Issue: Adaptation/Resilience

Americans are concerned about the impact of water scarcity on farmers and ranchers, the economy and public health. More than half of voters in drought-impacted Arizona and Colorado, in particular, fear their state will not have enough water in the next 100 years. Nearly 80% of Americans, nationally, support protecting “natural infrastructure” such as rivers, coastlines, and groundwater supplies. 13% of Americans said that “environmental issues—like climate change, increased temperature, drought, flooding, extreme weather, wildfires” are the most important set of political issues to them, personally. This poll includes over 80 total questions on various aspects of climate impacts and policy.

Americans are concerned about climate impacts on U.S. national parks and see national parks as key to climate solutions. 88% of Americans say climate change is negatively impacting national parks, including 95% of Democrats and 80% of Republicans. 92% of Democrats agree that national parks are an important part of the solution to reducing climate change (compared to 75% of Republicans). Similarly, 93% of Democrats say they would be more likely to support their representative if they supported legislation to reduce the impact on parks (compared to 73% of Republicans).

From one perspective, we’re ending 2021 a lot like we started it. In a pandemic, experiencing one extreme weather event after another, and anxious over how power is being wielded in Congress and the White House.
At the same time, there have been a significant number of policy victories at all levels of government while new funding resources and new horizons in climate leadership are creating transformational shifts within the climate movement. Shifts that have the potential to unlock the people power we are going to need to win – and secure – the transition to a clean energy future that we all need. Below you’ll find summaries of key trends in the climate movement for 2021 – and some of the Best of the Lab from this year.

“Young people don’t need a degree to fight for the future.” These words were spoken by Mishka Banuri, a young climate activist from Utah. This is the sentiment echoed by young people all across, not only the country, but the world. Alongside this statement, we also claim that young people don’t need a paid job in a nonprofit organization nor credibility or professionality to change the world and restore our future.

Organizing and movement building is core to the Lab’s Theory of Change. They are necessary for building the people power we need to meet the magnitude of the climate emergency. Organizing, built as it is on relationships of mutual trust, connection, and support among human beings, is often messy and non-linear and contains more than its fair share of demoralizing setbacks.
Keeping people engaged in the face of emotionally charged loss is a recurring challenge for organizers, especially when it comes after a long-term effort with high stakes. I was thinking about this in the wake of the news last week that Enbridge claims Line 3 is operational. Here are four suggestions for taking on a challenge like this.

Before we can convince the American public to walk the walk on climate action, we’ve got to get them to talk the talk. Read on about our work to normalize relational climate conversations and move folks forward on climate change.