In honour of Earth Month, we’re spotlighting how facilitation supports environmental change. We interviewed Judy, an experienced Certified ToP Facilitator in China, who shared how she brings facilitation into environmental initiatives. Her responses below are drawn directly from her personal experience and reflect her authentic voice and perspective.

Can you describe one or more environmental initiatives you’ve worked on, and the different roles you played?

In recent years, I have mainly supported many environmental and action networks across China organizations across China as an consultant, helping them with strategic planning, reflection, team building, and other facilitation processes.

In addition to that, I also serve as a board member of an environmental NGO. And as part of my personal interest, I am a certified facilitator for a French platform that promotes environmental awareness through systemic board games like Climate Fresk and Food Fresk — tools that help people better understand the systems behind climate and food issues and inspire behavior change.

How have you used ToP methods in your environmental facilitation work? Can you share an experience that was especially meaningful?

In consultancy work for environment NGOs, I’ve had many opportunities to apply ToP methods and processes. For example, just last month I facilitated a half-day action planning workshop for a climate change response project in Inner Mongolia. And last year, I led a day-and-a-half workshop for a network focused on reducing toxic agricultural waste. Both sessions produced inspiring and energizing outcomes.

Another time, In Inner Mongolia, although the client initially asked for a “design thinking” workshop, I discovered through field visits, observation and interviews that their real need was a practical action plan. Using the ToP method, I helped participants—who mostly spoke Mongolian—create concrete climate response plans. The session was so successful, so the client immediately booked a follow-up session. This experience deepened my respect for the power of the ToP facilitation process. It also reminded me that as facilitators, we must go beyond surface requests and help clients uncover their true needs.

What challenges did you face while working with these groups?

Some challenges were logistical—many workshops took place in rural areas where we didn’t even have a full wall to use. I had to be flexible and simplify the design, using materials like trees, clotheslines, blackboards, or chalk to adapt to the space.

Other challenges were completely unexpected. In 2023, during a workshop with an environmental NGO in a nature reserve in Sichuan, we hiked with local forest rangers as part of the program. Suddenly, we were attacked by wasps on a mountain trail. Several participants were stung and had to be taken to the hospital. Despite the chaos and the fear still in the group, I had to continue the workshop with those who remained to ensure we delivered results for the client.

What do you think are the strengths of ToP facilitation in environmental initiatives?

One of the key strengths of ToP facilitation methods in the environmental field is that it is deeply rooted in community-based practice—just like many grassroots environmental organizations in China. This shared foundation makes ToP methods especially well-suited to supporting their work, especially the ToP community development tools, those methods and tools can very effectively help these organizations identify where they can take root and grow their impact. For example, Participatory strategic planning process, in particular, matches well with their rational, systems-oriented way of thinking. I’ve seen groups engage with remarkable energy—especially during the contradiction workshop where the group could have very open and bold discussion around the root cause of the challenges faced —because they value structured methods that allow them to confront complexity head-on.

How do you see ToP being used more in the future in the environmental sector?

I hope the organization where I serve on the board can evolve from a purely environmental lens to a more holistic community development perspective in its efforts to support sustainable island life. Many islands in China are in decline, and if we only focus on reducing waste without addressing broader community vitality, we may reach “zero waste” simply because people leave. That’s not real transformation. We haven’t reached consensus yet within the board, but I hope facilitation can help move us forward.

I also hope more facilitators will actively integrate environmental awareness into the way they design and deliver workshops. For example, many of the environmental NGOs I work with request minimal paper use, especially flipcharts. My response is to collect reusable materials from other sessions or ask clients to provide recycled paper. I also bring reusable tools like magnetic whiteboards or static sheets from Neuland to reduce waste.

I often suggest running online workshops to further reduce environmental impact, but many clients still have concerns about participation and outcomes in virtual settings. So, to promote this shift, we will need more convincing success stories to share.

As we celebrate Earth Day, I would like to leave a reflection for fellow facilitators:
In your facilitation practice, what do you choose to do—or not do—to reflect your care for the environment?

 

 

Judy Zhu

Based in Shanghai, China.  Judy is a Certified ToP Facilitator (CTF) and Certified Focus Conversation Method instructor. She brings over 20 years of experience in both corporate and nonprofit sectors. She focuses on organizational and social transformation related to sustainable development.