GUIDE TO THE TOOLKIT
I. Choosing a Role for Your League suggests a range of ways in which Leagues can help promote climate solutions -- from covering energy and climate topics in their Voters to presenting informational meetings to participating in community events to promoting "green" policy initiatives in their communities.
II. Grassroots Action Priorities focuses on key issues where state and local League action can make a critical difference right now. Within this section --
- In the wake of the announcement of the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, several networks of government, business, and university leaders have formed to promote action to fulfill the U.S. pledge under the Paris accord. This section introduces these networks and suggests ways in which your League can help ensure that your community is part of this Climate Action.
- Putting a Price on Carbon is the most effective way to reduce GHG emissions. In this section, learn more about this market-based approach to curbing carbon pollution and what League members are doing to build support for this strategy.
- Keep up with the latest developments in the climate lawsuit brought by 21 youth plaintiffs and supported by Our Children's Trust, arguing that the federal government is violating their constitutional rights by promoting the use of fossil fuels despite knowing for decades that fossil fuels are destroying the climate system.
- The Energy Efficient Buildings section provides detailed information to help Leagues work effectively to promote improved building efficiency in their state and in their community.
- The Renewable Energy section is designed to help Leagues work to expand the use of renewable energy in their state and in their community.
- Adapting to Climate Change provides information about how Leagues can help their communities prepare for the unavoidable impacts of the changing climate.
III. The Basics of Climate Change is a small, carefully selected set of resources covering fundamental principles of climate science, current scientific evidence for climate change, and the causes and projected impacts of climate change.
IV. Engaging Individuals discusses strategies and techniques for helping people become more energy conscious and motivating them to make changes in their daily lives. Within this section --
- Communicating About Climate Change examines the special challenges of climate change communications and explores ways to connect effectively with different audiences.
- Preparing for a Meeting on Climate Change is a guide to planning a successful meeting on climate change and includes suggestions and resources for developing the meeting format and content.
- Engaging Groups in Your Community details strategies for reaching different audiences: school-age children, college students, faith communities, and business and health communities. The subsection for each of these suggests ways to make contact with, and understand the perspective of, that audience and also provides sample programs that should appeal to that audience and ideas of ways to engage its members.
V. Promoting Public Policy provides ideas and resources for working with the broader community to reduce its collective carbon footprint as well as examples of League climate action and information about efforts at the international level. Within this section --
- Community Action Models gives examples of approaches communities are taking to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
- Organizing for Community Action provides a blueprint for initiating and implementing a community action campaign.
- Tips for Building Grassroots Support includes resources for effective communications, including press releases, letters-to-the-editor, and editorial board meetings.
- League Action on Climate Change provides examples of recent League action on energy and climate policy.
- International Action provides a brief recap of international climate negotiations, from the 1992 Earth Summit to the present, and discusses League support for these international efforts.
VI. The Resources section includes a selection of websites, journal and magazine articles, books, videos, and educational materials. It is organized into several subsections --
- Global Climate Change
- Climate Science
- Climate Change-related Issues, including Adaptation, Economics, Ecosystems, Energy, Ethics, Health, Mitigation, National Security, Regional Impacts, and Water
- Action Resources
- Educational Resources
- Resources for Younger Children
- Climate Change Task Force Background Papers
Last updated: 8/3/2017