Actions to fight climate change and keep our planet livable.
Direct support
This involves supporting organizations whose work directly involves caring for the environment & environmental research.
Forests, parks, and wildlife preserves:
Conservation & wildlife protection:
- Arbor Day Foundation
- Audubon Society
- National Wildlife Federation (NWF)
- The Nature Conservancy
- Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
- World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
Care for specific species:
- Bears:
- Trees:
Legal advocacy
This involves fighting the federal government and state/local administrations in court, to slow down their progress in undoing environmental regulations, and to slow down the development of new coal burning power plants, etc.
Donate to organizations that will take on this fight.
Nationally:
- Sierra Club
- Citizens’ Climate Lobby
- Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Regionally:
While you may have heard these groups have raised record funds in the week following Trump’s election, we need to continuously support them into the future. Please keep in mind that this is a long-term battle.
Community advocacy
This involves changing hearts & minds to cause politicians to change the law, at the local, state & federal levels.
Talk to your neighbors, friends & family about climate change. Learn the facts & how to defend them from would-be detractors.
- Documentaries:
- Al Gore: An Inconvenient Truth
- Leonardo DiCaprio: Before the Flood
- James Balog: Chasing Ice
- Online coursework:
- Inter-American Development Bank: Rise-up: Climate Change Education
- United Nations: UN CC:Learn
- University of British Columbia: Climate Literacy
- Articles:
- Short Answers to Hard Questions About Climate Change. From the New York Times.
- Other websites:
Prepare against typical climate skeptic responses.
- Resources:
- Global Warming & Climate Change Myths. From Skeptical Science.
- How to Talk to a Climate Skeptic: Responses to the most common skeptical arguments on global warming. From Grist.
Direct political advocacy
This involves changing the law, and convincing politicians to change the law, at the local, state & federal levels.
Write & call the offices of your Congressmen. Do this often. This has a real impact on how legislators view these issues.
- Find your reps here: Who Is My Representative?
Do the same for your local representatives (state senators, state assemblymen, governor, mayor, city councilmen, local leaders). Write & call their offices often.
- Find your state legislators here: Open States: Find Your Legislator.
A lot of dramatic action can be taken at the state & local level –
e.g. California recently committed to a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions relative to 1990 by 2030. Push your states & local communities to do the same.
- If your representatives don’t listen, work to vote them out of office!
- Try to get on any local boards/committees, go to meetings, and make your voice known.
Material advocacy
This involves things you can do in everyday life to help the planet.
Make environmentally friendly lifestyle changes.
- Transportation changes:
- Drive/fly less.
- Get more efficient vehicles.
- Take public transport.
- Diet changes:
- Red meat, especially beef & lamb, are very resource inefficient & carbon intensive. Avoid these where possible.
- Recycle & compost where possible.
- Minimize food wastage by planning your meals.
Find & use environmentally friendly products.
Participate in water & energy efficiency programs.
- Households:
- Schools:
Invest in carbon offsets.
Go off the grid.
- Get solar panels installed on your roof.
- Charge electronic devices with a solar powered charger.