Theories of Change & Systems Thinking: Lessons from Our Climate Dinner
Lessons from our latest dinner + a link to sign up for our next one (on March 17th)!
We hosted our first dinner party(!) last week for 40 passionate young professionals to explore a fundamental question: What is your theory of change for addressing the climate crisis? Is the most effective approach technology? Policy change? Economic restructuring? Grassroots mobilization? As we shared meals, stories, and different perspectives on the most effective levers for change, one takeaway was clear—meaningful progress requires collective, not individual, actions for systems change.
For too long, we’ve been told that climate action means recycling better, buying eco-friendly products, or cutting personal carbon footprints—yet 100 companies are responsible for over 70% of global emissions. The real leverage isn’t (strictly) in individual consumer choices—it’s in changing the rules of the game.
The Role of Community in Climate Action
Another big takeaway? People want to take action—but they don’t always know how. Many attendees felt overwhelmed by the lack of clear pathways into advocacy and hesitant to take on the "activist" label. Others wanted tools for having difficult climate conversations, especially with skeptical family members.
The solution? Community. Collective action is most powerful when people feel connected, supported, and equipped with clear steps to engage. The environmental movement needs to focus more on strategic alignment, coalition-building, and sustained mobilization rather than isolated efforts.
What’s Next? Join Us for Our Next Dinner!
To continue this conversation, our next Climate Action Club dinner is on March 17th at 6pm! We’ll be introducing new ways to connect people with shared interests in climate (and beyond!) to continue building upon the amazing relationships and connections that are forming!
🔗 Sign up here!
If there’s one thing we learned from this dinner, it’s that climate action isn’t just about personal choices—it’s about shifting social norms, political action, and solutions that change the game. And that starts with people coming together.