Our new campaign urges companies to join the energy transition
2024 was the warmest year on record, with an average global surface temperature of 1.6°C, officially surpassing the 1.5°C limit set by the Paris Agreement. Countless environmental and humanitarian disasters — from the wildfires in Los Angeles to the flash floods in Somalia — prove that the popular assumption that the climate catastrophe is still in the future is wrong. We are already in the middle of it. In fact, if we don’t reduce global emissions by 45% in the next five years, it will be too late to stop it.
Since fossil fuels are the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions, the most effective solution is to transition to renewable energy. Given all this scientifically proven information, one might assume that global leaders would waste no time in implementing policies to prevent further damage. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. In January 2025 — the very month it became clear we had surpassed the 1.5°C threshold — the United States, one of the world’s most influential countries, withdrew from the Paris Agreement. This proves that we cannot rely on policymakers alone to bring about the change we so urgently need. We have to take action ourselves.
That’s why, at the beginning of April, we launched our new campaign: NOW IS THE TIME TO POWER UP CHANGE!
With this campaign, we’re calling on major companies to fully embrace and support the energy transition and switch to renewable energy fast. This is the only way we might still be able to prevent a full-blown climate catastrophe.
A campaign powered by volunteers
Concrete actions of our campaign include, for example, contacting the 20 largest companies in 25 different countries, urging them to switch to renewable energy imidiatley. NOW IS THE TIME TO POWER UP CHANGE is made possible thanks to European Solidarity Corps volunteers at EKOenergy’s Secretariat.
We asked some of these volunteers why they decided to join this campaign:
Sophie, Germany
“The larger the company, the greater its influence on society, policy-making, and the environment, simply through its energy usage. Considering the urgency of the climate crisis, it’s a big and impactful step when a major energy consumer takes responsibility and switches to EKOenergy-labelled renewable energy. To make that happen, I joined the campaign.“
Allan, France
“Why did I want to join the “Now is the Time” campaign? With all the data we receive daily showing how rapidly the planet’s situation is deteriorating, I felt that it’s more than time to take action. This campaign focuses on reaching out to large companies — the major electricity consumers — which means engaging with those who can have a significant impact.“
“I strongly believe that those who hold power and resources have a responsibility to act. They play a crucial role in reducing climate change and in addressing the social inequalities that are worsened by it.“
Tomas, Czechia
“I believe that targeting the biggest companies in each country is a crucial and strategic step, as these companies are often among the highest energy consumers. By raising their awareness about how straightforward and impactful a transition to renewable energy can be, we not only reduce emissions directly, but we also unlock the potential for wider influence. Their visibility and leadership can help amplify our message, spread the word about our ecolabel, and inspire smaller companies. I believe that there’s a lot of potential to drive meaningful change across a large scope, which is why I chose to join this campaign.“
Elena, Italy
“Each of us came to EKOenergy because we felt the need to take more meaningful action on climate than we could on our own. I feel personally invested in this campaign. I grew up close to nature, and I’ve seen how deeply environmental destruction affects both people and ecosystems. Climate change is not a distant threat: it’s here, and it is already heavily affecting the most vulnerable communities, even if we don’t see it happening under our eyes, it is already destroying lives. My passion is driven by a belief in collective responsibility and in the power of corporate action to accelerate systemic change. Big companies can reduce their emissions, they must choose to support climate justice, and inspire others to follow.“
“I want to be part of the generation that doesn’t look away, but acts. And I believe that every decision – including influencing and reflecting on how big companies source their energy – is a chance to do better!“
Published: 29 May 2025
