Abundance

Abundance – not a word on everyone’s lips at the moment, is it? And yet here at UK charity Carbon Copy, we’re very excited about it. Because our latest research reveals it is one of three defining characteristics which give the most successful local collective climate and environment projects their power.

As you’re probably still scratching your head a bit, let’s unpack the idea. It comes out of an important new research report, ‘From Footprint to Changeprint‘, conducted by Eunomia for Carbon Copy. In contrast to the negative focus on your carbon footprint, Changeprint captures all the positive benefits of collective action beyond carbon reduction – economic, health, social, educational and cultural – that also contribute towards greater fairness and a better place to live.

This report lays out the many ways that energetic, committed and effective collective action in local communities, even without additional funding, has been very successful in tackling the climate and nature crises, despite faltering progress at a national level.

After a deep qualitative and quantitative review over five months, Eunomia identified three core characteristics of high-impact local climate action projects across the UK: a mindset of Abundance, a strong sense of Belonging and a Purposeful approach.

The power of each characteristic becomes clear when we group their four related success factors that were also identified in this research study.

The notion of ‘abundance’ is about projects that may be cash-constrained relying instead on four other success factors: resourcefulness, empowered leaders, creativity and wide collaboration. (We will explore the equally powerful Belonging and Purpose characteristics over the next couple of weeks – watch this space!)

Clearly, having sufficient financial resources is a key enabler. But the secret of Abundance is not about financial resources. It is the mindset which has enabled all these projects to find ways around having only limited, or in some cases no funds at all! As it says in the research report: “The mindset of Abundanceis empowering because it shifts the focus away from constraints and scarcity to the almost limitless power of collective human energy.”

Or as Kate Collier, Bike Bus Project Lead at Bike Worcester puts it: “I really love the concept of Abundance – it means so much for us as a small organisation that doesn’t have streams of money. We’re so rich in creativity, in people with ideas and love for the project. Also in people who are willing to help lead and to shape the development of other people involved in the project. It’s been really crucial that our Bike Bus Leaders have supported other people to step up, to be the next generation of Bike Bus Leaders, and to believe that they can do it in their community. That’s what Abundance means for us: being able to take that seed, that idea – the energy, buzz and creativity – and help empower others to bring all that into their area of Worcester.”

The research reveals that success is possible everywhere and the report has been put together as an action guide to help organisations of all types succeed in creating a bigger Changeprint. If you think these insights could support you in strengthening your existing project, or in creating a new successful collaboration in your area, do please download the report here.