Excerpts from Tackling climate change with small actions: the FebXCyclothon in India

Forming a new cohort of climate campaigners

At the end of the month, 78 participants successfully completed the rally, a completion rate of 63%. Following the completion of the rally, Beauty asked participants to complete a post-knowledge assessment from which she was pleased to share the following activity impacts amongst participants:

• 71% have changed their perception and feel optimistic about becoming a climate catalyst
• 93% reported an increased awareness about the impact of climate change and the climate positive activities they can adopt in everyday life
• 71% have pledged to become climate defenders and are committed to adopting at least one of the daily mitigation actions shared as part of the ACEF activity to combat climate change

40% of pledges committed to limit their use disposable items and will carry reusable cups; 30% will reduce food waste as they are now aware of its impact on climate change; and 25% will follow the mantra reduce, reuse, repair, and recycle. Interestingly, only 5% said they will use a bicycle for travel. This may be because the ease of commuting by car or motor bike is still a behavior to overcome and/or the lack of cycling tracks is discouraging to potential cyclists, despite the success of the bicycle rally.

The activity provided an opportunity for participants to realize that climate change impacts everyone directly and indirectly and that there are positive actions that can be undertaken at the individual level. In targeting youth, which form half almost half of the state’s population, Beauty’s activity was designed to create a ripple effect amongst youth peer groups, households, and school and university communities.

She hopes that by empowering youth with knowledge of climate change and mitigation actions, a new cohort of climate campaigners can successfully advocate to policy makers to adopt climate resilient development.