Resource Type: Evaluation & Measuring Progress

There is a great pool of untapped potential climate activists waiting to be recruited. A survey of Americans shows that while current levels of activism are low—only 4% of “Alarmed” and 1% of “Concerned” respondents are currently involved in a campaign to push elected officials to take climate action—, nearly a third would be willing to join such a campaign, including over half of the Alarmed. Other specific forms of activism, such as volunteering, donating, and writing or meeting with officials, all also attract about that same level of interest, if someone they liked and respected asked them to get involved. Even 15% of Americans report willingness to engage in non-violent civil disobedience.             

The concept of a “just transition” has permeated mainstream discourse, yet those who will likely be most impacted by the energy transition – frontline workers and their communities – have mostly been excluded from the conversation. This report, derived from over 100 listening sessions and interviews with workers and frontline community members, encourages policymakers to:

Go Big: Be guided by a just transition vision that is ambitious and comprehensive in order to address the scope of impacts for affected communities and industries. Job creation, labor standards, and workers’ rights must be included.
Go Wide: Impacts from economic transitions can be felt in a number of ways, from financial to social to psychological. Policymakers should engage with existing social infrastructure such as labor unions, frontline community groups, and Indigenous nations to make sure support is readily available.
Go Far: While the climate crisis is urgent, just transition plans must not be fixated on the short-term. Instead, policymakers should include long-term commitments to workers and their communities as part of their vision and take into account differences in generational needs between older, established workers and those just entering the workforce.

In addition, the report addresses how labor and advocacy organizations need to develop authentic, trusting relationships with each other to build political and policy alignment around just transition goals. One way to start is to establish and expand internal committees and capacities to understand each other’s issues and perspectives.

What people say they would be willing to do differs from what they actually do. This nationally representative survey sheds light on what Americans think about domestic climate change policy, international policy, and more general attitudes about climate change. Key findings include that most Americans report doing low opportunity cost or easy climate friendly actions in their homes – like buying energy-efficient kitchen appliances (52%), setting thermostats to energy-efficient temperatures (62%), and using energy-efficient lightbulbs (89%). Significantly fewer people, however, report doing more difficult tasks like reducing food waste, composting, or buying products from climate-friendly companies. Unsurprisingly, even fewer people contact government officials, volunteer, or donate money, despite many reporting that they would be willing to do these things. Advocates interested in encouraging climate-friendly behaviors and actions should consider trying to reduce barriers or provide easy work arounds to folks.