Audience: Women

In 2021, we kicked off a round of research project collaborations to study how climate, clean energy, and climate justice organizations can leverage the Social Identity Model of Collective Action (SIMCA) to better engage and mobilize their bases. In short, SIMCA tells us that people participate in collective action when they feel that their social group is experiencing injustice because of an issue, they strongly identify with that group, and/or they feel that acting together could have an impact (that is, a sense of collective efficacy). Come see how we’ve been unpacking SIMCA and leave better understanding how to organize your key audiences and build buy-in from your supporters!

The recent winter storm over a huge stretch of the country—including parts of Texas—has brought back memories of almost exactly a year ago, when beginning on February 14th 2021, a deep freeze in which hundreds of Texans lost their lives and more than half of the state was without power or water service for days. A year after that traumatic catastrophe, the state remains susceptible to similar extreme weather events and a freeze-vulnerable natural gas supply still powers many homes and contributes to climate change. Today we highlight lessons from innovative and evidenced-based online campaigning surrounding this one-year anniversary to hasten the end of natural gas.

Opinion data reveals signs of increased climate concern across the U.S. We may very well be nearing the tipping point in public opinion so essential for action. So what type of climate messages do we need now? We at Potential Energy have been rigorously testing different message frames and have learned a lot about what to say (and what not to say) at this critical juncture in the climate change movement. So we share with you clear, concise, actionable takeaways about what words to use (and what words to definitely avoid) so that we can drive up support during this once-in-a-lifetime moment for action.