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Hear about the importance of advocacy work in driving progress climate progress, and find out what you can do to help.
Sean Kosofsky
The vast majority of people in the United States are frustrated with lawmakers’ lack of action when it comes to climate policy. They want the government to fund renewable energy research, regulate CO2 emissions, and take other climate-positive measures. Yet the “Build Back Better” bill remains stuck in Congress. The country’s ability to meet its climate change commitments is uncertain at best.
So I sat down with Sean Kosofsky—the executive Director of the Climate Advocacy Lab—to learn about the state of climate advocacy in the US. The Climate Advocacy Lab is a community of over 3,000 climate advocates, organizers, researchers, and data specialists. They use evidence-based research to help climate advocates across the country run smarter and more effective campaigns. Sean has been part of several successful movements and has great insight into accelerating progress on the climate policy front. Listen in for a deep and passionate conversation about climate advocacy.
Show Notes
The vast majority of people in the United States are frustrated with lawmakers’ lack of action when it comes to climate policy. They want the government to fund renewable energy research, regulate CO2 emissions, and take other climate-positive measures. Yet the “Build Back Better” bill remains stuck in Congress. The country’s ability to meet its climate change commitments is uncertain at best.
So I sat down with Sean Kosofsky—the executive Director of the Climate Advocacy Lab—to learn about the state of climate advocacy in the US. The Climate Advocacy Lab is a community of over 3,000 climate advocates, organizers, researchers, and data specialists. They use evidence-based research to help climate advocates across the country run smarter and more effective campaigns. Sean has been part of several successful movements and has great insight into accelerating progress on the climate policy front. Listen in for a deep and passionate conversation about climate advocacy.
Climate Advocacy Needs to be Local and Personal
Sean believes that we’ve finally seen a huge tipping point take place. The IPCC report from the UN sent shockwaves around the world regarding how little time we have to make a difference. With the introduction of the Green New Deal, he’s seen a huge uptick in interest. Sean states, “When you have a vision for the world, it ignites and inspires people to act.”
And Sean believes we need to act locally. He emphasizes that local governments are key to any change. Change happens in communities. Because people are invested in where they live, local advocacy needs to happen. Local organizing needs to be funded. It’s ultimately the key to persuading people like Joe Manchin to stand behind energy initiatives.
Every single social movement that’s made any progress has been focused on individual people telling their stories. Whether it’s stem cell research, gay marriage, and other issues. The climate movement has been made to feel like it’s far in the future. Talking about what the world is going to be like in 2050 doesn’t impact everyday lives.
Sean believes that instead, you should talk about your kid’s asthma, wildfires wiping out towns, and islands that are going underwater. Individual local stories must be told to make an impact. Any movement that centers around things distant in time or place won’t be as successful. Personal is political.
Key Challenges in the Climate Advocacy Movement
The single biggest thing that worries Sean is that time is working against us. But changing something like fossil fuel emissions can actually cause the environment to get better quickly. If we stop pumping fossil fuels into the air, we can see positive rapid change.
Secondly, Sean is worried about disinformation. It turns people against positive change. Disinformation actively tries to dissuade, distract, confuse, or even lie about climate change. It’s used as a tactic to make people spread bad information on purpose. Disinformation is dangerous to progress and it’s spreading like wildfire.
So how can you make an impact? If you want to make a difference, use your voice. Talk about it all the time. Climate change should not be a controversial topic. The more you talk about it, the more you create room for others to talk about change. Secondly, join a clean energy organization and take action.
Listen to the whole episode for a discussion about Joe Manchin blocking the Build Back Better Act, climate advocacy wins in the Biden administration, and hope for the Justice40 Framework.
