One of the most compelling takeaways from COP28 was the emerging consensus that true climate action must be inclusive and community-centered. During the summit official language called for a phase-down of fossil fuels marking “the beginning of the end” of the fossil fuel era (UNFCCC). What stood out to us was how this macro-level shift mirrors our micro-level impact: every solar kit, water-saving device, or e-mobility charger in the hands of a South African homeowner chips away at grid dependency and reliance on fossil fuels.High-level pledges—such as Loss and Damage funding and clean energy finance—are critical, but without buy-in from local communities, they risk becoming aspirational rather than actionable.