Food-related initiatives in Basel also promote low-threshold participation. Projects like Backwaren Outlet, Ässbar, and Foodsharing Schweiz reduce food waste by redistributing surplus goods that would otherwise be thrown away by shops and bakeries. Their biggest enemy is the „best before date“ which causes many still edible products to be destroyed. These efforts reduce environmental impact while simultaneously improving food access and offering job opportunities, especially for vulnerable groups. In doing so, they align with Urban Ecological Futures’ call for circular economies and local resilience. They also demonstrate that sustainability can be practical and rooted in daily life—directly benefiting communities and encouraging broader participation.
Effective transformation depends on making change accessible, inclusive, and rewarding. Initiatives that offer co-benefits—like safer bicycle infrastructure, affordable food, and more livable streets—are more likely to gain support and be sustained over time.
Social movements remain a powerful force in Basel’s climate politics. Groups like Climate Justice Basel organize protest camps, educational events, and awareness campaigns. They call for more ambitious, systemic responses to the climate crisis. Their approach is consistent with insights from “What Makes a Protest Movement Successful?” by the Social Change Lab, which identifies moral clarity, coalition-building, and sustained institutional pressure as key drivers of success. These elements are clearly visible in Basel’s local climate movement landscape. Another example of inclusive climate action is Basel 2030, a citizen-led climate initiative that gained outreach through door-to-door engagement, public participation, and inclusive organizing. This process reflects how grassroots action and formal governance can work together. Basel’s political landscape includes both institutional players—such as the progressive Basta party in the municipal parliament—and informal networks that foster awareness and participation. Their political opponent would be more conservative or right wing parties. This mix of actors contributes to a rich and dynamic climate governance model. It represents the framework presented in The Climate Just City, which highlights the importance of empowering diverse actors and scaling up small interventions into meaningful structural change. These efforts led to the parliamentary adoption of Basel 2037, a strategic plan that now shapes the city’s climate agenda.
Effective transformation depends on making change accessible, inclusive, and rewarding. Initiatives that offer co-benefits—like safer bicycle infrastructure, affordable food, and more livable streets—are more likely to gain support and be sustained over time.
Social movements remain a powerful force in Basel’s climate politics. Groups like Climate Justice Basel organize protest camps, educational events, and awareness campaigns. They call for more ambitious, systemic responses to the climate crisis. Their approach is consistent with insights from “What Makes a Protest Movement Successful?” by the Social Change Lab, which identifies moral clarity, coalition-building, and sustained institutional pressure as key drivers of success. These elements are clearly visible in Basel’s local climate movement landscape. Another example of inclusive climate action is Basel 2030, a citizen-led climate initiative that gained outreach through door-to-door engagement, public participation, and inclusive organizing. This process reflects how grassroots action and formal governance can work together. Basel’s political landscape includes both institutional players—such as the progressive Basta party in the municipal parliament—and informal networks that foster awareness and participation. Their political opponent would be more conservative or right wing parties. This mix of actors contributes to a rich and dynamic climate governance model. It represents the framework presented in The Climate Just City, which highlights the importance of empowering diverse actors and scaling up small interventions into meaningful structural change. These efforts led to the parliamentary adoption of Basel 2037, a strategic plan that now shapes the city’s climate agenda.
Climate Justice: Basel in the World is a colloquium at the University of Basel, co-organized in the spring semester 2025 by students from the AG Nachhaltigkeit and Prof. Dr. Janina Grabs. It is supported through funding by Impuls.