Resources & People Mentioned
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Audio Production and Show Notes by – PODCAST FAST TRACK
Tweets
Learn how the @NonProfitFixer and the Climate Advocacy Lab are working to shape climate policy—and how you can too—in this episode of Invested in Climate. #ClimateChange #ClimateAdvocacy #Politics #Change #ClimateChangeEffects #ClimateChangeAction
Why does climate advocacy matter? On this episode of the Invested in Climate podcast—@NonProfitFixer—shares why it’s important and how YOU can make a difference. Check it out! #ClimateChange #ClimateAdvocacy #Politics #Change #ClimateChangeEffects #ClimateChangeAction
Climate advocacy needs to be local AND personal. Why? The @NonProfitFixer shares more in the inaugural episode of Invested in Climate! #ClimateChange #ClimateAdvocacy #Politics #Change #ClimateChangeEffects #ClimateChangeAction
What key challenges is the climate advocacy movement facing? How can we combat them? Learn more in the inaugural episode of Invested in Climate with special guest @NonProfitFixer! #ClimateChange #ClimateAdvocacy #Politics #Change #ClimateChangeEffects #ClimateChangeAction
Social Media Blurbs
The vast majority of people in the United States are frustrated with lawmakers’ lack of action when it comes to climate policy. They want the government to fund renewable energy research, regulate CO2 emissions, and take other climate-positive measures.
Yet the “Build Back Better” bill remains stuck in Congress. The country’s ability to meet its climate change commitments is uncertain at best.
So I sat down with Sean Kosofsky—the executive Director of the Climate Advocacy Lab—to learn about the state of climate advocacy in the US. Listen to the inaugural episode of Invested in Climate for a deep and passionate conversation about climate advocacy. #ClimateChange #ClimateAdvocacy #Politics #Change #ClimateChangeEffects #ClimateChangeAction
Why does climate advocacy matter? Sean Kosofsky— emphasizes that climate is everything. It’s integral in the economy, energy, how things move—it’s how every element of our homes and devices are powered. Climate advocacy is about clean energy initiatives. Climate touches everyone’s lives whether they realize it or not. When this became clear to Sean, he knew he had to get involved.
He believes technology will play a large role in the realm of solutions. He also points out that we already have the existing technology we need today to solve the problem. But if we want to end climate change, we need to pressure decision-makers at corporate and government levels to do something. We need to elect leaders that will act and make changes. Average individuals can’t change energy policy. Political and economic leaders need to make the tough decisions—that’s where advocacy comes in.
Learn more about a topic we are both passionate about in the first episode of Invested in Climate! #ClimateChange #ClimateAdvocacy #Politics #Change #ClimateChangeEffects #ClimateChangeAction
Sean Kosofsky—the executive Director of the Climate Advocacy Lab— believes that we’ve finally seen a huge tipping point take place in the climate advocacy movement. The IPCC report from the UN sent shockwaves around the world regarding how little time we have to make a difference. With the introduction of the Green New Deal, he’s seen a huge uptick in interest. Sean states, “When you have a vision for the world, it ignites and inspires people to act.”
And Sean believes we need to act locally. He emphasizes that local governments are key to any change. Because people are invested in where they live, local advocacy needs to happen. Local organizing needs to be funded. It’s ultimately the key to persuading people like Joe Manchin to stand behind energy initiatives. So what can YOU do to make a difference? Learn more in the first episode of Invested in Climate. #ClimateChange #ClimateAdvocacy #Politics #Change #ClimateChangeEffects #ClimateChangeAction
The single biggest thing that worries Sean Kosofsky about climate change is that time is working against us. But changing something like fossil fuel emissions can actually cause the environment to get better quickly. If we stop pumping fossil fuels into the air, we can see positive rapid change.
Secondly, Sean is worried about disinformation. It turns people against positive change. Disinformation actively tries to dissuade, distract, confuse, or even lie about climate change. It’s used as a tactic to make people spread bad information on purpose. Disinformation is dangerous to progress and it’s spreading like wildfire.
So how can you make an impact? If you want to make a difference, use your voice. Talk about it all the time. Climate change should not be a controversial topic. The more you talk about it, the more you create room for others to talk about change. Secondly, join a clean energy organization and take action.
Listen to the inaugural episode of Invested in Climate for a discussion about Joe Manchin blocking the Build Back Better Act, climate advocacy wins in the Biden administration, and hope for the Justice40 Framework. #ClimateChange #ClimateAdvocacy #Politics #Change #ClimateChangeEffects #ClimateChangeAction
