Helen Tandy, Founding Director, Eco Communities
Who Really Cares About the Climate?
You signed up for our newsletter/ read our website because you care. But do you always feel like part of the 89% who say they care too?
Even after more than 25 years of talking and sharing stories about climate change and sustainable living, I often still feel like I’m in the minority. The difference is between the 89% who say they care — and those, like you reading this, who are already living that care by making changes today.
Recent studies have found that between 80% and 89% of the world’s population want strong government action on the climate crisis. Yet, much of mainstream politics and the media still shy away from the issue. Yes, we need governments to act. But we don’t have to wait for laws to tell us what to do.
Read the full UN report this image is from
Peoples’ Climate Vote
We can — and already are — making changes now.
Most people are social creatures, shaped by what others do and say. Right now, we might seem like a smaller group: the ones actively involved in community projects, running greener businesses, cutting out single-use plastics, choosing bikes over cars, and more.
But are we sharing our stories positively enough with those around us?
The challenge has always been that climate change can feel abstract, a far-off fact and figures.
I’ve found it easier to focus on what we can see and touch:
- Reducing single-use plastics, made from fossil fuels, littering our streets, polluting our waterways, and ultimately entering our bodies as microplastics.
- Encouraging active travel — getting on our bikes, exploring the outdoors, getting fitter, and reducing car use.
These are tangible changes anyone can make — for the greater cause.
That’s why I first helped organise what was then the Sustainable Cheshire Fair, and why today it’s grown into Chester Green Weekend, working alongside Active Travel Fest, Oh Design Foundation, and Taste Cheshire to reach more of our community.
Chester Green Weekend 2025 is happening on 7th & 8th June.
If you’re reading this and you’re not yet involved — why not?
This isn’t just an event for people living in Chester. It’s for everyone locally. Chester is easily reachable by public transport and great cycle routes across the region.
Come and get involved:
- Share your story.
- Run a stall.
- Host a workshop.
- Volunteer with us.
We need more voices, more energy — to show the 89% that they are not alone, and to show everyone what they can do today and tomorrow.
Together, let’s turn concern into action.
You can read more about the 89% Project below, led in the UK by The Guardian.
And if you want to join Chester Green Weekend, email us at office@sustainablecheshire.uk.
By raising our voices together, we can help close the gap between public opinion and political action — and create real, lasting change.
Be Part of the 89% – Take Action at Chester Green Weekend!
About The 89% Project
The 89% P
roject is a global media collaboration launched by Covering Climate Now (CCNow) to spotlight the overwhelming public support for stronger climate action.
A 2024 study published in Nature Climate Change found that 89% of people worldwide want their governments to do more on climate change. Yet many underestimate how widespread that concern is — leading to a “spiral of silence,” where people stay quiet because they mistakenly think they are in the minority.
The 89% Pro
- Highlight global support for climate action.
- Help individuals see that their views are shared by the majority.
- Encourage policymakers to align with public sentiment.
- Combat the myth that caring about the climate is a fringe belief.
