How can grassroots innovation contribute to low-carbon transitions and sustainable development?

1 What is grassroots innovation?

Grassroots innovation is not a single method or model, but a diverse and dynamic phenomenon that emerges from the bottom-up. It involves people who are directly affected by the problems they want to solve, and who use their own knowledge, skills, and resources to create and share solutions. Grassroots innovation can take many forms, such as community gardens, renewable energy cooperatives, repair cafes, or digital platforms. What they have in common is that they challenge the dominant ways of doing things, and offer more sustainable, inclusive, and democratic alternatives.

2 Why is grassroots innovation important?

Grassroots innovation is important because it can address the complex and interrelated challenges of climate change and social justice in ways that top-down and market-driven approaches often fail to do. Grassroots innovation can empower communities to take action and ownership of their own futures, and to shape the policies and institutions that affect them. Grassroots innovation can also foster social learning and experimentation, which are essential for finding and scaling up effective solutions. Grassroots innovation can also create alternative pathways to change, by demonstrating the feasibility and desirability of low-carbon and equitable lifestyles.

4 How can you support grassroots innovation?

Grassroots innovation needs support from different actors and levels, such as governments, funders, researchers, and media. You can support grassroots innovation by advocating for more recognition, resources, and rights for grassroots innovators, and by creating more enabling environments for their activities. You can also support grassroots innovation by learning from and collaborating with grassroots innovators, and by sharing their stories and impacts. You can also support grassroots innovation by becoming a grassroots innovator yourself, and by applying your creativity and passion to solve the problems that matter to you and your community.

5 How can you evaluate grassroots innovation?

Grassroots innovation is not easy to evaluate, because it often has multiple and diverse goals, outcomes, and impacts. Grassroots innovation is also dynamic and evolving, and may not fit into conventional indicators and frameworks. You can evaluate grassroots innovation by using participatory and qualitative methods, such as storytelling, mapping, or peer review, that capture the richness and complexity of grassroots innovation. You can also evaluate grassroots innovation by using criteria that reflect the values and aspirations of grassroots innovators, such as social justice, ecological sustainability, or community resilience.

6 How can you learn more about grassroots innovation?

Grassroots innovation is a fascinating and inspiring topic, and there is a lot of information and resources available for you to learn more about it. You can read books, articles, reports, or blogs that showcase and analyze grassroots innovation, such as Grassroots Innovation Movements by Smith et al., The Innovation Revolution by Seyfang and Haxeltine, or The Grassroots Innovation Blog by the STEPS Centre. You can also watch videos, podcasts, or webinars that feature and discuss grassroots innovation, such as TEDx Talks, The Grassroots Innovation Podcast, or The Grassroots Innovation Forum. You can also attend events, workshops, or courses that offer opportunities to learn from and interact with grassroots innovators, such as the Grassroots Innovation Week, the Social Innovation Academy, or the Grassroots Innovation Online Course.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?