Civic participation between election cycles needs to become the norm
There’s no way around it: the results of the November election are dismaying for climate. The next four years will not bring the bold climate action we need, but we absolutely can – and must – still squeeze out as much meaningful progress as possible. Here’s how…
Unyielding civic infrastructure is essential
One of the most consistent takeaways offered by political experts is the need to invest in civic participation between the boom and bust of election cycles. We need lasting civic infrastructure – like the Climate Changemakers advocacy network.
Our task now is to push elected officials to do more, no matter where they fall on the spectrum of support. As a movement, we have a roadmap and a steadfast commitment to the work ahead. But we’re also up against the fossil fuel industry, which dramatically outspends environmental groups on lobbying 4:1, and we expect fossil fuel lobbyists to be more welcome in the halls of the White House and Congress than ever before. The good news: With no special expertise, we can close this gap and tip the scales in the direction of climate action.
With a willingness to put yourself out there and just a little bit of persistence, regular people can make a meaningful impact. In fact, staffers for members of Congress rate personalized constituent outreach as the most influential factor in their decisionmaking, with 94% of staffers saying it has a lot or a little positive influence. A visit from a lobbyist falls lower on the list at 84%, and petitions and form emails are the least effective at 56%.
Take it from former member of Congress, Rep. Susan Wild, who joined the Climate Changemakers community for a climate conversation in 2022:
“Emails are critically important. They're all read in my office. They're logged into our tracking system. I get a weekly analysis of what kinds of things we're hearing about. The substance matters a lot. I don't just get a tally. We have a lot of discussion about what feedback [we receive]. I will tell you in all candor that constituent contact is always prioritized.”
High-leverage civic actions, at the right times, make a measurable impact
Effective advocacy goes beyond personalized emails: It also includes penning letters to the editor and op-eds for publication in your local paper. Or asking local key stakeholders in your area to write to Congress. Or scheduling Zoom-based ‘constituent meetings’ where you connect directly with the climate staffer for your elected representative. We have a playbook for that.
If you’re new to political action, it can feel overwhelming to know where to start. Trust: You don’t need to read another book or listen to another podcast. Climate Changemakers puts together weekly Action Plans with all the resources needed to make climate advocacy simple. We identify and brief you on a timely and impactful climate solution, then prepare step-by-step Action Playbooks that make the most effective advocacy tactics feel simple and accessible. See our full suite of resources here, and because everyone needs an accountability-buddy, we do this advocacy with friends at Hours of Action. Drop into one any time – on Zoom or in-person – or you can start your own.
We can tip the scales by helping more people be civically engaged
For our advocacy to truly tip the scales in the direction of climate action, we need more people participating. Bringing them in is an essential and not-to-be-overlooked step in our efforts to meet this moment. When we expand the tent – both in size and inclusivity – we’re able to help more voices and more types of voices reach their elected officials, creating a true surround-sound effect that will move policymaker opinion.
The good news is that climate change is an increasingly winning issue. Overwhelming majorities of Americans believe that climate change is happening and support policy action. More than 1 in 4 (28%) Americans self-identify as being ready and willing to get involved in political action on climate, if asked by someone they like and respect. However, only 2% are currently participating, which leaves 26% of Americans concerned about climate change, ready and willing to do something about it, yet sitting on the sidelines. The most productive thing we can do right now is find them, extend a hand, and welcome into our big-tent climate movement.
How to bring more people into the movement:
Instead of trying to boil the ocean, we should each focus on our immediate networks. Each of us knows at least a few people who fit the description of ‘ready and willing’ to take political action on climate. Even if folks 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.
Here are a few tactics (each with step-by-step actionable resources!) to help you bring more people into the movement:
Start with a simple conversation. Even talking about climate change with your friends and family has been shown to inspire them to take action. For a deeper dive, follow this ‘How to Have an Effective Climate Conversation’ guide.
Then, think about who you can tug off the sidelines. As you progress through your own climate advocacy journey, who can you inspire to join you? Follow this Action Playbook for a step-by-step guide for how to most effectively ‘Bring a Friend’ into the climate action universe.
Finally, gather your people for meaningful action. Whether it’s an Hour of Action at a local brewery or the action add-on to your monthly book club meeting, anyone can host an action event. Jump into this toolkit for everything you need.
