Audience: Environmental 'Base'

Don’t necessarily assume that climate hawks are actually doing much about the environment in their personal lives. Those highly concerned about climate change may be more supportive of government climate policies, but less likely to take personal actions such as recycling, using public transit, buying environmentally friendly consumer products, and using reusable shopping bags, as compared to those skeptical or indifferent about climate change.

The authors of this paper seek to clarify how African-Americans and Hispanics differ from Anglos when it comes to pro-environmental orientations, measured via a battery of questions about environmental and climate concern. Using a 2016 online survey, weighted to reflect the 2010 US Census for gender and race, the authors found that Hispanics reported higher environmental/climate beliefs than Anglos, with African-Americans in between. However, there were no significant differences among the three groups when it came to knowledge of pro-environmental behaviors, risk perceptions from climate change, or pro-environmental behavioral intentions.

The emerging body of “best practices” around peer-to-peer texting programs shared during this webinar includes: (1) Make a plan and factor in the learning curve. Create a calendar to make sure volunteer shifts match with campaign needs since it takes time for staff and volunteers to learn new technology and data processes. Don’t forget to factor in necessary training (and re-training); (2) Build personal, ongoing relationships. If possible, have the same volunteers text the same list of members and supporters to build trust and consistency in the relationship; (3) Test everything! Since the platform is relatively new, there is much to be learned – including motivating message content, layering with other modes of contact, which emojis generate the most actions, etc.; and (4) Honor opt-outs and don’t over-text.