ACTION PLAYBOOK

Bring a Friend into the Action

Step 1: Lead with your “why.”

Research shows (and common sense confirms!) that certain framings motivate action better than others. The biggest motivator is “protecting what we love.” So what do you love? Why do you care? The most compelling way to engage others is to explain why you feel called to act.

📓 Open a blank drafting space, like your notes app. Let’s craft a template message that you’ll use in Step 2.

✍️ In a few sentences, answer these questions:

  • Why is it important to you to do something about the climate crisis? 

  • What do you love that you feel called to protect?

  • Why do you want to share this part of yourself with the person?

  • For more prompts, check out the Write Your Climate “Why” exercise.

☀️ Optional: write 1-2 sentences on a specific climate solution and why you’re enthusiastic about it. Sometimes, it’s easier to articulate your climate motivations when you connect them to a particular climate solution you care about. If nothing immediately comes to mind, borrow inspiration from our blog.

Step 2: Add the ask.

To get our friends to take action, we need to give them something concrete to say “yes” to. This is called a direct ask. Compare these two invitations. Which one would you say yes to?

OKAY :]

I came across this group that hosts climate action events and I was thinking about going. It seems fun!

BETTER! :D

I’m going to this climate action event after work on Monday. Are you free to come with me?

The former is warm and friendly; the latter is warm, friendly, and actionable. To have the best chance of getting a “yes,” be sure to include a direct ask.

➡️ What should my direct ask be? The most effective ask is usually inviting a friend to attend an upcoming Hour of Action with you. That said, go with whatever is most likely to get a “yes.” Our goal is to tug folks off the sidelines and inspire them to take action, and you know your friend better than anyone.

New to Hours of Action? Here’s a quick read on everything to expect at an Hour of Action!

Don’t think any of your people are ready to get activated? Reach out all the same but make your conversation about connecting authentically over climate as an issue. Check out the Have an Effective Climate Conversation resource for tips.

Pro Tip: No matter your ask, leverage social norms to increase the likelihood your friend says yes. Make it clear you’re asking them to do something you’ve already done or think is really cool. Our friends are more likely to say yes when they understand how important it is to us. 

  • Why: I’ve been so in my feels since the election and especially worried about what it means for climate. It just seems so wrong to me that we could elect climate deniers while extreme weather has been getting worse and worse every year.

    Ask: I’ve decided it’s time to figure out how to get involved. I joined this group called Climate Changemakers. Do you want to join with me?

Done drafting? Excellent! You now have a personal message template. After selecting your recipients in the next step, you’ll want to customize this script to resonate with each person uniquely.

Step 3: Choose 3–5 close contacts to reach out to

Who should you reach out to? Instead of trying to persuade people who are neutral or opponents, we want to activate people who are already in favor of climate action. Consider this “spectrum of support” below, which classifies how active people are on a given issue. Who do you know in the green?

Identify 3–5 people who fit into the “Passive Supporters” or “Active Allies” category. These are people you know who care deeply about climate change but don’t know what to do or have not carved out the time to take action.

Perhaps these are folks who…

  • work in clean energy or climate tech but aren’t civically engaged.

  • work in any profession being directly impacted by climate change (nearly everyone!). Think: transportation, agriculture, insurance, education, healthcare, finance, tourism, real estate, fisheries and forestry, HVAC contractors, and more.

  • make sustainable lifestyle choices, like eating a plant-based diet, shopping exclusively from ethically sourced brands or thrift stores, or driving an electric vehicle, but aren’t getting political.

  • are just recently learning about their children or grandchildren’s deep climate concerns.

  • outwardly prioritize different priorities – social and racial justice, healthcare, environmental conservation, animal welfare, even national security – climate change is relentlessly intersectional, and advocating for climate solutions is almost always a win-win.

  • are already civically engaged on their own but would love the support of a group to take their impact to the next level.

These contacts can be in your neighborhood or people from other towns, regions, or states. It’s incredibly valuable to bring in people from all over the country. Climate Changemakers has both virtual and in-person event options anyone can plug into.

Choose 3-5 people that fit this definition, then move on to Step 4!

Step 4: Pick up the phone!

Call,text, or meet up with the people identified above and try out your script! We encourage you to chat IRL or call on phone or video since those formats lend themselves to more intimate conversation. But if you strongly prefer, you can send a text.

Don’t forget to make the direct ask! Some people might say no, but if you ask 3–5 people, you’ll almost certainly get one yes!

If people are on the fence: Share your own experience of becoming active through Climate Changemakers or other avenues for political climate action. You can also share this article that includes real screenshots of fellow changemakers getting meaningful results from their advocacy and explains how 60% of members are new to political action too!

Step 5: Follow up and follow through

Doing something for the first time feels intimidating, not to mention that life gets in the way, even among the most passionate and committed of us. This is where your follow-up and support is so crucial. Start with:

  • Confirm things are on your calendar! If you both RSVP’ed to an Hour of Action, the event should instantly be on both your calendars – double-check! Create a personal calendar invitation as an extra nudge.

  • Set an alarm reminder (yup, right now!) for yourself to message them the day before your plans to let them know you will be there and it means a lot to you that they are joining.

  • Consider starting a group chat or email thread if a few of your friends are in on the plans. Climate advocacy with a group is more fun!

And that’s it, playbook complete! Feel accomplished.
Thank you for taking action.

🎉 CUE CONFETTI by clicking COMPLETE! 🎉

Want more action?
Go to the current Action Plan

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