In the face of an ever-pressing climate crisis, the need for concerted and collaborative action has never been more apparent. While individual efforts are valuable, true potential for change lies in collective action. Across sectors and continents, coalitions have been created to address this systemic challenge by bringing together governments, businesses, organizations, and communities, uniting diverse perspectives and resources toward a common goal: safeguarding our planet for future generations.

Indeed, coalitions harness the power of individuals and networks and channel them toward one collective direction. By pooling expertise, technological advancements, financial resources, and political influence, they amplify impact and effectiveness and can create a new space in between entities that is not available unless individual entities and stakeholders come together. This collaborative approach allows for the sharing of best practices, innovative solutions, and lessons learned across borders and sectors.

Coalitions can help narrow that space in between siloed institutions to mobilize actors to commit to ambitious common goals. And they empower communities by bridging that space and providing access to resources, knowledge, and capacity-building initiatives.

But coming together is only the first step. From aligning stakeholders around a shared vision, to nurturing dialogue across differences, to scaling solutions that spark change, building and running effective coalitions is a complex undertaking.

That’s why the Aspen Institute’s Energy and Environment Program and SYPartners have joined forces to gather insights on the “how” of coalition-building.

Drawing on interviews with accomplished coalition builders, and decades of experience convening leaders, The Coalition Builders’ Guide contains distilled learnings and practical suggestions to build effective coalitions.

Coalitions are indispensable in the fight against climate change. They embody the principle that collective action is greater than the sum of individual efforts, leveraging the strengths of diverse stakeholders to drive transformative change. As we navigate the challenges posed by climate change, building and strengthening coalitions will be essential in securing a sustainable future for generations to come. By uniting efforts, we can mitigate the worst impacts of climate change and create a world where both people and the planet thrive.

Written by María Ortiz Pérez, in collaboration with Nicolas Maitret, Mikhael Cohen, Lisa Maulhardt and Derrick Barreiro from SY Partners.