The climate crisis is a planetary problem, but the levers of change are often local. Cities and regions are where policies are tested, innovations emerge, and communities come together to reimagine their futures. That’s why TED Countdown partnered with TEDx to create TEDx Countdown events: independently organized, local TEDx events focused on accelerating climate solutions.
TEDx Countdown events exist to amplify local efforts and to champion the individuals pushing boundaries within their own communities.
This year, Countdown returns with a renewed global commitment. We're supporting 19 of these independently organized TEDx Countdown events across 13 countries, each highlighting climate solutions rooted in local leadership. Taking place from July through December 2025, these 19 events will serve as local anchors, carrying forward ideas and insights from the TED Countdown Summit in Nairobi this July. These TEDx Countdown anchor events aren’t just platforms for ideas — they’re invitations to action, reflection, and connection.
Backing Communities Driving Real Solutions
From Luanda to Lahore, many of these anchor events are located in regions where climate challenges intersect with questions of equity, development and resilience — and where powerful ideas are emerging in response. This is no accident. It’s a strategic shift toward deeper investment in the communities that will shape the next chapter of climate action.
Each TEDx Countdown anchor event is curated by local organizers under TED’s open-license model, with guidance and support from TED. What binds them together is a shared belief that thoughtful storytelling, rigorous research and creative collaboration are essential tools for climate progress. All lead event organizers will also attend TED Countdown’s Summit in Nairobi, Kenya this June.
In a moment where polarization and inaction can feel paralyzing, these events offer something else: clarity, direction and the collective intelligence of people who are doing the work.
Don’t Just Watch — Join the Conversation
Since Countdown’s launch in 2020, over 1,200 TEDx Countdown events have taken place in 100 countries, spotlighting community-driven solutions and building momentum from the ground up.
TEDx Countdown events are built for participation, not passive viewing. It’s an open-source movement. Each talk, workshop, installation and gathering is a catalyst — for dialogue, for innovation, and for new forms of leadership. If you believe in the power of local ideas to move global conversations, this is your invitation. Learn more about the 19 TEDx Countdown anchor events we’re featuring, explore all upcoming TEDx Countdown events and learn more about how to host your own.
