Written by
Manuel Leduc
, R&D Engineer
Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, yet truly understanding its causes, effects, and potential solutions can be complex. To bridge this gap, I’ve started organizing internal Climate Fresk workshops, creating a space where colleagues can come together, learn, and develop a shared understanding of climate science.
How it all started?
I wanted to take part in a Climate Fresk because I wanted to understand better how climate change works. I talked to the HR team about the idea of having a Climate Fresk session for our colleagues. From our initial idea, we agreed that it was even better to train me so that I could organize internal sessions for current and future XWiki SAS employees.
What is a Climate Fresk?
A Climate Fresk is a three-hour collaborative workshop, teaching the fundamental science behind climate change, and empowering participants to take action. The workshop is based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports. To date, over 1.4 million people worldwide have participated in Climate Fresk sessions.
How do you become a facilitator?
To become a facilitator, I first had to participate in a Fresk myself. I chose to do it online and in English to learn climate-related vocabulary (my native language is French). It was a rich experience, with participants from all over the world (Taiwan, South Africa, Italy, and more) coming from diverse backgrounds.
#1 First, the workshop made it unmistakably clear that climate change is a direct consequence of human activities. It was also eye-opening to see that, despite our different backgrounds, we were all able to reach the same conclusions and goals.
#2 Next, I took part in the official facilitator training organized by the Climate Fresk NGO. It was held online again, this time in a French-speaking session. The trainer was highly experienced and provided us with the key skills needed to run a successful Fresk session.
#3 At the end of the training, I received a certificate of attendance and trainer access. These credentials allow me to be officially registered as a facilitator and to report the number of participants in the sessions I organize, helping the Climate Fresk NGO track its global impact.
What has been the impact of the workshops in XWiki SAS?
Until now, I hosted 2 Climate Fresk remote workshops with many more sessions to come. I am glad to have facilitated the process for my colleagues, giving them space to brainstorm, while guiding them when they weren't sure how to proceed. Their feedback also speaks volume about the relevance of these kinds of workshops:
I feel a bit like my 3rd eye has opened thanks to the more advanced information and stats received. I feel motivated to research more and be more conscious about food choices since this is something used daily with some of the most impact (in my case at least). Rice is not as “innocent” as I thought according to Our World in Data. Eating tomatoes from Brazil might be far less impactful on environment than rice or even fish. Also, planting more trees is not the answer (which I thought it is). Shows how necessary education is and how many myths circulate around the Internet. Dorina Anton, Marketing Specialist
What Dorina referred to as the not so “innocent” rice and food green gas emissions. Original image taken from Our World in Data.
It was a great workshop. It was interesting to understand the relationship between each cause and effect. For example, it was interesting to understand the loop effect with permafrost, the CO2 emissions and the temperature rise. I also discovered some effects that I didn't know about before, such as the calcification difficulties. The part I liked the most was when we discussed what we can do about the climate. Josué Tille, R&D Engineer
The workshop was actually quite surprising. You learn about fundamental things you wouldn’t have thought of, like for example how many green gas emissions rice supply chain can create. I also really liked the interactive format; it’s much more practical when you engage rather than just listening to information. Lastly, before I was more focused on reducing plastic use or the impact of transportation, but now I realize we need to rethink even our most basic choices. For example, I was surprised to learn that choosing pork, which is often criticized, is actually a better option than lamb in terms of environmental impact. I also found it interesting that in one of the exercises, we thought that choosing local producers, for reducing transportation emissions, was a good choice. But when you look at the data, transportation has a smaller impact compared to methane emissions from farms, for example. That really shifted my perspective on what truly makes a difference. Iulia Bălan, Customer Support Operations Manager
Attending the Climate Fresk workshop at XWiki was an eye-opening experience. While I was already aware of some of the topics presented, seeing everything connected as a whole was truly impactful. It wasn’t just about understanding climate change; it was about feeling its urgency in a collaborative, engaging way. What really stuck with me was how interconnected everything is, from scientific facts to human actions. This experience is one I won’t forget, and I’m really happy that I attended. It made me reflect on my own impact and how even small changes can contribute to a larger shift. Walking away, I felt both a sense of responsibility and motivation to be more proactive in addressing climate issues in my daily life and workplace. Neculai DăscăliÈ›a, Account & Project Manager
In lieu of conclusions
The Climate Fresk workshops have sparked discussions between colleagues, challenging assumptions and deepening our collective understanding of climate change. As we continue to organize more sessions, I hope to empower even more colleagues to think critically about their impact and the systemic changes needed to address this crisis.
By fostering collective intelligence and guided reflection, these workshops help turn knowledge into action, one step at a time. Because in the fight against climate change, awareness is just the beginning.
Every action matters, every bit of warming matters, every year matters, every choice matters. IPCC
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