How to Demand Action on Climate Change in Your Community

Climate change is one of the greatest concerns of our generation, and we know that it’s happening because of human activity. The impacts of climate change are not only devastating for the planet, but they disproportionately put developing countries and already-vulnerable populations at risk of catastrophe. We’re seeing this all over the globe, with dangerous droughts, famine, floods, and more.

It’s no secret that the largest and most impactful solutions to climate change must be implemented on a systemic level. The path to systemic change starts with collective action and there are plenty of ways that we can be part of the solutions we hope to see.

Mother Nature is knocking, and she wants her planet back.

So, how do we start demanding action on climate change in our communities? Here are 8 ideas:

1. Start with local elected officials.

Thinking about tackling something as daunting as climate change can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to. First of all, take the pressure off yourself to be that environmentalist. After all, we as individuals cannot fight a global crisis on our own, and small actions done collectively are just as important as big sweeping decisions.

To make a big impact, the secret is to start small. As you’re learning about climate change, take the next step in sharing information with your family and friends. Instead of shooting straight to writing to senators, CEOs, and the POTUS, see if you can communicate with leaders in your community first. Attend a town hall, write to your mayor, or start a climate-focused club at your school.

🌎 Action item: If standing up to demand climate action at your local town hall meeting sounds a bit scary, no worries! While you work up the courage, you can use this template to write to local leaders in your community. Whether it’s the mayor of your small town, your elected official, or whoever makes big decisions on a local scale, make sure your thoughts land on their desk! You can use this database to find your local representative if you’re not sure who it is.

2. Ask businesses to transition to 100% clean power.

According to the NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Counsel), “pipelines and other deadly oil, gas, and coal energy projects not only create more carbon pollution—they endanger the health of local communities.“ Taking on massive oil, gas, and coal conglomerates might feel out of reach, but there’s still so much you can do at the local level.

🌎 Action item: Push business owners and city and state officials to develop clean solutions for transportation and energy-efficient buildings. That means asking them to switch to LED lights, build a green roof, or even rethink the way they construct a new building. Hand-written letters sent by mail or dropped off in person are more likely to be opened and read by local business owners. While you’re writing, remind them that climate justice starts at the local level, and they have the power to implement greener solutions. In many instances, having a more eco-friendly building could actually save them money in the long run, so it’s a win-win!

3. Arrange an in-person meeting with local leaders.

Embrace your civic leadership by requesting a meeting with your local leaders. This is an even bigger step toward demanding climate action than writing a letter. First, find out which specific climate issue is the most crucial in your community, whether it’s cutting carbon pollution, creating more bike lanes, switching to electric public transportation, etc. The United Nations Environment Programme has specific actions that you can use as well.

🌎 Action item: Call your local representative’s office or local business owner and request a meeting to discuss climate action. Make sure to come prepared with your list of demands. You can go solo or with a friend, or even a group of fellow climate activists in your community. Count Us In even has a more comprehensive guide on how to find more success in this meeting.

4. Eat more plants.

Gen Z is going plant-based faster than any other generation before them, which has a positive impact on the environment. Who knew that eating more veggies could be such a game-changer?

Over 60% of the world’s farmland is used for livestock, and the production of animal products emits far more harmful greenhouse gasses than plant-based agriculture.

Beyond the environmental impact of animal products, the overconsumption of meat and dairy is also correlated with a number of health risks, which puts more pressure on the healthcare system. That doesn’t mean that everyone has to go vegan to be healthy, but plant-rich diets will promote more sustainable farming and healthier lifestyles. It can, however, put pressure on big agriculture to meet the moment and find more environmentally friendly ways to operate.

🌎 Action item: If you’ve already fully or mostly adopted a plant-based diet, the next big step is to buy produce locally or from sustainable farms if possible. If you’re a proud carnivore, consider trying just one or two days a week meat and dairy-free. Even just those few days a week will make a significant impact. Some experts even claim that a shift to eating fewer animal products across the population would be more impactful than just a small portion of people going completely vegan.

5. Start a community garden.

Transitioning to a more plant-based diet is cool and all, but what if you could start growing all those yummy fruits and veggies alongside your community? Especially in urban areas, access to healthy plant-based food is not nearly as robust as it could be. Community gardens not only address food insecurity, but are proven to strengthen communities and improve well-being.

So, what does that have to do with climate change? In big cities, community gardens are a form of green infrastructure, and according to one study, “help reduce urban heat island effects, mitigate urban stormwater impacts and lower the energy embodied in food transportation.”

🌎 Action item: No matter where you live, starting a community garden is an awesome way to unite neighbors around a common cause and help mitigate the effects of climate change in the process. Noble.org has a step-by-step guide on how to start a community garden, and Urban Harvest has some sweet tips if you’re in an urban setting.

6. Put your money where your mouth heart is.

Ever heard the phrase, “there is no ethical consumption under capitalism”? While this sounds pretty grim, it’s true in many ways. However, the invitation here is less about buying nothing than it is about being more conscious about what we buy.

It can be tempting to slip into an online shopping binge, especially when things like same-day shipping entice us. But in many ways, we vote with our dollars. That means when we buy from large companies that pollute the environment, we’re increasing their power with our purchases. When we actively boycott these companies, we can take our power back and bring awareness to their harmful practices.

🌎 Action item: The biggest economic action we can take against supporting companies that do harm to the environment is to avoid them altogether. One way to do this is to shop local, or buy directly from vendors.

7. Ditch fast fashion.

Piggybacking off the previous point, the time to ditch fast fashion for good is NOW. Not only does the fast fashion industry employ startling labor practices, but it emits more carbon than international flights and maritime shipping combined.

From producing 10% of humanity’s carbon emissions to being the world’s second-largest consumer of water AND polluting the ocean with microplastics, the fashion industry is one of the most unsustainable on the planet. Even though many people know about the dangers of the fashion industry, the consumption of fast fashion is at an all-time high and consumers are even using their clothes for less time than ever.

🌎 Action item: Instead of hitting up the mall for a new outfit, see what you can find second-hand. Thrift shops are treasure troves of cool pieces, and the hunt to find them is way more fun than browsing racks of clothing that everybody else has anyway.

8. Consider a career in STEM.

Why not take climate justice into your own hands by pursuing a career in science, technology, engineering, or math? While these aren’t the only paths that can lead to environmental justice, many jobs in clean energy, environmental protection, and sustainable farming (to name a few) require STEM skills.

Take a look at this green jobs board from Brown Girl Green, for example. There are so many possibilities in STEM which are actively finding solutions to climate change.

🌎 Action item: Join our Greenprint program to begin exploring green jobs and the field. DoSomething is working on demystifying STEM by providing resources and inspiration.

Although climate change is an immediate threat to our planet and humanity’s well-being, the key to fighting it is patience. Many of these actions can be done right away, but the results of our efforts might not be apparent immediately. That doesn’t mean it’s not worth taking action, though. Every step we take is a step forward, toward a brighter, greener future. Let’s do this!