to inspire and support local leaders to effectively voice the climate crisis and required action.  ​The Toolkit is informed by research on best practice climate communication, and direct engagement with local leaders and climate communication professionals. It contains key strategies, case studies, and insights from climate communication masters.