Solutions, solutions, solutions.
Do not fixate on the feelings. Do not fixate on individual failings. Do not self implode under the weight of the work that is needed. Have tunnel vision for solutions and the actions. Join an org and split the tasks. Make lasting friendships and form networks. Celebrate wins together. Plot better after losses. We work on keeping every ton of carbon in the ground. We fight for every 0.1 degree. An individual pondering alone about the enormity of climate change, is a pathway to becoming a doomer. An individual in the midst of friends working for the same cause, gets work done. Climate work is a long-term multi-year project which doesn’t end with one election. The pathways to doing impactful work, became clearer only after I joined a climate organization. Various Organizations, various levels of urgency, various tones, various solutions : Sunrise Movement, Extinction Rebellion, Sierra Club, Clean Air Task Force, Env Defense Fund, GreenPeace, ….. There is a home for every kind of environmentalist. I have 2 national level organizations to recommend if you are looking for a home right now.
Citizens Climate Lobby
If carbon tax is the most effective solution, why arent we talking about it more ? Why don’t I see it in signs at protests ? Why aren’t sustainable lifestyle bloggers screaming about it at the top of our lungs ? I see economists write op-eds about it in newspapers with paywalls and that is it. In America, we have influencers talk more about plastic straws than a price on carbon.
Let’s remedy this. CCL is the home for this work.
Our primary focus is getting legislation passed in Congress. We also have teams working on nature based solutions, building bi-partisan partnerships, fundraising, promoting climate art, anti-racism work, environmental justice initiatives, intersection of faith and climate, climate education, supporting climate movements in states run by climate-deniers, ….
Environmental Voter Project
I wrote these posts in a hurry because I wanted to talk about EVP before the midterm elections.
Voting for green policy is the highest-impact #ClimateAction we can take as citizens at this point.
If climate is a priority, the best place to donate before the midterms is to EVP.
Every dollar counts. I thank you, if you are able to make a donation.
Voting is a habit in a healthy democracy, not something we do if inspired during an election cycle.
EVP has one goal : Convert environmentalists into a lifetime habitual voters in every election – local and national.
Environmentalists apparently sit out in elections because the candidates aren’t ideal enough or progress isn’t on a more ambitious pathway. Let’s change that. Most elections are won/lost in a margin of 2%. EVP is data driven and caters to finding the voters that tips the scale towards climate action. Purple states and districts get extra attention. We make calls and register voters. A sample dataset I was looking at :
What a difference having extra voters would make !!
“Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”
— John Lewis
To be continued. Part 4 : Scope of work.