János Bálint Mező serves as the director of Greenpeace Hungary and works as a civil activist who believes that addressing the climate crisis requires confronting its deepest roots. Guided by the principle that humanity is an integral part of nature rather than its master, János views the climate emergency not merely as a technical problem to be solved with technology, but as a call for a fundamental shift in our values, mindset, and way of living. 

Drawing inspiration from Gandhi’s principles of nonviolent resistance, moral courage, and humble service, he strongly believes in the power of civic courage – especially within autocratic political environments. In his work with Greenpeace and broader civic networks, János focuses on developing practical campaign strategies and organizing models that cultivate genuine civic solidarity. His effort is centered on empowering local communities to stand together, remain resilient, and build democratic strength from the ground up. 

At the 65th Climate Reality Training in Budapest, János joins a panel of civil society leaders to discuss turning civic courage into lasting climate action. He will share real-world strategies for building democratic strength, shifting societal paradigms, and organizing quiet yet resolute grassroots movements capable of driving real change.