Climate Actions: Transformative Mechanisms for Social Mobilisation (Palgrave Macmillan, 2018)

Watch book seminar at Boston University here.

Available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook here

Climate change remains a challenge that needs to be addressed at its core, particularly the rapid reduction of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. This book discusses strategies for climate action by synthesizing insights from a set of international ‘contemporary social action groups’ surveys. Based on these, Climate Actions introduces a synthesis of mechanisms for generating change, designed around 5 main themes: relationships (relating); value-based messages (messaging); alternatives (visioning); diversity (webbing); and communication (interacting). This book will be of great value to all academics and practitioners interested in the future development of our climate.


“The climate movement is now old and robust enough to be studied–which in and of itself is good news. And the results of those inquiries are of great use in … building this movement big enough and fast enough to catch up with the physics of global warming. This book will help make our labors more effective!”

— Bill McKibben, founder, 350.org, and Schumann Distinguished Scholar in Environmental Studies, Middlebury College, USA


Addressing climate change will not be achieved through business as usual. Citizen action is absolutely vital to prod, push and directly institute changes. To learn how citizen action might be improved, Laurence Delina brings to bear insights from social theory combined with reports from numerous action groups. His classification of mechanisms for change provides a convenient entry to a careful exposition and analysis. Climate Actions offers a wealth of ideas and information for anyone seeking to make actions as effective as possible.

— Brian Martin, Emeritus Professor, University of Wollongong, Australia


“Rooted in social movement scholarship, and based on an original new survey of climate groups, Climate Actions offers an up-to-date, comprehensive analysis. Highly recommended for anyone interested in expanding and deepening the climate movement.”

— Juliet Schor, Professor of Sociology, Boston College, USA


“How can the climate movement make headway against the looming catastrophe? This book offers a fine palette of strategies and resources to draw on. There is much to learn here for both activists and scholars who want to contribute to more effective action on the issue of our time.”

— Andreas Malm, Lund University, Sweden and author of ‘Fossil Capital’