XR Big Conversation 2026

At the Love and Rage weekend in London in September 2026 Local and Grassroots Support held a space for face to face conversation about our own movement where we could share perspectives with honesty and care.

This was NOT a decision making space, and was not aiming to be representative of the movement. The main priority was the conversation itself.

But groups were encouraged to write their thoughts on paper, and these were written up into a report by Local and Grassroots Support, which we hope will be a starting point for similar conversations in and across local groups, regions and nations and central circles.

Thinking together about our movement

This is a very brief summary - it’s worth checking out the report for more detail.

Question 1

What is precious to you about XR, and what keeps you here?

There is so much love for XR! It’s not just a campaign group, but an inclusive, supportive community built of real friendship and loyalty. People gain hope and courage from being with others who ‘get it’. Learning new skills is empowering, and our ‘we are all crew’ ethos means that everyone can contribute and get stuff done. Regular connection is key, but it’s not just meetings - there is love, creativity, joy and fun - plus food and drumming! All this is deeply rooted in our principles and values, and in the experience of taking action together.

"I love my local group and the Disabled Rebels group…. usually we’re excluded"

People are also here because of our mission. There is fear and desperation, and desire for impact. Our demands are broad enough to include different issues, and we gain strength from being local, national and global. Our creativity is highly valued and we have many strengths and assets (more of these in Question 3).

"My grandchild – I want them to know I tried"

Question 2

Is XR done? If not, why not?

The largest response was an emphatic ‘no’. The job’s not done, and so neither are we! Local groups are autonomous, and XR is global, so it will carry on as long as people want it to. And there is still energy and commitment.

"plenty of work to do yet with these people"

There are new opportunities, and new people need us to be there. We have built up a lot that is useful and needed - why throw that away? Issues with central circles are often not relevant to local groups. There is no similar alternative, so we should adapt and make the best of what we have.

"For people new to the climate movement it’s a good way in – there’s incredible expertise in the movement"

BUT people listed many serious problems, whether or not they felt these meant XR might be ‘done’.

The most common were : Changes to protest laws, loss of numbers and momentum, lack of clear direction, feeling less effective, loss of younger people, people moving away to other groups, or inadequate action.

"People don’t believe that what we do now (marches) is effective"

Question 3

'We set our mission on what is necessary': In the context of the climate movement, what can XR contribute now and going forward?

There seemed to be agreement around our strengths and assets.

Skills and trainings, systems and infrastructure, our principles and values, creativity and visuals were seen as most important. Links to other organisations, visibility/ branding, and autonomous groups like drummers and Red Rebels were also mentioned.

But differences emerged in other areas. These most often relate to actions, working with other groups, and focus.

Actions: Some are happy with safer, theatrical or less disruptive actions. Others want more disruption. For some this is a difference over what tactics are effective, and for others it’s about personal preference.

Some suggested that there is room for difference here. Disruption could be strategically targeted, only for those who want to take part, and could be planned to avoid higher legal risks.

Others made suggestions that open up some other perspectives, such as actions that create ‘the world we want to see’ or actions that promote agency. A reference to David Graeber’s definition of direct action as different from protest was a helpful contribution: ‘Protest is like begging the powers that be to dig a well, direct action is like digging it yourself and defying them to stop you’

Working with other groups: This was seen as vital, and is already happening. We can’t create the impact we need on our own. But how to make this most effective? Should we be some kind of hub, connecting different groups together? Or should we lend our energy to other campaigns? The important role of XR in ‘seeding’ new groups is recognised, and our ongoing role in supporting activists and groups - but does the energy flow back or do we end up depleted?

Focus: Some argue for a stronger climate focus. Other issues confuse our message. We risk being stereotyped and ignored. Are we a ‘left wing silo’, excluding people with different perspectives? Others think we should be more intersectional. Different issues are deeply connected – you can’t just tackle ‘climate’ on its own. . An intersectional approach brings together more or different people and groups - and solidarity with other causes is important in itself .

"we can’t and don’t all need to agree on every single concern!"

Ideas and Opportunities

Here are the top three - see the full report for more.

Mobilise around extreme weather events, El Nino makes this predictable. But this needs preparation urgently.
The public is waking up - be ready to help people get involved
Think beyond London for actions - eg local communities, No 10 North….

Conclusion

People feel love and loyalty towards XR. People want us to adapt, evolve and have impact. We have strong foundations and much to offer. What happens next is up to all of us.

"No-one is coming to save us" | "We are all crew" | "XR is us"

What Next?

Local and Grassroots Support (LGS) are looking at ways to continue this conversation in different ways, including setting up a Zoom call. If you have any questions in the meantime, feel free to contact LGS via email LGsupport@extinctionrebellion.uk