Goals and strategy

GOALS OF FOE CROATIA

Basic goals:

• Environmental and nature protection
• Promotion of sustainable development

Other goals:

• Encouraging and strengthening the role of the public in exercising the constitutional right to a healthy environment and nature and the responsibilities arising from it;
• Participation in the creation, implementation and monitoring of public policies, at local, national and EU level, that affect the environment and nature.

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY OF FOE CROATIA

In the period 2020-2024, the organisation will focus on strategic development in two main areas of development:

• Programme development
• Organisational development

and its activities will contribute to the achievement of horizontal goals. Each area of activity in the period 2020-2024 has defined general goals and specific goals and set indicators of fulfillment.

STRATEGIC GOALS OF FOE CROATIA (2025-2027)

This chapter outlines Green Action's strategic goals for the 2025–2027 period, along with key activities designed to achieve them. These goals were developed to address the most critical challenges identified in our analysis, such as resource efficiency, climate justice, and nature conservation. They also include specific measures for community mobilization, advocating for sustainable solutions, and strengthening the organization's capacities. Each strategic goal encompasses a range of activities aimed at raising public awareness, encouraging active public involvement in environmental and resource protection, and advocating for progressive laws and regulations. Through this approach, Green Action aims to contribute to the long-term protection of nature and the environment in Croatia.

Strategic goals are divided into programme goals, which center on the most important themes for the upcoming strategic period, and organizational goals, which focus on areas of the organization's development for 2025-2027.

PROGRAMME STRATEGIC GOALS

STRATEGIC GOAL 1: RESOURCE EFFICIENCY AND IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE

In the new strategic period, in the area of waste and resource management, we plan to address the root causes of unsustainable resource use. We will tackle challenges related to greenwashing, growing consumerism, techno-optimism, the promotion of inadequate technological solutions, and increasing poverty. By emphasizing the reduction of production and consumption and the application of optimal technological solutions and social innovations, we'll leverage our experience and successes in community building, as well as positive experiences in promoting small, effective solutions for community activation.

Our core focus will be on developing and promoting successful local initiatives that serve as examples of good practice. The goal is to encourage engagement and active participation in resource management and waste reduction, fostering a narrative of frugality and responsible resource stewardship.

Finally, in all thematic areas, including this one, our intention is to expose the destructive aspects of the consumerist system and inadequate technological solutions, while strengthening awareness of their potential negative consequences.

Specific objectives under Strategic Goal 1 are:

• SC 1.1. Strengthen public awareness of poor waste management practices and the importance of waste reduction, and encourage the implementation of effective solutions: Activities include campaigns against harmful facilities like incinerators, unsustainable waste management centers, and plastic production and processing plants. We'll collaborate with local initiatives, partner organizations, local self-government units, and public utility companies. Among other things, we'll conduct public advocacy actions, legal proceedings, and address reports via the Green Phone.
• SC 1.2. Encourage individuals, local initiatives, associations, and institutions to apply successful resource efficiency solutions: We'll hold monthly repair, reuse, and repurposing workshops for all age groups and profiles to share skills, promote good practices, and develop Green Action's “reuse / community center”. Activities will also include textile exchange, and we'll work on topics like menstrual health and reducing food waste. We'll collaborate with local initiatives, partner organizations, repair/reuse collectives, and youth organizations. In addition to public events, we'll organize specific training and skill-sharing sessions.
• SC 1.3. Provide support to individuals and local communities in democratizing the management of natural assets: We'll provide support to local communities in sustainable spatial management, as well as in participation in the processes of drafting or amending spatial plans. We'll also provide education on water resource management through meetings and research.

STRATEGIC GOAL 2: CLIMATE JUSTICE

As Green Action, our activities aim to contribute to the transition to a post-fossil fuel society and the further development of the climate justice movement, guided by principles of social justice and systemic change.

In the fight against climate change, we'll emphasize confronting unacceptable and destructive public policies and technological solutions for addressing the climate crisis. This includes exposing those presented as "green" that are in fact carrying undesirable consequences for society and the environment, such as the use of gas and nuclear energy. Additionally, we'll work to ensure fair and accessible energy for all. In this context, working with local communities, raising public awareness, and actively involving them in decision-making about their climate future are key elements of the action model on which we'll base necessary changes.

In this regard, as a positive solution that, in addition to climate benefits, also positively impacts people's daily lives, we aim to establish ourselves as an important player in promoting railways as an environmentally friendly form of public transport.

Specific objectives under Strategic Goal 2 are:

• SC 2.1. Expose misleading climate policies and practices to the public: We'll organize internal and public discussions and research on the negative effects of greenwashing. We also plan a public campaign on the impact of these policies on communities.
• SC 2.2. Raise public awareness about the urgency of the climate crisis and the development of climate-resilient communities: We'll collect testimonies from communities affected by climate change and organize a public campaign based on them. We'll develop our own recommendations for climate-resilient communities, participate in the work of the Government's Climate Adaptation Commission, and get involved as stakeholders in the development of "climate citizen plenums."
• SC 2.3. Encourage the transition to clean and sustainable energy sources, reduce dependence on gas, and ensure fair and accessible energy for all: We'll organize internal discussions on mining for renewable energy technologies and renewables in general, and we'll advocate for a just National Social and Climate Plan. We'll address the issue of oil pollution. We plan a campaign for a just phase-out of gas and a campaign against NPP Krško 2, and we'll develop models and a campaign for equitable access to energy for all.
• SC 2.4. Position ourselves as a key player in the field of railway transport: We'll develop expert capacities for advocacy and campaigning on railway transport.

