Virtual Masterclass-Environmental Advocacy and Impact within Civil Society

Members of the TH!NK GLOBAL Network and partners of the Hanns Seidel Foundation working on the HSF Global Project for Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change particpated in the Virtual Masterclass - Environmental Advocacy and Impact within Civil Society. The masterclass was guided by three renowned international experts: Farah Atyyat, an environmental journalist of Al-Ghad newspaper in Jordan; Jhoanna Cifuentes, co-founder and executive director of the NGO Climalab in Columbia; and Marcos Nordgren, a Bolivian biologist and environmental science specialist. Each expert shared unique perspectives and strategies for effective political advocacy in the climate field.

Farah Atiat led a session on communication planning and media relations, emphasizing the role of strategic communication in influencing public policy. She stressed the need for clear messaging, targeted outreach to key audiences, and the use of social media to connect with youth. Alliances with key stakeholders and a well-structured media plan, she argued, are fundamental tools for any impactful advocacy effort.

Joana Cifuentes spoke from Colombia about civil society's role on the path to COP30, which will take place in the Brazilian Amazon in 2025. She highlighted the urgency of addressing the climate crisis, pointing to the rising global temperatures and their unequal effects on communities in the Global South. Cifuentes underlined the Amazon’s importance as a carbon sink and warned against ongoing deforestation. She also emphasized Climalab’s mission to support active civil society participation in international climate negotiations, promoting justice and inclusion.

Finally, Marcos Nordgren provided a practical framework for environmental advocacy. His approach outlined a full advocacy cycle - from identifying problems and building alliances to developing messages, engaging decision-makers, and continuously revising strategies. He stressed the importance of connecting local and national climate agendas with global climate negotiations, fostering dialogue between grassroots actors and institutional decision-makers.

The Masterclass served as a space for strengthening capacities, exchanging experiences, and building a collective advocacy voice from global civil society. Participants agreed that addressing the climate crisis requires urgent action, cross-sector collaboration, and the ability to overcome ideological divisions. As the experts concluded, “True paradigm shifts can only be achieved by mobilizing humanity with a message that is clear, collective, and transformative.”

This event is part of a broader effort by the TH!NK GLOBAL Network, as well as the Hanns Seidel Foundation and its regional offices to amplify civil society voices in international political processes - from COP16 in Colombia to COP29 in Azerbaijan, and ultimately toward a meaningful presence at COP30 in Brazil.