Why should I make a petition?
- To apply pressure on a campaign target by demonstrating public support for your campaign and;
- To grow your campaign and build a list of supporters for recruitment and future activities.
Across the globe, communities are reclaiming their power by producing clean, renewable energy.
In every corner of the globe, communities are coming together to build safe, cost-effective and reliable energy. They are taking the power out of the hands of fossil fuel oligarchs and making it their own. Why? Because this is about power – literally.
The energy transition is an opportunity to shift the balance of who does and doesn’t have power. It’s clear: those who have been least served by the fossil fueled era deserve to be first in line for clean, affordable energy. It’s time to build an energy system from the ground up that works for everyone, not just the few at the top.
The Our Own Power network is a call to action for climate justice and community energy groups to work together to speed up the shift away from fossil fuels to expand community-owned renewable energy across the world. The network offers resources, training and a global community to support this vision. These materials are designed to spark projects and campaigns for community-owned renewables to reimagine what is possible together.
Our Own Power Network is a space for local community project leads. You could be someone who just started or an already exciting community energy project who want to share your story as inspiration to people. Here, we will problem-solve collectively, share resources, training opportunities, and contacts, and learn what’s innovative and best practice for successful community-led renewable energy.
Each month we host a webinar to bring like-minded activists together to learn practical and political steps to build community energy. Speakers range from experts on indigenous land defenders building solar panels in the Amazon to farmers installing solar water pumps in Tanzania.
Our next webinar will be on: 18th February 3pm UTC.
*After you apply, we will assess your application and be in touch. If successful, you will have access to our communication channels, webinars and trainings across the world. Interpretation is available on request.
Have a vision for a community renewable energy project? Part of a team already looking for ideas and advice?
Download the Our Own Power toolkit! In this toolkit you’ll get:
Everyone is at a different stage in their journey to creating community-led renewable energy. Here are some issues you could take on in your petition:
Here are four suggestions for petition campaigns to help address a hurdle in your community-led renewable energy project – whether it is about space, funding, regulations, or getting high-quality products. Each example has suggestions for a Title, Decision Makers, What it could be about, and Why you’re doing it. You will have to adapt the examples to your needs!
For more guidance on setting up a petition campaign, see our Petition Resources page.
If you’re looking to get started with a community-led renewable energy project, sign up to the Our Own Power network here, or download our Community Energy Toolkit here.
In Uganda and Tanzania, activists are setting up solar installations in 100 villages along the East-African pipeline route in resistance to fossil fuel extractivism. In the Amazon, communities are building solar boats to reduce pollution in their rivers and boost energy access. All around the world, Indigenous peoples are taking solar power into their own hands to ensure energy sovereignty.
The energy transition led by communities is already happening, in diverse and inspiring ways – everywhere and every day!
Do you want to know more about community-led solutions, and get inspired by amazing stories of hope and resistance?
Sign up to get stories that matter, campaigns that inspire and much more delivered directly to you every month.
Discover stories about community powered solutions to the climate crisis from around the world.
Want us to showcase your amazing community energy project to our supporters and networks? Submit your story now!