Overview

America is a nation of laws, so if we want to change America we must change her laws. But how do we do this? One Maryland legislator, widely considered the most successful environmental lawmaker in state history, described the key to success this way: Build the biggest possible coalition you can for your cause, pick the best legislation that advances your cause, then never, ever, ever give up. That's how you win.

Building a Coalition

Climate change is one of the few issues in the world that directly and immediately affects all human beings no matter where they live. Therefore, every person in your community is a natural constituent and a potential recruit. All you have to do is ask for help. Remember that global warming positively is not an "environmental" issue. We must resist this limiting classification in our own minds and that of others. Climate change is an "everything" issue. It's a "civilization" issue. Therefore, unlike straight-ahead "environmentalists," we have natural allies in every facet of society: health, faith, farming, students, businesses, women, minorities - you name it.

Make a target list and seek out leaders -- When CCAN was formed in 2002, we made a list of groups we wanted to build bridges to, including everything from established environmental groups to fishermen in the Chesapeake Bay. One early recruit was a doctor and professor at Johns Hopkins University who was already writing and speaking about the health impacts of climate change. She quickly became a CCAN board member and brought with her an entire community of health officials and students associated with that prestigious institution. We also learned of a farmer in western Maryland who was complaining that weird weather was destroying his farm. He became a key supporter and brought with him activists from the Maryland Organic Farmers Association. Again and again, through our outreach, we were able to educate and recruit leaders and rank-and-file activists from a broad spectrum of interests. True, a big part of our support base comes from traditional environmental activists who see global warming primarily as a “nature” issue. But a key to our success has been that our tent is very big, reaching far beyond the environmental community.

Speak to the interests of coalition members -- While climate change affects everyone, it affects people in different ways. Farmers need to know both what the impacts will be to their farms and, just as important, how they might profit from solutions: leasing their land to wind farms, growing crops for bio-fuels. The Maryland Nurses Association needs to know how global warming will affect childhood asthma rates. Business leaders need to know the many costs and opportunities associated with warming. People of faith need to understand that climate change is an immoral assault on god’s sacred creation. Good climate activists must develop specific fact sheets and talking points that address these varied constituencies.

Speak directly to the public through special events -- Many of CCAN's diverse coalition members found us, not the other way around. That’s because we gave them the chance to find us through well-promoted public events and broad public appeals. You can do the same by holding educational “town hall” meetings, hosting public screenings of Al Gore's film, organizing clean-energy open houses, and writing op-eds that appeal for community action and thus allow like minded citizens to seek you out.

So You've Got a Coalition. Now what?

Once you've built a reasonable collection of concerned citizens, what do you do? Most new climate groups find that their coalition members have no shortage of campaign suggestions. These typically range all over the map, from fighting global population growth to getting local buses to switch to hybrid engines. All suggestions should be taken seriously and individual members who are particularly passionate about an idea should be encouraged to pursue it even if the group as a whole does not want to follow. As a climate leader, however, you must remember the earlier edict: “Pick the best legislation that advances your cause.” For a local or regional group, this typically means a major piece of municipal or state-level legislation.

How to choose a legislative campaign -- Remember, we have only ten years to make a big change in U.S. energy use. That means the majority of your efforts should be focused on legislation that’s winnable and that brings the biggest and fastest bang for the buck. First, find out if such campaigns already exist in your area or state. Perhaps the Sierra Club is already pushing your city to join the “Cities for Climate Protection” movement. Join in. They need your help. Perhaps other state-level groups are pushing your state’s general assembly to pass a clean cars bill. Throw your weight behind it. But if nothing of significance is under way where you live, then launch a major legislative campaign yourself. Options include everything from laws mandating clean electricity to improved energy efficiency standards to “bio-fuels” legislation. CCAN actually got its start by launching a badly needed clean-electricity bill in Maryland. It took three years of hard work but we finally won, paving to way for three neighboring states to quickly follow suit.

Putting your coalition to work on elected officials -- The planet-warming industries who are our opposition – coal-burning utilities, car-manufacturers and dealers, and other dirty companies – always have high-priced lobbyists and lots more money than us. But here’s a central truth of American democracy, especially at the local and state level: Grassroots pressure can beat Big Money. But you have to have the grassroots pressure. Really have it. That’s where your big coalition and growing list of rank-and-file supporters comes into play. Target the political leadership in your state and key committee members and then go after them. And here’s where the wonderful tool of email really comes into play. Send out email alerts to your list calling for targeted phone calls or handwritten letters or email letters. Provide “sample letters” and talking points. Set up face-to-face constituent meetings, bringing along a diverse group of supporters. Don’t let politicians write you off as just another “environmental” group. What impress politicians are nontraditional advocates for a safe ecosystem, like faith leaders and businessmen and health officials.

Never give up -- Clean energy legislation usually fails at the state level and in Congress not because the polluters won on the merits but because the bad guys stalled and delayed and threw up hurdles long enough that advocates grew weary and frustrated and simply gave up. Indeed, the polluters count on us giving up. It’s their number one strategy. So don’t do it. Don’t let them win. Don’t give up. Our climate system can’t afford it and our children are counting on us.

Conclusion

Fighting climate change is a huge challenge. But in some ways we have it easier than other, more narrowly focused environmental and social campaigns. Our issue affects everyone, so we can cast a much wider net and so create bigger and more lasting citizen power. But a coalition is only as strong as the campaign it diligently applies itself to. Pick legislation that generates the biggest and fastest change, and don’t stop till you win.