Civic Engagement

Civic engagement is the biggest thing you can do as a private citizen and a company, because most of the emissions that happen on our behalf happen at a systemic level. Remember to look locally as well as nationally, because a lot of decisions are made at local/regional/state level. Here are some things you can do:

Contact your representatives

Contact your local representatives and senators by phone, email, or letter and express your concerns and opinions about climate change and its impacts. You can also ask them to support specific bills or policies that address the issue. Contacting your elected officials is a way of exercising your democratic rights and influencing their decisions on matters that affect you and your community. By communicating with them regularly, you can make them aware of your views on climate change issues such as renewable energy sources, carbon pricing schemes, emission reduction targets etc., as well as hold them accountable for their actions or inactions. Some tips for contacting your representatives are:

• Find out who they are by visiting their official websites or using online tools such as https://www.commoncause.org/find-your-representative/.
• Be clear about what you want them to do (e.g., support/oppose a bill) or what information you want from them (e.g., their stance on an issue).
• Be polite but firm in expressing your opinions. Provide facts or personal stories to back up your arguments.
• Follow up with them if you don’t get a response or if you want to thank them for their actions.

Write letters to the editor

Write letters to the editor or op-eds for your local newspapers or online platforms and highlight the urgency and importance of climate change action. Letters to the editor or op-eds are short articles that express your views on current issues, events, or policies. They can be submitted to print media outlets, such as newspapers, magazines, or journals, or online media platforms, such as blogs, websites, or social media. By writing letters to the editor or op-eds on climate change topics, you can reach a large audience of readers and influence their opinions and attitudes. You can also raise awareness about specific problems or solutions related to climate change and urge people to take action. Some tips for writing letters to the editor or op-eds are:

• Identify the purpose of your letter and the specific topic you want to address. For example, you may want to respond to a recent news article, comment on a proposed policy, or share your personal experience.
• Research the publication you plan to submit your letter to and understand their guidelines and policies. For example, you may need to follow certain word limits, formats, deadlines etc.
• Use a clear and concise writing style that is easy to understand. Avoid jargon, technical terms, or vague statements. Use facts, statistics, or examples to support your arguments.
• Be original and creative in expressing your views. Find a way to put a new spin on an old issue. Your letter should stand out from others and catch the attention of the editor and readers.
• Be polite but firm in expressing your opinions. Avoid personal attacks, insults, or threats. Acknowledge different perspectives, but explain why you disagree with them.

Organize or join climate change protests

Organize or join climate change protests and rallies that demand action from policymakers and raise awareness among the public. Climate change protests and rallies are a form of nonviolent direct action that aim to put pressure on governments and corporations to take urgent measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of global warming. They also seek to educate and mobilize people about the causes and consequences of climate change and the need for collective action. Some examples of climate change protests and rallies are:

• The Global Climate Strike, a worldwide movement led by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, that saw millions of people across more than 150 countries walk out of schools, workplaces, and homes to demand climate justice in September 2019.
• The Extinction Rebellion, a global network of activists that use civil disobedience tactics such as blocking roads, bridges, and airports to draw attention to the ecological crisis and call for radical changes in politics, economics, and society.
• The Fridays for Future, a youth-led initiative that encourages students to skip school every Friday and join local demonstrations to demand action on climate change from their governments.

Participate in public consultations

Participate in public consultations and hearings on environmental issues and share your views and suggestions with decision-makers. Public consultations and hearings are processes that allow citizens to provide input on proposed policies, plans, or projects that affect them or their environment. They can take various forms, such as surveys, workshops, focus groups, or public meetings. They can also be initiated by different actors, such as governments, regulators, or developers. By participating in public consultations and hearings, you can voice your concerns and opinions on environmental issues such as climate change adaptation, mitigation, or resilience, as well as propose solutions or alternatives. Some examples of public consultations and hearings on environmental issues are:

• The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process in the United States, which requires federal agencies to assess the environmental impacts of major actions they propose to undertake or fund and solicit public comments on their findings.
• The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI), which allows citizens of the European Union to propose legal acts on matters where the EU has competence by collecting at least one million signatures from at least seven member states. One example of an ECI related to climate change is “End Ecocide”, which aimed to make ecocide (the extensive damage to ecosystems) a crime under international law.
• The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process in many countries, which requires developers of certain types of projects (such as dams, power plants, or highways) to evaluate the potential environmental effects of their activities and consult with affected communities and stakeholders before obtaining approval.

Citations

• Critical Approaches to Climate Change and Civic Action1, a research topic that explores the diversity and complexity of civic movements for climate change.1: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/8382/critical-approaches-to-climate-change-and-civic-action
• Climate Change, Civic Engagement, and Development in Africa2, an event that examines the challenges and opportunities of engaging citizens in climate action in Africa. https://www.ids.ac.uk/events/climate-change-civic-engagement-and-development-in-africa/
• Civic Engagement - Climate Change3, a research guide that provides resources and tips on how to get involved in climate change initiatives. https://guides.library.illinois.edu/c.php?g=347520&p=2343939
• Five ways of meaningfully involving citizens in climate action4, an opinion piece that outlines some best practices for engaging citizens in co-creating solutions for climate change. https://blogs.worldbank.org/climatechange/five-ways-meaningfully-involving-citizens-climate-action
• People Vs Climate Change: “Climate action is a civic responsibility”5, an article that introduces the Global Assembly, a citizen-led initiative that aims to influence the UN COP26 climate conference. https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/people-vs-climate-change-climate-action-civic-responsibility