I. CHOOSING A ROLE FOR YOUR LEAGUE
The League believes that global climate change is the most serious environmental challenge of our time and that aggressive action is needed if we are to avoid irrevocable damage to our planet. An advocate of strong U.S. action to reduce the threat of global warming since the 1990s, the League has made global climate change an action priority since 2006.
But it will take action from individuals and government at every level -- local, state, national, and international -- to avert dangerous climate change. And every League has an important role to play in this effort. By raising public awareness of the causes and likely impacts of climate change, by helping citizens learn what they can do to curb global warming, and by building broad support for effective climate solutions, local and state Leagues can help put our country -- and our planet -- on the path to a sustainable future.
What Local Leagues Can Do
Whether you focus on educating and empowering the members of your League or you expand your efforts to engage and collaborate with other organizations in your community, there are many things your League can do to help build the momentum for climate solutions.
- Climate change column in your Voter. Share information about climate initiatives underway in your community and at the state, federal and international levels in a regular column in your Voter. Feature ideas of actions members can take to reduce their own carbon footprint and/or help advance good climate policies and programs.
- Informational meeting/Community forum. Present — or better still, co-sponsor — a program on climate change. (See Preparing for a Meeting on Climate Change in this toolkit for suggestions.) Possible topics:
- Climate impacts projected for our community and steps we can take to mitigate these impacts.
- Climate legislation currently under consideration at the state (or federal) level.
- Climate topics, e.g., Carbon Pricing or Project Drawdown.
- Footprint calculator meeting for your members. Devote a meeting to helping members measure their carbon footprints and learn what they can do to make them smaller. Include a footprint "worksheet" in your Voter for members to fill out and bring to the meeting. (Example: CoolClimate Network calculator.)
- Community events. Participate in, and help promote, climate-related events in your community. Opportunities include
- Earth Hour, a global movement that encourages individuals, businesses, and governments to celebrate their commitment to the planet by switching off their lights for one designated hour. Earth Hour is held from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm local time on the last Saturday in March.
- Earth Day, a worldwide demonstration of commitment to environmental protection and sustainability. Earth Day is officially honored on April 22, although events take place throughout the month of April. (Find more information and some ideas for your Earth Day celebrations here.)
- Earth Hour, a global movement that encourages individuals, businesses, and governments to celebrate their commitment to the planet by switching off their lights for one designated hour. Earth Hour is held from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm local time on the last Saturday in March.
- Climate action task force. Members of your League could form a group to promote climate-related action, including such activities as --
- ensuring a strong response to LWVUS and state action alerts on climate and energy legislation,
- writing articles and letters to the editor,
- meeting with your local, state and federal legislators to promote climate and energy policies, and
- initiating or supporting "green" policy initiatives in your community, such as stronger building and energy codes, composting and waste reduction programs, more bike lanes, green infrastrucure, or native gardens.
- Community action. Help implement -- or develop -- a Climate Action Plan for your community. If your community is just getting started developing a plan, check out these resources from the LWV Climate Interet Group: TEN PROCESSES for local GHG reduction planning and TEN ACTIONS that cities can take to reduce their GHGs.
Last updated: 2/3/2022