EFFECTIVE ACTIONS

In addition to reducing your own carbon footprint through eating plant-based foods, using environmentally conscious transportation, reducing waste, buying secondhand clothing, and other strategies, here are some effective actions you can take.

1. Join, follow, and donate to climate action groups, such as the US Climate Action Network, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Sunrise Movement, 350.org, Extinction Rebellion, Greenpeace, Union of Concerned Scientists, The Nature Conservancy, the Rainforest Alliance, The Climate Reality Project, the Sierra Club, the Environmental Defense Fund, the World Wildlife Fund, and organizations that support women's education. Invite others to join too. If there isn't a group in your area, contact these organizations to learn how to start one.

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2. Support candidates who will act on the climate crisis. Vote, campaign, canvass, and register other voters. The Green New Deal is an example of a positive climate policy.

3. Participate in marches and rallies such as the #ClimateStrike and #FridaysforFuture. Bring friends.

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4. Contact your local and national representatives and demand action on specific climate issues. If possible, attend town halls and visit their offices. If you're calling or emailing, make sure to personalize your message.

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5. Organize climate action events in your community or workplace. Hold fundraisers for green organizations. Host clothing and item swaps. Consider joining or starting an ecovillage in your area.

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6. Create and share climate action content: videos, music, blog posts, Tweets, Facebook posts, etc. Invite people to participate in this challenge.

7. Write a letter to the editor about a climate issue that's important to you, or about your experiences with climate change and climate activism.

8. Call, email, or petition businesses asking that they divest from fossil fuels, stop deforestation, limit waste, and use renewable or biodegradable packaging. You can start your own petition here.

9. Ask your workplace or institution to divest from the fossil fuel industry and the banks that fund it (such as JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citi, and Bank of America). You can learn more about divestment and reinvestment here. If you currently bank with one of these companies, call your bank and voice your concerns.

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10. Talk about the climate crisis with family and friends. Be as open and welcoming as possible. Emphasize the need for collective action as well as individual lifestyle choices.