How to Lead a Good Enough Transformation | Practical Climate Action for Communities

Climate change is here, and its impacts are impossible to ignore – from rising temperatures and extreme weather to shrinking biodiversity and widening social inequalities. The need for a “green transition” to sustainable practices is urgent, yet big institutions and policies often move too slowly. Enter the Good Enough Transformation (GET) initiative – a new approach proving that when it comes to climate action, “good enough” is good enough. Instead of waiting for perfect solutions from the top, GET empowers communities to start now, with the resources and knowledge at hand. This practical guide explores how NGOs, community leaders, and local change-makers can adopt the Good Enough Transformation framework to drive bottom-up climate action that prioritizes environmental impact, elevates community leadership, and honors cultural and natural heritage.

What Is the “Good Enough Transformation” Initiative?

The Good Enough Transformation (GET) is a global project introduced by Trans Europe Halles (a European network of cultural centers) together with partners across 9 countries in 4 continents. Launched in 2024 with support from international funders, GET’s mission is clear: to research, document and develop affordable, sustainable, and immediately accessible green transformations that combine sustainable innovation with the cultural and natural heritage of local communities worldwide. In essence, GET is building a worldwide “community of practice” – a network of grassroots groups, cultural organizations, architects, academics and activists – who share knowledge and collaborate on local climate solutions.

At its core, the initiative offers a bottom-up perspective on sustainability. Rather than focusing on massive high-tech projects, GET looks at small-scale changes driven by local collectives. These changes tap into traditional knowledge systems, creative arts, small local economies, and simple innovations to green communities from the ground up. The approach recognizes that while communities alone can’t solve the entire climate crisis, they can spearhead what the organizers call a “good enough transformation” – a series of incremental but meaningful steps toward sustainability, rooted in local culture and creativity. By uniting these efforts into a broader movement and sharing tools (like a manifesto, toolkit, and action guides), GET aims to ignite a grassroots green transition that anyone can participate in.

From Perfectionism to Progress: Why “Good Enough” Matters

A key mindset shift behind GET is moving from perfectionism to progress in climate action. Too often, communities feel they must wait for a perfect plan, technology, or policy before taking action – but waiting is a luxury the planet cannot afford. The Good Enough Transformation framework explicitly prioritizes incremental, locally driven climate action over perfectionism. In other words, doing something now – no matter how small or “imperfect” – is far better than doing nothing until an ideal solution arrives.

Indeed, the premise is that countless “good enough” solutions added together can bridge the gap where top-down efforts fall short. Planting a community food garden, installing rainwater harvesters on a local library, or repurposing waste into art – these humble actions won’t solve climate change overnight. But they will reduce emissions and waste in their neighborhood, inspire others, and build public momentum for sustainability.

This philosophy is captured in the GET Manifesto’s rallying cry: “We do not wait for permission or perfection. We begin – here, now, and together.” In practice, that means any group of neighbors or local leaders can kickstart a transformation without needing to be experts or to have ideal conditions. The Good Enough Transformation is about doing what you can do today – and trusting that is enough to start making a difference.

Key Principles of a “Good Enough” Transformation

Locally Led & Bottom-Up: Solutions are driven by local people rather than imposed from above. Communities identify their own needs and experiment with sustainable practices that make sense in their context.
Start Small, Aim Accessible: The focus is on affordable, immediately accessible actions – things that can be done with limited resources and simple technology.
Progress Over Perfection: Incremental progress is valued more than perfect outcomes. This encourages trial-and-error, experimentation, and the belief that the act of beginning is what counts.
Cultural and Natural Heritage Integration: GET stresses weaving cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge into climate solutions, making them more meaningful and locally adapted.
Creative Collaboration and Imagination: By involving artists, scientists, farmers, and architects, communities unleash creativity and collective problem-solving.
Sharing Knowledge and Scaling Out: Each local experiment contributes to a wider learning network, allowing ideas to be replicated and adapted across regions and continents.

Communities Leading by Example

Mexico: Reviving ancient chinampa farming in Xochimilco wetlands to blend cultural heritage with climate resilience.
West Africa: Using traditional vernacular architecture to create sustainable buildings that fit the local climate.
Cyprus: Transforming a heritage site into a community garden and urban farm, combining upcycling with food security.
Malaysia: Through creative upcycling inspired by indigenous crafts, communities in Borneo are turning waste into useful products while preserving traditions.

Each of these examples shows how small steps rooted in local culture can generate significant climate benefits while strengthening community ties.

How to Start Your Own “Good Enough” Transformation

Gather Your Community and Define a Vision – Engage diverse voices, from elders to youth, and identify your most pressing challenges.
Start Small with an Achievable Project – Pick a modest, affordable action as your “quick win.”
Leverage Local Heritage and Strengths – Integrate cultural knowledge, traditional practices, or natural assets.
Collaborate, Network, and Learn – Partner with creatives, experts, and other communities.
Embrace Iteration and Celebrate Progress – Adapt as you go, learn from mistakes, and celebrate every milestone.

Conclusion: Together, From the Ground Up

Leading a “good enough” transformation means believing that progress is possible wherever you are, with whatever you have. It’s about replacing despair with initiative and replacing unattainable ideals with practical creativity.

The Good Enough Transformation initiative is more than a project; it’s a mindset and a movement. It shows that when ordinary people come together – across cultures and continents – remarkable change can emerge from the bottom up. Every community has the capacity to heal a piece of the planet and inspire others. In the journey to a sustainable future, perfection is not the goal – participation is. And by leading with a good-enough mindset, you can help build a greener, more resilient world, one community at a time.

Webinar:

A Webinar was organized on How to Lead a Good Enough Transformation – A Guide to Implementing Community-based Climate Action by Jennie Suddick from OCAD University, Canada, and Fran Erazo, Culturans, Mexico, on September 20, 2025. The webinar was hosted by fundsforNGOs.

Downloads

References

Trans Europe Halles – Good Enough Transformation: teh.net initiative page
Good Enough Transformation Manifesto – GET Toolkit materials
Project Chinampas (Mexico City) – Integration of indigenous farming into climate resilience
Gardens of the Future (Cyprus) – Community gardens and urban farms
Vernacular Architecture initiatives in West Africa – Climate-adapted traditional building methods
Borneo Laboratory (Malaysia) – Creative upcycling and indigenous heritage