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lang: en

Summary

This article synthesizes findings from a 2023 research project that analyzed 14 intersectional climate justice campaigns across North America over the past 20 years. It identifies key factors that contributed to campaign success, including direct action, diverse social movement participants, community engagement, and coalition building. The report draws on case studies, interviews, and a survey to offer a recipe for winning climate justice campaigns.

Background

The research project was conducted in 2023 by McGill University student researchers supervised by Dr. Jen Gobby, supporting the work of the Climate Justice Organizing Hub. The researchers sought lessons from intersectional climate campaigns across Turtle Island (North America) over the past 20 years, using case studies, 4 interviews, and 1 survey to identify factors that contributed to success.

What happened

The researchers analyzed 14 campaigns, including Stand LA, Stop Cop City, Keystone XL Pipeline, Grassy Narrows, pes, 13 Pueblos, Trans Mountain Expansion Pipeline, Atlantic Coast Pipeline, Public Power New York, Mi’kmaq Resistance, GNL Quebec, Standing Rock, Athabasca Tar Sands Resistance, and Nitaskinan60 [source: commons-library]. For the majority, success was defined by the cancellation of a project or practice; others defined success through recognition of Indigenous sovereignty and/or policy change [source: commons-library]. About 1 in 3 of the campaigns explored are still ongoing [source: commons-library]. The report includes a summary of the 14 campaigns and the tactics they used, as well as key factors that contributed to success and challenges [source: commons-library]. Direct actions that increase project costs and delays are cited by companies as a factor of project cancellation; for example, the Mi’kmaq resistance used blockades which led to the cancellation of a fracking project [source: commons-library]. The campaign against the GNL pipeline in Quebec had NGOs follow the leadership and guidelines of two citizen collectives [source: commons-library]. The Atlantic Coast Pipeline was legally recognized as part of the National Parks System, meaning the U.S. [source: commons-library] Forest Service did not have authority to issue construction permits, which was cited as a factor when the pipeline was canceled [source: commons-library]. Several campaigns leveraged social media, such as Philly Thrive’s righttobreathe campaign and Standing Rock’s nodapl campaign [source: commons-library]. A press conference held by Stand LA got the attention of a senator, leading to an EPA investigation that resulted in the campaign’s success [source: commons-library].

Key people & organizations

  • Global Grassroots Support Network
  • Kenzie Harris
  • Dr. Jen Gobby
  • Climate Justice Organizing Hub
  • McGill University
  • Stand LA
  • Stop Cop City
  • Keystone XL Pipeline
  • Grassy Narrows
  • pes
  • 13 Pueblos
  • Trans Mountain Expansion Pipeline
  • Atlantic Coast Pipeline
  • Public Power New York
  • Mi’kmaq Resistance
  • GNL Quebec
  • Standing Rock
  • Athabasca Tar Sands Resistance
  • Nitaskinan60
  • David Suzuki
  • Philly Thrive
  • Wet’suwet’en Nation

Tactics used

The campaigns used a combination of direct action (protests, blockades, civil disobedience) to physically disrupt projects, community engagement (canvassing, meetings, teach-ins) to build local support, and coalition building with NGOs, unions, and academics to amplify resources and media attention. Legal action and political pressure were used to delay projects and gain public attention, while mass communication via social media and independent media helped counter mainstream narratives. [source: commons-library]

Outcome

Verdict: unknown.

The outcome is unknown because the article is a synthesis of lessons from multiple campaigns, some of which are still ongoing, and it does not provide a single definitive outcome for the overall research project. The report notes that for the majority of campaigns, success was defined by project cancellation or policy change, but about 1 in 3 campaigns are still ongoing. [source: commons-library]

Lessons

  • Direct action that increases project costs and delays is a key factor in project cancellation.
  • Letting impacted communities lead, with support from NGOs and allies, increases the chance of success.
  • Coalition building with diverse groups (unions, academics, legal groups) can provide resources and amplify campaigns.
  • One-to-one conversations and community engagement help shift local narratives and build support.
  • Legal action and political pressure can delay projects and attract public attention, but may not always result in material gains.
  • Mass communication via social media and independent media helps counter mainstream narratives and engage wider publics.

Sources

Disclaimer: Included as a teaching example of campaign craft, not as endorsement.

Sources & verification

  • commons-library — grounding: primary — license: link-only
  • Rewritten: 2026-06-25 via worker_casestudies_v2.py

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