There are many ways to get involved in local climate solutions....
Understanding your role in tackling the climate crisis can be daunting – yet there are many ways you can get involved that make a real difference. Check out these steps and challenge yourself to see climate efforts as something that intersects lots of other parts of your life.
Step 1: Talk about it.Talking about the climate crisis is actually one of the most powerful things we can do, truly. There is a pervasive misunderstanding in the U.S. that most people don’t care about climate change, when in reality, study after study shows that the majority of Americans care and want solutions. We also know that the most powerful agent for social change is peer influence. So use your voice! Here are a few ideas how:
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We promise not to inundate your inbox and to only send you useful updates on local climate happenings and opportunities. Be sure to bookmark our calendar of local climate events - hosted by us and other community partners - and check back frequently!
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Step 2: Stay educated.
There is actually a lot of good news coming out about climate solutions – and there are smart people having real conversations about the bad news and how to handle it. You’re not alone and there are many ways to stay engaged at whatever level works for you.
We love these podcasts:
We follow these newsletters and sites:
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Step 3: Act, Advocate & Invest.
Some of our actions may feel like small steps. But if we all take small steps together, we will move forward. Momentum will build. A conversation with a neighbor about your solar project is a small drop, but it has the potential to ripple. Your neighbor might invest in their own solar array, then share their efforts with those around them. We can't predict what kinds of impact our actions will have – the important thing is that we do what we can!
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These are just a few ideas, but there are so many other options to get involved. If you have ideas to contribute, let us know!
Step 4: Use the Climate Venn Diagram Tool to find your niche.
We all have passions and talents that can lend themselves to climate work. If you are wondering where your niche is with climate solutions, we love this Climate Action Venn Diagram (below). This first came to us via our climate heroes, Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson (here's the podcast where she introduced the idea).
Print the diagram, or make your own circles and fill them in. What lands in the sweet spot for you?
Email your diagram to [email protected] or send to us at PO Box 8945, Missoula MT 59807 Scroll down for a combined Climate Action Venn from Climate Smart staff. |
Climate Smart's staff Climate Action Venn Diagram: