A s yet another United Nations climate summit approaches in the shape of COP28, which kicks off in Dubai this week, signs of public exasperation with the failure of climate policy- making are plain to see. After three decades of negotiations, greenhouse-gas emissions are still rising and time is running out to stop global heating from reaching catastrophic levels 1 . In response, people around the world are trying to work out how best to get their voices heard. September, for example, saw protests across more than 65 countries. Demonstrators demanded “less talk, more action” outside the first Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya — a nation where climate change has already exac- erbated insecurities in water and food supplies. In Libya, where flooding killed thousands of people after dams burst, protesters demanded accountability. Worldwide, more than 600,000 people took part in actions linked to the Global Fight to End Fossil Fuels, including 75,000 peo- ple marching in New York City. Protest and activism have the potential to motivate the type of “rapid, disruptive and transformative changes” that the Intergovern- mental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has called for to address climate change 2 . Social movements will play an important part in Why people take to the streets to march against global heating is relatively well documented. But it’s unclear why certain tactics work better than others in reaching the public and policymakers. How effective are climate protests at swaying policy — and what could make a difference? Dana R. Fisher, Oscar Berglund & Colin J. Davis Demonstrators took to the streets of New York City on 17 September to protest against continued use of fossil fuels. 910 | Nature | Vol 623 | 30 November 2023 Comment SARAH BLESENER/THE NEW YORK TIMES/REDUX/EYEVINE