Resource Type: Research & Articles

Investing in community-based groups and networks is necessary to build resilience for good emergency response. This report studied different community responses to COVID-19 to help us imagine better responses to climate disaster impacts. During the COVID-19 pandemic, established community organizations, newly formed grassroots efforts, government, and funders all came together in various configurations, based on preexisting relationships and networks. Racism and other systems of oppression were the primary drivers behind COVID inequities. The people interviewed for this report agreed that our cities and our state governments were unprepared for COVID and that we are similarly unprepared for climate change emergencies. What is specifically needed to be better prepared for responses to climate crisis emergencies is investment in the capacity of the organizations themselves, including people (most importantly), back-of-house infrastructure, and technology. Building resilience must be people focused, intersectional, institutional, and rooted in anti-racist/anti-oppressive ideology and practice.

Studies have shown that low-income communities and communities of color are subject to poor health outcomes and loss of life because of exposure to toxins and the negative impacts of climate change. Thus, it is important to develop open and inclusive solar policymaking that addresses past, current, and future impacts of pollution on BIPOC and other frontline communities. Equitable solar policy must incorporate transparency, ownership, accountability, and lead communities to a more resilient and just future.

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.