KlimaBrücken: Refugees Taking Action for Climate Justice
Strengthening migrant perspectives on climate change, global responsibility and sustainable development in Brandenburg.
Climate education becomes more powerful when the people affected by global challenges can help shape the conversation.
Connecting Global Climate Justice with Local Action
Climate change affects everyone, but its consequences are not experienced equally.
People in countries of the Global South are already facing severe climate impacts, despite having contributed relatively little to the global climate crisis.
Through KlimaBrücken – Strengthening Migrant Perspectives on Climate Justice, Cagintua e.V. empowered refugees and migrants in Brandenburg to contribute their experiences, knowledge and perspectives to public discussions about climate justice and sustainable development.
Implemented from January to July 2026, the project was supported by Stiftung Nord-Süd-Brücken through its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) funding programme.
From Refugees to Climate Ambassadors
At the heart of KlimaBrücken was a simple but powerful conviction: refugees and migrants should not only be recipients of climate education but also active contributors to climate action and social change.
Through workshops, discussions and community-based educational activities, participants explored climate change, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, global inequalities and practical approaches to environmental sustainability.
Climate Ambassadors prepared and delivered educational content, particularly through information sessions in refugee accommodation centres. Some participants without residence permits carried out their activities in cooperation with individuals who had residence permits.
Social workers provided organisational and practical support. This approach demonstrated that meaningful participation in climate action should not be limited by migration or residence status.
Bringing Climate Education into Refugee Communities
A central achievement was taking climate education directly into refugee communities rather than relying exclusively on traditional presentations.
The project included:
- A preparatory networking meeting.
- A flagship workshop on climate justice and the SDGs.
- Three Climate Empowerment Workshops.
- Additional multiplication and information sessions.
Potsdam · Bad Belzig · Eberswalde · Wünsdorf
The workshops addressed practical questions:
- How are climate change, global inequality and migration connected?
- How does climate change affect livelihoods in African countries?
- What can individuals do through waste separation, reduction, recycling and reuse?
- How can refugees and migrants contribute to climate protection?
Peer learning, storytelling, personal experiences and group discussions helped participants connect global challenges with everyday decisions.
Connecting the Global South with Local Climate Action
KlimaBrücken connected experiences of climate change in the Global South with opportunities for sustainable action in Germany.
Perspectives from Nigeria, Ghana, Burundi and Kenya helped participants explore how climate change affects livelihoods, economic opportunities, communities and social inequalities.
These experiences were connected with discussions about consumption, resource use, environmental responsibility and sustainable living in Brandenburg.
Climate protection begins with everyday action
Climate justice also requires collective responsibility, solidarity and inclusive participation.
Refugee Radio: Amplifying Migrant Voices
Working with Refugee Radio, the project produced three radio programmes addressing climate change, climate justice, sustainable development and migrant perspectives.
These programmes created opportunities for refugees and migrants to communicate their experiences and ideas beyond workshop settings.
The project also used TikTok, audio clips, short interviews, quotations and migrant community networks to reach wider audiences.
Through these communication activities, KlimaBrücken helped make refugee perspectives more visible in public conversations about climate change.
Final Conference and Exhibition
On 29 May 2026, KlimaBrücken concluded its funded activities with a final conference and exhibition.
The event brought together project experiences, educational outcomes and reflections from participating communities.
It provided an opportunity to share lessons, discuss the role of migrant communities in climate protection and highlight the contributions of the Climate Ambassadors.
The final event reinforced a central lesson: refugees and migrants are not simply people affected by global challenges. They also possess valuable knowledge, experiences and ideas for addressing them.
Project Achievements and Impact
All activities planned under the approved project were implemented.
- Six active multipliers shared climate knowledge in their communities.
- Three Climate Empowerment Workshops and additional information sessions in refugee accommodation centres.
- Three Refugee Radio productions promoted migrant perspectives on climate justice.
- A final conference and exhibition showcased project experiences and learning.
- Cooperation with social workers, migrant organisations, community networks and two integration commissioners.
- Increased opportunities for refugees to participate in climate education and community engagement.
This estimate remains pending final verification against attendance records.
Beyond participation numbers, an important achievement was the confidence and responsibility demonstrated by Climate Ambassadors as they shared knowledge with other refugees.
Sustainability: KlimaBrücken Beyond the Funding Period
Although the funded project ended in July 2026, its educational work and community connections continued to create opportunities for engagement.
During the 12th African Cultures and Democratic Dialogue (12ACDD), held on 8–9 October 2026, climate justice and Global South–North connections were revisited through an international online exchange. Perspectives from Nigeria, Ghana, Burundi and Kenya contributed to further discussions about climate change, sustainable development and global responsibility.
This exchange took place after the KlimaBrücken funding period and was not an additional funded project activity. However, it demonstrated how knowledge, relationships and experiences developed through KlimaBrücken could continue to support international dialogue and community education.
Cagintua e.V. intends to build on these experiences in future initiatives, particularly by strengthening refugee-led education, community empowerment and cooperation between migrant organisations and local institutions.
Climate Justice Needs Every Voice
KlimaBrücken demonstrated the importance of recognising refugees and migrants as active partners in addressing climate change.
Their lived experiences, particularly their connections with countries of the Global South, bring important perspectives to discussions about global inequality, environmental responsibility and sustainable development.
By supporting refugees to become Climate Ambassadors and community multipliers, the project created opportunities for knowledge sharing, participation and collective action.
Cagintua e.V. sincerely thanks all Climate Ambassadors, participants, volunteers, social workers, cooperation partners and supporters who contributed to the project's implementation.
We also extend our appreciation to Stiftung Nord-Süd-Brücken for its financial support and commitment to development education and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Together, we are building bridges between global experiences and local climate action.
Project Information
KlimaBrücken – Strengthening Migrant Perspectives on Climate Justice
Brandenburg, Germany
Cagintua e.V.
Stiftung Nord-Süd-Brücken – SDG Funding Programme
January–July 2026
P 26/13
Website: www.cagintua.com