Influence Your Government
Make your voice heard. Encourage your local and state representatives to commit to climate-friendly policies that reduce pollution and prepare for the impacts of climate change.
Why is this important?
Decisions made locally have a global impact. Energy, transport, waste, and zoning policies can either lock in climate pollution or grow good jobs which transition to a zero-carbon future. Exercise your democratic power and tell your representative you want to see climate action in your area. It’s powerful and it works.
Key Actions
Start by contacting your local representative
Politicians expect to hear from citizens. Make sure your representative knows that the climate matters to you.
Action:
Make a plan for how you are going to contact your representatives and what you are going to say. An email, letter, phone call, meeting request or even a DM can all make a difference.
Read this useful Tips on writing to your representative, with a clear framework for writing.
Helpful tools
An America-centric guide on telling your Member of Congress to Support “a” Green New Deal via phone, email or social media.
Australia: Australian Parents for Climate Action’s step by step guide on how to contact your MP.
UK: A website tracking what your MP has done or mentioned in regards to Climate Change.
US: Contact your representatives in 2 minutes or less, use Citizen Climate Lobby’s tool.
Start by contacting your local representative
Politicians expect to hear from citizens. Make sure your representative knows that the climate matters to you.
Action:
Make a plan for how you are going to contact your representatives and what you are going to say. An email, letter, phone call, meeting request or even a DM can all make a difference.
Read this useful Tips on writing to your representative, with a clear framework for writing.
Helpful tools
An America-centric guide on telling your Member of Congress to Support “a” Green New Deal via phone, email or social media.
Australia: Australian Parents for Climate Action’s step by step guide on how to contact your MP.
UK: A website tracking what your MP has done or mentioned in regards to Climate Change.
US: Contact your representatives in 2 minutes or less, use Citizen Climate Lobby’s tool.
Stay up to date on the latest climate news
Knowledge is power. Join an email list to get the latest scientific updates and find inspiring examples of communities tackling climate change around the world.
Action:
Follow one or more of these great resources
Stay up to date on the latest climate news
Knowledge is power. Join an email list to get the latest scientific updates and find inspiring examples of communities tackling climate change around the world.
Action:
Follow one or more of these great resources
Join a climate movement
We are powerful when we work together. Get involved and volunteer your time, support or money with an organization and be an ongoing part of the climate movement.
Action:
Check out this Map of local sustainability initiatives near you.
Or check out our guide on joining a climate movement.
Join a climate movement
We are powerful when we work together. Get involved and volunteer your time, support or money with an organization and be an ongoing part of the climate movement.
Action:
Check out this Map of local sustainability initiatives near you.
Or check out our guide on joining a climate movement.
To Consider
Create your own climate initiative
Action:
Identify a local climate issue that you feel passionate about and work backwards what steps would need to be taken to achieve the policy change.
Carbon Neutral Cities have some great ideas for other local initiatives or reach out to our team and we can talk you through campaign ideas on a call (team@youchangeearth.org).
A quarter of global emissions come from transport, ask your transport planning agency to invest more in public transport and support electric vehicles.
Urge your local Government to formally declare a climate emergency and develop an action plan, so they can join 1781 other jurisdictions from around the world who already have.
Investigate if your local council has an investment arm or invests itself and urge it to divest from fossil fuels.
Create your own climate initiative
Action:
Identify a local climate issue that you feel passionate about and work backwards what steps would need to be taken to achieve the policy change.
Carbon Neutral Cities have some great ideas for other local initiatives or reach out to our team and we can talk you through campaign ideas on a call (team@youchangeearth.org).
A quarter of global emissions come from transport, ask your transport planning agency to invest more in public transport and support electric vehicles.
Urge your local Government to formally declare a climate emergency and develop an action plan, so they can join 1781 other jurisdictions from around the world who already have.
Investigate if your local council has an investment arm or invests itself and urge it to divest from fossil fuels.
How it adds up
Groups are achieving amazing progress for climate change around the globe at the neighbourhood, city and state level.
More and more states are setting ambitious climate goals. In the U.S., eight states have pledged to be carbon neutral by 2050.
A growing number of cities are showing leadership. 160 cities have set goals to be powered by 100% clean renewable energy. With your support, your local area could be next!