Time to Lead

As leaders in your community, people look to you for cues on what to think, say, and do. Every day, what you do and say matters to the breadth of people surrounding you. 

In this moment of crisis, people need to see you be unflinching, positive, and hopeful, to speak truth, and embrace humanity. What the federal administration is doing is so devastating that it freezes folks and makes them feel powerless. We invite you to be visible and vocal on climate, to provide hope and direction in these challenging times.

Below are some ideas to incorporate into your keynotes, newsletters, or any communications you have with your constituents or the media. 

Most people living in America are concerned about climate change. They see the impacts on their health, wealth, and well-being. Younger Republicans (<45 years old) side with the American majority in opposing the announced rollbacks for clean air, water, and energy!  See our latest research here.

Providing Information: If you are in a forum where it is difficult to bring up climate change, it is important to remember that you can still connect on the issue. You can win hearts and minds by talking about:

• The need to help our communities, homes, and neighbors be resilient and ready
• Caring for the people and families most impacted by extreme weather; extreme weather that is disrupting our lives, livelihoods, and neighborhoods
• Strengthening our communities, ensuring the health of our children and communities
• Stopping the pollution that is harming the health of our children and communities
• Using clean energy creates jobs and saves money
• We cannot afford inaction, it is the biggest cost

Subdue disinformation: Disinformation is rampant, perpetrated from the highest levels of our government. To combat it, serve up a ‘truth sandwich,’ and a side of ‘bypassing’ with this 3-step process:

1. Start with a strong truth about the topic. The first frame gets the advantage.
2. Indicate the lie. Avoid amplifying the specific language if possible.
3. Return to the truth. Always repeat truths more than lies.

Applied to what you might be hearing right now:

1. Clean energy, like solar and wind, is far better for our health, our communities, and our economy than burning coal, oil, and gas.
2. Politicians and organizations who stand to profit are asserting false claims about how transitioning away from fossil fuels impacts health, the economy, and our way of life.
3. Clean energy already provides over 40% of our power nationwide — it brings good-paying jobs and makes our air, water, and environment cleaner and healthier for all.

Even when we are speaking to a politically mixed audience, you can have substantive climate conversations that benefit your organization and grow coalition. We all need to start where we are, use what we have, and do what we can to continue to build momentum for climate solutions.