What You Can Do
Miranda Massie, Founder and Director, Climate Museum
1. “Declare yourself. Tell your elected representatives that you’re a climate voter,” Miranda says. “Hold them accountable for climate-relevant decisions such as whether they accept funding from the fossil fuel industry, and are pursuing aggressive legislation and policies to create climate progress.”
The Vote Climate website tells where your congress people stand on climate issues.
The Environmental Voter Project converts inactive environmentalists into consistent voters.
Extinction Rebellion, a nonviolent, civil disobedience organization, stages public protests to demand government action; it includes 1,000+ groups in 72 countries.
Even youngsters can take political action.
2. “Talk to your friends and family about the climate crisis. Recognize that we all have a tendency to turn away from this emergency because it’s very unnerving and hard to cope with. Bring people into the conversation in a way that destigmatizes the subject and makes discussion safe.”
Download and print The Climate Museum’s Climate Ambassador Card, which gives pointers for starting and sustaining climate conversations.
Here are some World Wildlife Fund ideas about how to discuss climate change with friends and family.
3. “Join a climate-focused organization. One thing that makes people turn away is the feeling that, as individuals, we cannot affect the climate crisis. That’s correct. One call to a congressperson won’t do it; one hundred will.”
Moms Clean Air Force’s online petitions urge elected officials to act on current climate issues.
Mom’s Clean Air Force also provides briefs on climate issues and ways to contact national, state and city officials.
4. “Divest fossil fuel stocks from your portfolio and demand that your bank and pension fund do the same. One reason for the climate crisis is that fossil fuels have a ready flow of capital.”
Rockefeller, Gates, Syracuse University, and many more have shed their investments in fossil fuels.
Fossil Free Funds calculates how many coal, gas and oil investments are included in your current portfolio and helps identify funds without fossil fuel components.
5. “Vote your proxies for executives who champion programs that combat global warming.”
Via shareholder resolutions, The Ceres Climate Action Network calls for companies worldwide to set science-based targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to disclose climate-related financial information.
As You Sow uses shareholder advocacy to promote environmental and social corporate responsibility.