STRATEGIC GOAL 3: NATURE PROTECTION AND RESTORATION

In the field of nature protection, Green Action aims to prioritize this issue in politics and public perception, and to work on stopping false and harmful solutions. This includes influencing public policies, shaping public perception, and preventing damaging projects. Our engagement in public policies will cover various levels: from advocating for the proper and consistent implementation of European and national regulations, to improving data collection on the state of nature, and contributing to strengthening the institutional framework for nature protection.

As in other areas, we'll be strongly involved in stopping harmful projects, with a special emphasis on involving local communities.

Specific objectives under Strategic Goal 3 are:

• SC 3.1. Strengthen capacities for monitoring and analyzing the actual state of nature in Croatia and highlighting distortions in public perception: We'll collect data on the state of nature by monitoring official reports and collaborating with Green Forum members, and we'll incorporate this data into public communication on nature-related topics.
• SC 3.2. Increase awareness of false solutions in nature protection: We'll participate in training and write a position paper to inform the public about false solutions such as "biodiversity credits," along with awareness-raising activities.
• SC 3.3. Advocate for the proper implementation of the Nature Restoration Law (NRL) in Croatia: We'll develop a methodology for monitoring the implementation of the NRL, engage in national-level processes (including exposing projects that represent clear greenwashing), and implement concrete ecosystem restoration projects (e.g., removing barriers from rivers).
• SC 3.4. Contribute to a better framework for nature protection at the national level: We'll monitor administrative procedures, advocate for strengthening the nature protection sector, and ensure the proper implementation of existing legislation.
• SC 3.5. Stop harmful projects and provide additional protection for rivers: We'll design campaigns against harmful projects like HES Kosinj, help local communities stop similar projects, and advocate for increasing the level of river protection.
• SC 3.6. Maintain achieved standards in GMO regulation: We'll continue our work in the GMO Council, as well as our campaign against the deregulation of new genomic techniques.

ORGANIZATIONAL GOALS

In the upcoming period, we'll strongly commit to addressing weaknesses and threats related to our own capacities, primarily limited financial resources and unfavorable project funding conditions, which further burden employees and volunteers and often lead to burnout of both the staff as the activists and volunteers.

We also plan to improve communication to increase the visibility of our work in the context of social media dominance and declining media interest in broader public policy issues.

Within our capabilities, we want to strengthen cooperation with other civil society organizations to mitigate the trend of narrowing civil space caused by project funding and ensure the sustainability of our operations.

In Green Action's organizational goals for 2025–2027, we've defined key areas for organizational capacity development and sustainability:

• Finances: In finance, we plan to restructure the fundraising team to clearly define roles and responsibilities, which will ensure more effective fundraising. For the upcoming strategic period, we plan to develop funding models through economic activities and targeted donations to ensure the organization's long-term stability. We also plan mentorships for new team members to increase capacity for project writing and implementation.
• Human Resources: We'll systematize job positions within the organization and revise the salary policy based on this systematization. We also plan to strengthen employee supervision and evaluation through regular conversations and monitoring workload, aiming to prevent overwork and burnout.
• Infrastructure: We'll actively work to secure adequate premises in cooperation with the City and implement green procurement guidelines. We plan to assess the need for a van and improve the digital security of communication channels.
• Strengthening the Legal Team's Capacity: We'll provide Green Action lawyers with more time to practice law, access to relevant materials, and further professional development through workshops, while also exploring possibilities for opening a law firm.
• Membership: We'll renew and systematize work with members by reviewing existing conditions and adjusting the statute. We'll develop a membership engagement model that better meets the organization's needs and contributes to our sustainability.
• Communication and Visibility: We'll enhance visibility by updating communication materials, devising a strategy for promotional activities, and strengthening our media presence. We plan workshops with journalists and team training on digital marketing to increase Green Action's recognition.
• Strengthening the Activist Group: We plan to strengthen the Activist Group through the reorganization of the Autumn Eco Seminar, NVDA (Nonviolent Direct Action) training, and support for international actions, along with other forms of support that will motivate activists and increase their engagement. We'll establish continuous connection between activists and the office and enable greater autonomy in organizing actions.
• Civil Society: We'll actively participate in the development of the Green Forum and the Upgrade platform, and transfer knowledge to younger employees. Through this, we aim to strengthen Green Action's role within civil society and contribute to intercultural cooperation in new social centers in Zagreb.

These organizational goals are aimed at long-term capacity building and sustainability for Green Action, which will enable the successful implementation of strategic goals and better positioning of the organization in environmental protection processes.