Turning climate concern into productive action, one hour a week
We’re living through a climate emergency of epic proportions. Scientific data clearly demonstrate how rapid warming is changing our planet, making it increasingly inhospitable. Health professionals at the frontlines routinely deal with the fallout from extreme heat and polluted air, which disproportionately harm human health and claim lives in poor communities and communities of color. There’s nothing mysterious about the cause of global warming (carbon pollution), or the source of the pollution (burning fossil fuels).
Unfortunately, in spite of all this clarity and scientific consensus, there are some basic questions that elude too many well-intentioned people: who is responsible for this monumental crisis? What are the biggest levers for climate solutions? How can I be a productive part of the solution? This confusion is the intended outcome of a carefully crafted disinformation campaign and has long stymied progress on tackling the climate crisis.
Sure, the fossil fuel industry is an obvious culprit. But there’s a much longer list of enablers, including public institutions and decision-makers who have, at times, failed to prioritize meaningful climate action. This is often due to the influence of money in politics and the complex web of interests that shape policy decisions. As a result, polluters frequently succeed in delaying or weakening climate legislation.
With clarity about these barriers comes clarity about the biggest lever on climate solutions: public engagement with policymaking. The most productive way to contribute to solutions is to step into civic participation. While climate policy can be complicated and nuanced, there is also plenty of common ground. In the policy advocacy landscape, there is room to elevate life-saving policies that are rooted in science and centered on equity, and to call on our elected officials to take action.
I co-created Climate Changemakers because there are still far too many people on the sidelines, and this crisis clearly calls for a mass mobilization. We are a nonpartisan, inclusive, digital community of individuals turning climate concern into high-impact action together, one hour a week. We make it easy, fun, and habit-forming to plug in for civic engagement in the name of climate progress. It’s advocacy as a team sport.
In just three months, our community has grown to include more than 400 members of a civilian climate corps of all ages. We’ve logged a staggering 1,000+ hours of impact. We’re partnering with existing climate organizations with a collaborative spirit—yes, the more disruptive ones and the business-friendly ones all have common ground. Our actions are targeted and impactful: we’re calling for leadership that prioritizes bolder, faster, and more just climate action to meet the scale of the crisis.
Our message is: don’t get hung up on the complexity of the issue. You don’t need to read another book on climate before you roll up your sleeves. Don’t get lost in the rabbit hole of troubleshooting your personal carbon footprint, a narrative that has often distracted from systemic solutions. Of course, whenever you can switch to an electric vehicle, fly less, eat sustainably, and swap out your lightbulbs, please do so—but don’t miss the forest for the trees. Most importantly, preserve your mental health by limiting the doom-scrolling. Collective action is a fulfilling antidote to the doom and gloom.
Join us and become a climate changemaker. You can find us at www.climatechangemakers.org and @theclimatevote on Twitter and Instagram.
© 2022 Climate Changemakers
