European Commission - Directorate General for Climate Action

07/01/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/01/2026 09:14

Climate Pact recognised as an example of excellent citizen participation

On the picture: Laura Maanavilja, Deputy Head of Unit, Betsy Vivegnis, Project Manager, Leonardo Di Filippo, Team Leader, Mar Segura Mondejar, Project Assistant, European Commission, DG Climate Action, Unit E2 - Communications and stakeholders.
© European Union

The European Climate Pact has received two awards from the European Ombudsman for Good Administration. The Pact took the prize for Excellence in Citizen and Civil Society Participation, as well as winning the Public Vote Award, after receiving the most votes in an open poll.

The European Ombudsman awards recognise EU projects that promote good administration and have a positive impact on the lives of people across Europe. In the case of the European Climate Pact, the jury underlined the Pact's value in bringing together people, communities and organisations to take climate action at the local level while creating opportunities to engage with EU climate policies.

Since its launch, the Climate Pact has grown into a European community of nearly 1,200 Climate Pact Ambassadors and more than 100 Partner organisations. Together, they organise events, support local initiatives and encourage dialogue on climate action across Europe. In 2025 alone, the Pact supported 357 local activities across Member States, develop new skills and knowledge, share practical solutions and take climate action in their own communities.

The awards recognise this growing movement at a time when climate change is becoming an increasingly visible part of our everyday lives. As Europe experiences more frequent heatwaves, droughts and wildfires, the Climate Pact helps turn awareness into action by connecting citizens, businesses, schools, local authorities and civil society around practical solutions.

Ultimately, the European Climate Pact demonstrates that climate action is driven by thousands of people across Europe who are reducing emissions, strengthening resilience and inspiring others to do the same. The Ombudsman's recognition is a tribute to their commitment and the collective impact they are making.

Publication date
1 July 2026
AuthorDirectorate-General for Climate Action
European Commission - Directorate General for Climate Action published this content on July 01, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on July 01, 2026 at 15:14 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]