How Pro Bono Support Boosted the One-for-One Campaign
We matched Fridays For Future and their allies with Senior Policy Advisor Giulia Neri to advance the One-for-One campaign in the European Parliament.
Why the One-for-One Campaign Matters
The One-for-One Campaign is a bold initiative designed to change the rules of European banking. It focuses on the Capital Requirements Regulation, a law that shapes how much capital banks and insurers must hold against risky investments.
The proposed amendment, due for a vote in the ECON Committee of the European Parliament, would require banks to set aside 100% of the capital invested in new fossil fuel projects. This would make financing coal, oil and gas projects far more expensive and unattractive. In simple terms: it is a powerful way to align European financial rules with climate goals and stop money from flowing into climate-destructive industries.
The Organisations behind the Campaign
Fridays For Future is a youth-led, global movement demanding climate justice. Born out of Greta Thunberg’s school strikes in 2018, it has grown into a diverse, worldwide network. The activists believe that climate change is not only an environmental threat but also a question of intergenerational fairness, justice, and human survival.
For this campaign, Fridays For Future Europe teamed up with Finance Watch and The Sunrise Project. Together, they set out to make the financial case for climate justice: ending fossil fuel subsidies through stricter capital rules.
Why They Needed Support
The campaign was already in motion when Fridays For Future and partners reached out. They had mobilised young people on social media, organised a tweetstorm targeting ECON Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), and built alliances with Green and Left groups.
But they faced a clear challenge: engaging with MEPs from other groups such as the EPP, S&D. They needed expert guidance on lobbying strategy and political messaging.
EU Public Affairs Specialist Giulia Neri
We connected the campaign with Giulia Neri, Senior Policy Officer and at that time Head of Policy at The Good Lobby. With years of experience navigating EU legislative processes, Giulia brought valuable insights into political strategy, messaging, and coalition-building. Her contribution helped strengthen the campaign where it mattered most: the doors of the European Parliament.
How Pro Bono Support Helped
Giulia provided targeted, hands-on support with Strategic Lobbying Advice. She helped the campaign refine its approach to MEPs outside their usual allies, identifying the key policy-makers to get on board and supporting the organisation in navigating the specific procedures, dynamics and timelines of the European Parliament. She also provided support on narrative framing to bridge the gap between climate activists and policymakers and bring together the environmental and economic rationale behind the One-for-One rule.
As Lucrezia Caracciolo from Fridays For Future explained: “We had the passion, but what Giulia gave us was the strategy. Thanks to her, we could speak the language of policymakers and not just activists. That made a real difference in our conversations with MEPs.”
The Outcome: Stronger Campaign, Stronger Voice
With Giulia’s pro bono guidance, the One-for-One campaign broadened its reach. Activists were better prepared for meetings with undecided MEPs. They could explain the financial risks of fossil fuel investments in terms that resonated beyond the environmental movement.
This professional input helped the coalition punch above its weight. Even if the ECON Committee vote was only one step in a longer legislative process, the campaign succeeded in raising awareness, building political alliances, and showing how youth movements and civil society can shape EU financial debates.
As Giulia Neri reflected: “Working with Fridays For Future was inspiring. Their energy is contagious, and it was fulfilling to see how motivated and capable they were to quickly adapt. This is exactly why pro bono support matters: it empowers activists to engage effectively with decision-makers.”
This case is a clear example of why matchmaking between civil society and expert professionals matters. Without structured support, grassroots campaigns risk being sidelined in highly technical EU debates. With it, they gain access to the same professional expertise that industry lobbyists use every day.
Why This Matters for Pro Bono in Europe
The One-for-One campaign highlights the importance of bridging the gap between activists and experts. Climate justice requires not just mobilisation, but also deep knowledge of how EU legislation works. Thanks to our clearinghouse model, movements like Fridays For Future can rely on top-level legal and policy expertise – free of charge, but with high societal value.
This case shows that pro bono is not charity. It is empowerment.
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Thanks to @GiuliaNeri @FridaysForFuture @FinanceWatch @TheSunriseProject @FrancescoZatelli @ProPublico
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