Resource Type: Tips & How-Tos

Maximize impact this legislative session with the Lab’s training on the most effective evidence-based ways to influence legislators and other policy makers.

A good time to be thinking about best practices for educating—the Lab is (c)3—legislators and other policymakers on climate and clean energy. It’s been almost two years since we last touched on this in a Lab newsletter (and created our comprehensive guide). We revisit that guidance in light of the latest research and tools.

Open with a shared value. Reference race in the shared value. State a problem after the shared value. Name villains who use racial scapegoating or division as a weapon that hurts all of us. Uplift victories and/or everyday collective actions that solve problems(s) across race. Focus on tangible outcomes, not policies or procedures. Give a clear call to action. Share what we are for without repeating the opposition’s language. Use simple, everyday language.

Every day climate advocates and organizations make dozens of decisions about how to allocate time and resources most effectively– from high-level questions about campaign strategy* to weighing the trade-offs of policymaker contact tactics* to the phrasing of a canvass script. We believe that the climate movement shouldn’t waste time or money doing things destined to fail or backfire. This is why the Lab exists to equip the US climate movement with the evidence-based insights, skills, and connections needed to build durable power and win equitable solutions.

I don’t know where to begin – there has been so much learning, joys, and incredible juicy training that have occurred in the last 6 months. I joined the lab in June 2022 as Training Manager, along with Gabby H., who came along as our Training Lead amidst many staff transitions. I was excited and nervous all at the same time. Let me first start off by saying that it can be so nerve racking moving into a new organization and hoping that you can accomplish all of your visions and hopes. I can say that being a program manager on the Lab staff has taught me so much and been a powerful experience. Let’s take a look into some of the incredible learnings that occurred over the course of 6 months from the Training Team.

How do we reach new audiences who aren’t already with us on climate solutions? How do we address the identity of polluting industry workers and their surrounding community?
Neighbours United share their Deep Canvassing for Climate Solutions Playbook and Toolkit. This work draws from the results of their grassroots persuasion campaigns in small towns with extraction-based economies. They discuss how they used deep canvassing to help residents resolve their internal dissonance and build enough public support for the 100% renewable energy transition and ending fossil fuel subsidies.