Climate Clock

A long-term consulting project dedicated to empowering grassroots climate activists, crafting compelling narratives around climate change, and pressuring world leaders to act in time on the climate crisis.

Client:

Climate Clock

Services:

  • Brand strategy

  • Website, content, social media strategy

  • Climate storytelling

  • Campaigns

  • Digital & print communications

  • People management

Collaborators:

  • Raul de Lima - photography, videography and content creation

  • Kibbokift Agency - PR support

Overview

Climate Clock is a climate change nonprofit focusing on galvanising grassroots climate action. At the core of the movement is the climate clock, a powerful tool that counts down the critical time window we have to reach zero emissions (our “Deadline”), while simultaneously tracking our positive progress on needed solution pathways (“Lifelines”).

The Challenge

The Climate Clock experienced rapid growth since their launch in September 2020 and found that they scrambled to establish their communication processes and branding in a rush. As a non-profit, they had limited funds, resources and time, but a desire to professionalise their communications and make them more effective.

They found they were speaking to everyone with the same message, rather than narrowing it down with precise calls to action for funders, climate scientists and the general public. They wanted to make their communication across digital and print more precise, relevant and meaningful, as well as grow their global community of climate activists, scientists, media, government officials, big corporations and fellow non-profits.

And finally, the Climate Clock was struggling with being perceived as a doomsday clock that was targeting the general public and not those in power to enact change. This was something I was very excited to address.

The Solution

I joined the Climate Clock as a long-term Communications & Marketing Consultant. I attended weekly meetings, plugged into their day-to-day operations and led the in-house communication and PR team.

I began by an analysis followed by drawing up a communication strategy complete with goals, user personas, a content calendar, a channel analysis, messaging framework and structured processes. I then rolled this out across the team and attached it to work packages and timelines.

Aside from enhancing strategy and processes, I also addressed the visual branding of the organisation and led a website redesign (in progress as of Sept 2023).

  • "Simone O'Donovan should be your go-to person for strategic communication. Not only does she know her way around brand campaigns, media metrics, and all the rest, she is creative, disciplined, a pleasure to work with, and has relentless follow-thru. She knows how to get the job done, even within the limits of budget-challenged nonprofits. She is also damn funny, bringing enough Irish sass to keep her whole team on their toes (and at the top of our game)."

    Andrew Boyd, CEO and Co-founder Climate Clock

The Outcome

During 1.5 years of consulting at Climate Clock, the non-profit grew in leaps and bounds. Here’s a look at that growth in stats:

collaborations with youth and Indigenous climate activists in 2023

50+

110,000

average monthly website visits in 2023

45,000

average monthly impressions across combined social platforms in 2023

raised in fundraising in 2023

$460,000

number of total media impressions of Climate Emergency Day 2023 campaign

3,7 Million