Employees Step Up Where Corporations Stall: Global Employee Climate Action Network Launches to Drive Action at Work

AMSTERDAM — A new global network launches today with a bold ambition: to support the employees leading climate action inside companies, often without permission or recognition.

The Employee Climate Action Network (ECAN) is a global network of organisations, academics and experienced employee advocates collaborating to support workers in driving climate leadership from within their companies. From green teams and employee walkouts to bold internal campaigns, employee-led climate action is on the rise. ECAN provides the infrastructure to connect, protect, and scale this emerging movement. 

“We’re building a network across borders, sectors, and job titles at a critical moment when employee climate action is needed more than ever,” said Deborah McNamara, Executive Director of ClimateVoice. “We want employees to know you are not alone in your concerns. There are millions of us working for a better future and we’re here to make it happen, together. 

ECAN’s launch comes at a time when more employees than ever are ready to act, but too many are isolated, unsupported, or unsure where to start. The network is here for these employees to offer resources and support, no matter where they are in their changemaking journey.

What’s launching today?
The network’s first public tool is the Employee Resource Hub: a filterable, open-access library of over 100 practical resources to help employees take action at work. From guides and case studies to organising tools and legal support, the Hub was built  by people on the inside, for people on the inside. It includes contributions from a large variety of organisations made up of former corporate professionals, employee activists and organisers, non-profit organisations, entrepreneurs and academics.

No matter where you are in your journey – forming a green team or organizing a larger movement, ECAN is here to help you make your workplace part of the solution, not the problem.” said Deborah McNamara

ECAN’s Offerings

ECAN supports a growing ecosystem of employee-led climate efforts through three core workstreams:

• Employee Resource Hub: Curated, collaborative, action-oriented tools
• Employee Rights & Labour Solidarity: Movement building, providing resources and connecting employees to legal support
• Media Hub: Amplifying employee voices and enabling confidential whistleblowing

Why Now?

Real change is already happening. From climate resolutions inside major tech firms to internal campaigns that shift procurement, employees are winning climate concessions, and ECAN is here to accelerate it. Whether it’s the thousands of staff at Amazon who pushed leadership to adopt a climate pledge, or employee advocacy at law firms like Clyde & Co that led to sustainability clauses being embedded in supplier contracts; we’re seeing more and more evidence that when employees speak, companies listen.

“We needed a way to connect across companies, share what works, and create a network where the sum is worth more than the parts; ECAN makes that possible.”

“We see employees rewriting what corporate climate leadership looks like, from the inside out,” said Tessa Wernink, ECAN co-founder and European Strategy Lead at WorkforClimate. “This is about creating a movement where every employee can find their role, and contribute in their unique way.”

ECAN grew from a series of international roundtables in 2023, where employees, advocates, and researchers came together to compare notes and co-design solutions. In 2024, the network was selected for the u-School for Transformation accelerator, where its focus on collaborative infrastructure took shape.

What began as shared documents and online calls has now become a formal, global infrastructure for insider climate action.

Get Involved

• Employees: whether an explorer, learner or champion, employees can browse the Resource Hub and join a growing group of changemakers:  https://employeeclimateaction.network/resources/
• Organisations, researchers, allies: Join the ECAN network to learn, connect and provide support — https://employeeclimateaction.network/join-the-network/

Spokespeople are available across sectors. For interviews, media enquiries or contributor quotes, contact:

USA:
Deborah McNamara, Executive Director – ClimateVoice – deb@climatevoice.org

Canada:
Gareth Graunsaull, Executive Director – Re-Generation – gareth@re-generation.ca

Europe:
Tessa Wernink, Co-Founder – Undercover Activist – tessa@thewholeworks.nl

Laure Legros, Head of Advocacy – WorkforClimate – Laure.legros@workforclimate.org

Australia:
Lucy Piper, Director – WorkforClimate – lucy@workforclimate.org