PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Climate opinion researchers at Yale and George Mason universities crunched reams of data from a March 2021 survey only to learn that as far as taking action on climate change goes, we’re good at talking the talk.
Walking the walk, not so much.
More than half of us — 52% — say we’d sign a petition about global warming. But only 15% of respondents actually did so in the last year.
A third say they’d donate money to an organization working to slow down global warming, but since 2020, only 13% have.
About a third of respondents are “definitely” or “probably” willing to join a campaign to push lawmakers to take action on reducing global warming, but a measly 1% are doing anything of the kind.
We get it — advocacy can be inconvenient. The status quo counts on it being inconvenient. So, here’s a list of local, state and national organizations, making it easy to learn about legislation on climate change so you can influence and communicate with your legislators in just a few clicks.
Grab your solar-powered laptop, find your favorite spot outdoors, and noodle around some of the sites’ “take action” pages below.
PennFuture works to reduce pollution and protect the environment through education, outreach, coalition building and turning up the heat on Harrisburg.
The Nature Conservancy site features a clickable list of environmental issues in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and guides you to “speaking up for nature” by contacting your elected officials or pledging to take action.
The Delaware Riverkeeper Network works at the state and federal level on the issues, actions, regulations, legislation, policies, programs and decisions that impact the health of Delaware River Watershed waterways.
Clean Water Action works to protect drinking water sources threatened by pollution and overconsumption, which are made worse by climate change. It breaks down actions by the states where it’s active, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
The Clean Air Council in Philadelphia has a slew of action items you can join, from input on methane leakage standards to a gas pipeline through Sproul Forest to tobacco sales outside Philly schools.
Ben & Jerry’s says, “If it’s melted, it’s ruined. It’s true for ice cream, and it’s true for the planet.” How’s that for a global warming slogan?! The ice cream maker urges you to join its campaign for climate justice.
No surprise that the American Lung Association cares about clean air. Protecting lung health from the impacts of climate change is among their urgent advocacy items.
The American Institute of Architects invites not just architects and design professionals but civic leaders and the public to weigh in on how to “transform the day-to-day practice of architecture to achieve a zero-carbon, resilient, healthy, just, and equitable built environment.”
Science Moms is a nonpartisan group of climate scientists who happen to be mothers. Not only can you amplify their message to lawmakers on reining in rising temperatures, but the website also has excellent eco-conscious resources for the whole family.