ACTION PLAYBOOK:

Submit a Public Comment

  • Influence policy by responding to a regulatory agency’s request for public comment.

    1. Learn about the topic & your audience

    2. Draft your comment

    3. Submit your comment

    4. Multiply your impact

1. Learn about the topic & your audience

When policymakers craft new regulations, they often solicit feedback via the submission of public comments. Because such decisions are usually made by unelected bureaucrats (as opposed to elected legislators), submitting public comments is one of the only avenues for constituent feedback.

You do not need to be an expert on the proposed policy to submit a public comment. That said, familiarizing yourself with the basics will help you draft a personalized, informed, authentic statement.

Learn more by skimming relevant background material below, and look for one or two facts (“talking points”) that resonate with you personally.

2. Draft your comment

Open a blank drafting space and customize the template below. You will need to click to expand to view the full instructions + template.

💡 Include a couple of key facts, but don’t worry about highly technical information.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Express a personal story about why you care. How might the proposed policy benefit your community? What do these opportunities mean to you and your family/friends? What have you personally witnessed that informs your stance on the issue?

3. Submit your comment

Every government agency has a different portal for your submitting your comment online, and each comes with different instructions.

When you feel ready to submit, click to expand the corresponding campaign below to find out how!

4. 5x, 10x, possibly 100x your impact

Network effects are powerful. Connecting others with opportunities to take productive climate action is a crucial step toward changing cultural norms and making real progress. We're not the only ones asking, “What more can I do?”. Answering that question for others is an important climate action.

So, now that you’ve submitted your public comment, spread the word about this action! That could be…

  • a post on Reddit or the social media network of your choice

  • sharing links in a Slack community

  • a group text

  • an email listserv

  • get creative!

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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