Small Actors, Big Voices

By: Jagravi Singh

Editor: Elijah Eaton

Editor-in-Chief: Grace Samuel 

The views expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the International Relations Society.

Jul 15th, 2016. Vespa Adventures/Armbruster

Growing up in Southeast Asia, I noticed that the climate crisis was never an unimaginable situation for me, as it was visible in the beaches I visited, the unpredictable monsoons, and the growing presence of plastic in places that once felt untouched. As coastal and suburban towns started to modernise, I witnessed how environmental degradation quietly reshaped daily life, often hitting local communities first and hardest. These encounters made it clear that while climate negotiations often feel distant and occur in major economies such as France or Brazil, the most immediate actions are often led by people on the ground. 

Across Southeast Asia today, there are “small actors” who are transforming their climate anxieties into grassroots movements and actions, pioneering the roadmap for sustainable development. In Thailand, community-led beach cleanups and conservation efforts have helped restore fragile ecosystems, including the renowned Maya Bay, where Leonardo DiCaprio’s film ‘The Beach’ occurred and is closed annually from August 1st to September 30th to enable ecological restoration and for marine life to thrive. Other parts of Southeast Asia are taking similar steps by temporarily closing beaches and islands to the public to allow ecosystems to recover, following the catastrophic impacts of mass tourism, flooding and low air quality. 

Building on dangerous climatic events, grassroots movements are also tackling plastic pollution, which releases massive amounts of greenhouse gases as it accounts for “8% of the world’s oil production.” As a result, eco-bricking initiatives, which turn plastic waste into reusable building materials, are spreading across youth networks in the region, demonstrating community creativity overcoming unsustainable practices. Complementing this, Vietnam’s traditional bamboo practices are being reimagined as a sustainable industry that supports local livelihoods while providing low-carbon alternatives to plastics and fast furniture. These efforts demonstrate that impactful climate action doesn’t always originate from international forums; instead, it begins with grassroots actors whose voices grow louder through collective responsibility and cooperation. 

Thailand’s Ecological Recovery 

In Thailand, coastal environments are illustrating how local action can support ecological recovery alongside broader conservation policies. When I visited Maya Bay in Southern Thailand in June 2024, I saw firsthand a once-overcrowded tourist destination turn into a thriving landscape for marine recovery, with pristine waterways and beaches with few signs of plastic pollution. The restoration effort by the local community is a sign that, by regulating mass-tourism in the area and having a clear annual restoration timeframe, there can be significant positive rebounds for the local ecosystem. Besides restoring the precious beaches, there’s another community-led initiative focusing on restoring mangrove plants throughout the country, which act as natural defences against storms, store large amounts of carbon and provide habitats for countless species. They are currently under threat due to over-irrigation, urbanisation, deforestation, and industrial pollution. In response, youth-based organisations have begun to operate within schools in Thailand called ‘Mangrove Teens’ that actively plant and nurture mangroves in local conservation areas. I have previously been a member of this organisation in my high school and focused on raising awareness of mangrove loss and revitalising efforts to restore the plant species by highlighting its role in carbon sequestration or storing carbon, benefiting climate resilience. While challenges remain in bridging all potential actors together, Thailand’s blend of strong government regulation, grassroots activism, and youth participation emphasises how small actors can create major impacts on sustainable development and coastal resilience, which often go unheard of in major climate summits. 

Vietnam’s Grassroots Initiatives 

From my decade-long lived experience in Vietnam, I have seen the increase in grassroots movements taking shape as more climate disasters occur. From witnessing severe flooding, air pollution, and climate displacements, I joined the eco-bricking society in school, where I went to rural farms to turn the eco-brick bottles into homes for orphanages, reinforcing how simple actions can create tangible environmental and social change. Across Vietnam, similar youth-led eco-brick movements are gaining momentum, with volunteers raising awareness and planting eco-bricks to steadily reduce CO2 emissions. These initiatives provide practical, decentralised solutions in a country where millions of tonnes of plastic waste are generated annually. 

Alongside these circular waste solutions, Vietnam’s resilient bamboo industry shows how traditional resources can support climate action and sustainable livelihoods. Bamboo, a rapidly renewable resource with high carbon sequestration potential, has long provided communities with low-impact materials for housing, tools and crafts while reducing dependence on carbon-intensive alternatives. Local artisans and entrepreneurs have elevated bamboo weaving into internationally recognised sustainable products, preserving cultural heritage while advancing economic growth. Companies such as ‘EQUO’ focus on creating compostable, plant-based alternatives sourced from natural materials such as bamboo. From being based in Vietnam, the company aims to empower communities to take individual action by replacing plastic with sustainable resources, whether it’s bamboo straws or toothbrushes. Each purchase goes directly into supporting natural restoration, and incentives are provided, such as discounts or by becoming an affiliate ambassador and earning commission. Together, these initiatives highlight Vietnam’s grassroots actors - from students to artisans to entrepreneurs, who are redefining climate action, proving that sustainable development is built from the ground up. 

Ultimately, the movements occurring in Vietnam and Thailand demonstrate that climate action doesn’t necessarily have to start with global agreements, but with climate upstanders deciding to act within their own local contexts. Through planting mangroves, eco-bricking, or revitalising the bamboo industry, these local efforts show how small steps can restore ecosystems. By using locally available resources or homegrown products, communities can create sustainable economic opportunities that are resilient, inclusive and rooted in long-term stewardship. When led from the ground up, environmental restoration can become a foundation for sustainable growth, empowering small actors to create lasting global impact.