During the Festival of Light, organised by Birmingham Botanical Gardens, representatives from Birmingham City University’s Smart, Sustainable and Green (SSG) Research Alliance engaged the public in an interactive exploration of everyday climate action.
The engagement centred on a simple yet impactful concept: Habit Cards designed to translate sustainability into practical, accessible steps for all ages. Visitors were invited to select a card, reflect on a suggested action, commit to applying it in daily life, and then turn the card over to discover why that action matters. The cards were structured around key sustainability themes, including Energy, Transport, Waste, Water Management, Nature and Green Space, and Digital Transformation, reflecting SSG’s integrated approach to urban sustainability.
Participants were then encouraged to “add one tree or flower” to a collective Story Map. This symbolic act represented a personal commitment to change. The concept was intentionally simple: choose one habit, make one change, add one tree. It reinforced a powerful message, . When multiplied across families, schools, and communities, these small, everyday actions can collectively create meaningful environmental impact. Just as individual trees together form a forest, individual commitments together can transform Birmingham into a greener and more resilient city.
To conclude the experience, visitors shared their “Green Wish for Birmingham,” imagining a future city that is sustainable, inclusive, and climate resilient. The wishes reflected a strong collective desire for positive changes. Together, these contributions demonstrated how creative, place-based engagement can transform complex climate discussions into hopeful, actionable commitments. The event reinforced SSG’s commitment to integrated, inclusive climate action, connecting everyday behaviour change with broader systems thinking to help shape a greener and more resilient Birmingham