Why climate-flavored action is important ahead of elections
Why is it important to take action with a climate or environmental organization this election cycle? Volunteering with a climate organization not only helps elect climate leaders, it also strengthens the political power of the entire climate movement.
The outcome of this election has massive implications across a ton of issues. If you’re reading this, you’re probably extra motivated by a handful of those issues, and climate action is likely on that shortlist. You also probably want to do more than vote this election. Sweet!
So, why is it important to take action with a climate or environmental organization this election cycle? Whether climate is your #1 issue as a voter—or even if it ranks second or third—your time spent volunteering with a climate organization not only helps elect climate leaders, it also strengthens the political power of the entire climate movement.
Have you heard the distinction between winning on climate vs. winning for climate? It’s a question we ask when we’re issue-driven but solutions-focused. As long as the people elect Harris-Walz and other climate champions in November, the how-we-get-there is secondary—or is it?
Do we win on climate? Or do we win for climate? The key is to win for and through climate.
Winning on climate means explicitly focusing on climate-related issues in our messaging to encourage voters to show up at the polls. For example, we might highlight what their vote means for cleaner air and water in their state, clean energy jobs in their city or town, or more affordable home energy upgrades and utilities in their neighborhood. We would also talk about what’s at stake: Project 2025 threatens to repeal much of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the landmark bill passed in 2022 that is achieving historic, on-the-ground progress. There are instances where, yes, it makes sense to try to win on climate—there’s a growing universe of environmental voters.
Winning for climate takes a different approach. In this case, we may never utter the words “climate change,” “extreme weather,” “clean energy jobs,” “clean air,” or “pollution.” We might not even mention how the IRA advanced transformative climate policy. (Yes, environmental organizations can get out the vote without centering climate messaging!) Instead, we may reach out to voters using whatever language resonates most with them to increase overall voter turnout. The idea is that increasing voter participation—whether or not voters are motivated by climate-specific reasons—boosts the chances of electing lawmakers who will prioritize climate action. There are regions and large swaths of voters for whom it’s better to focus on winning for climate, and not on climate.
The bottom line is that whether or not climate action is a resonant issue across the electorate, we need to win elections for climate and through climate as we strengthen the call for public policy to address the existential challenge of our time.
Winning through climate means taking action with a climate or environmental organization this election cycle. The greatest obstacle to a swift clean energy transition is insufficient political will—candidates and elected officials at all levels of government not feeling pressured or empowered to lead boldly on climate. Climate Changemakers and other climate and environmental organizations are working to change that. By helping to elect climate champions—and then advance impactful policy—we are building the political power needed to accelerate climate action. When you contribute to a Climate Changemakers campaign, you're joining a critical, growing, organized movement pushing for climate leadership and driving systems-level change.
Whether you identify strongly as a “climate person” or an “environmentalist,” or if climate is just somewhere on the shortlist of issues you care about, visit The Climate Vote Hub for an aggregated event calendar of climate-flavored action events across the movement and sign up for one (or more!)
