Summary of Collective Actions

Welcome to the 52nd issue of 52 Weeks!? We’ve covered a lot of ground over the past year.? While reflecting on these twelve months, I’ve come to five major conclusions about our current state:

1. Climate change is human caused.? This may sound patently obvious, yet it is amazing how many people are still confused or in denial – “but the science isn’t that clear!”? The next time you run into someone who is unsure, whip out this Cornell meta-study.? Datapoint: more than 99.9% of peer-reviewed scientific papers concur that climate change is indeed human caused.? When people ask, “do you believe in global warming?” you can reply with “do you believe the earth is round?”? Belief belongs to the realm of faith, as in “do you believe in God?”? This conclusion belongs in the realm of irrefutable scientific fact.?
2. Climate change is deeply unjust.? The people least responsible for this mess are recipients of the worst consequences.? This makes the struggle for climate justice inextricably linked with economic and racial justice.?
3. There is no silver bullet.? You can stop praying for nuclear fusion to save the day.? The common phrase these days is that we need a LOT of silver buckshot – at the individual and collective level.?
4. There is a path forward.? The main elements of the path are an electric economy powered by renewables combined with regenerative agriculture.? Sure, there are finer details in this path and some whiz-bang technology will likely be needed to help us out.? But not having those technical fixes now is no excuse for delay.
5. Enormous vested interests will continue to obfuscate the issue and block the path.? In the words of Bill McKibben, “we have a multi-trillion dollar industry whose business model utterly depends on us not making the transition to a cleaner, cheaper, simpler system of powering our world.”? And don’t forget the big banks and politicians who are aligned with Big Oil.?

Back in May, we published a newsletter called Power of Collective Action.? In that edition, we defined collective action as “anything you do that engages more people to take action.”? This newsletter will highlight a variety of methods you can employ to take collective action.? Just like last week’s Summary of Individual Action, each section of this newsletter will have links to past 52 Weeks as well as other resources.?

Talk it Up!

Katharine Hayhoe is one of the prominent climate change agents who has consistently emphasized this point.? Her TED talk provides useful examples of how to do this.? Climate Outreach is a UK-based organization that has developed a very useful handbook on how to have effective climate conversations.? Their research-based approach is simplified into the mnemonic REAL TALK.? You can also “talk it up” from your own home through writing.? Do you have one hour a week to focus on a specific policy issue?? Climate Changemakers is a fabulous resource that provides well-researched weekly actions that can amplify your one voice with many others.

Divestment

The Paris Agreement of 2015 stated that continued exploration, drilling and development of new oil and gas sources should cease and desist.? One large scale collective action has been a campaign directed at the four major US banks that are continuing to financially support Big Oil expansion – Chase, Citibank, Wells Fargo and Bank of America.? Third Act and Stop the Money Pipeline have been key organizations behind this campaign.? Switching banks and credit cards can take some research so take advantage of the resources in this edition of 52 Weeks (Collective Action on 3.21.23).? In the words of Third Act, “Where you choose to bank is one of the biggest environmental choices you make.”? For those of us residing in Washington State, there is a growing campaign to pressure the Washington State Investment Board to divest (over $8 billion) from Big Oil and the banks supporting them.? Check it out here.?

Shift Climate Change to the Center

Political affiliation is the most likely indicator of where one stands with climate change.? This appears to be a US-centric phenomena – another unfortunate manifestation of the growing political divide.? Like all social movements, success is based on coalition building.? One noteworthy example of a potentially powerful partner is the American Association of Retired Persons.? Check out this petition to AARP.?

Get Engaged in the Upcoming Election Cycle

How many times have you heard (or said), “This is the most important election of our life!”? If “our life” includes our grandkids’ lives and all the other species on the planet, then I do believe this upcoming 2024 election could qualify.? The window of opportunity to make the required changes to maintain 1.5 degrees Celsius is closing.? Having another 4-year administration run by climate deniers is a recipe for global disaster.? There is no shortage of ways to get engaged.? First and foremost, VOTE! One nonpartisan strategy is getting out the youth vote.? No need to advocate red or blue – youth tend to vote pro-climate.? Third Act has a campaign focused on helping seniors in high school get registered to vote.? According to their website, “Every year, 4 million Americans turn 18 and become eligible to vote, but fewer than half of them vote. However– once registered, youth do vote in large numbers! In every presidential election 2004-2020, more than 75% of registered 18- to 24-year-olds voted– 86% in 2020! The solution is to register newly-eligible youth voters while they are still in high school.”

Get Engaged in Local Politics

If you want to get into the nitty gritty of change work, you’ll find plenty of opportunities at the state, county, or municipal level.? For instance, how about impacting the codes on new building construction (e.g., banning gas hookups)?? Or phasing out coal-fired power plants?? Or engaging in efforts to develop your town into a 15-minute city?? The speed of change can be paced at the local level, often stalled by NIMBY concerns.? Yet one more Third Act campaign is a statewide focus on public utility commissions (PUC’s).? These monopolies make most of the day-to-day decisions about how electric power is produced, sited, and cost to the customer.? Check out the details here.? ?

Join a Group

The number of local, regional, and national organizations that address climate change continues to grow.? If you need some inspiration beyond a Google search, Climate Store has a detailed list.?

Dear readers of 52 Weeks –

Thanks to the many folks who provided helpful feedback.? 52 Weeks of Earth Day will be taking a hiatus for the rest of November.? Our plans are to keep up the newsletter at a cadence somewhere between bi-weekly and monthly starting in December.?