Climate coalition work is still hard, so we want to help you out. Join the Climate Advocacy Lab as we premiere the Second Edition of the Blueprint for a Multiracial, Cross-Class Climate Movement Report and Workbook.

How do we accelerate climate action? This session provides you with the skills to motivate the public to accelerate climate action and reduce climate health risk. The goal of our virtual master class is to boost your outreach skills and accelerate climate action, using evidence-based behavioral science. This trans-disciplinary training includes short talks, exercises, and discussion. Expected outcomes are increased understanding of how to effectively apply behavior change to climate outreach. The presentations focus on the behavior science tools of Social norms, Social identify, Efficacy, Legacy motivation, and Framing for different audiences. View slides here.

Third Way and Impact Research found that non-college-educated men under 50 are a key demographic holding deep misconceptions about clean energy, with 40% believing fossil fuels are as good or better for the environment. To shift these views, advocates must go beyond digital platforms and focus on trusted messengers and targeted messaging. This group’s skepticism requires tailored strategies that address misinformation and resonate culturally and emotionally.

States like Vermont, New York, and Michigan are leading in climate action with renewable energy targets and pollution regulations. A national survey shows that 36% of voters believe Democrats are more active on energy and environmental issues, with responses varying by partisanship.

This memo overviews recent polling and provides guidance for local elected officials on how to effectively communicate about climate and clean energy to align with Americans’ economic concerns. Our core recommendation: keep messages simple, focused, and personal—centered on the direct costs people are experiencing in their daily lives.

People’s Action Institute worked with member affiliates New Jersey Resource Project (NJRP) and Maine People’s Resource Center (MPRC) to conduct two deep canvassing projects focused on building community support for offshore wind power development. In the Spring and early Summer of 2024, canvassers from these organizations held conversations with over 1,400 local residents in Lacey Township, NJ and the Midcoast region of Maine combined.

Successful advocacy starts with having a crystal-clear vision of a target audience. It is essential to have a core focus on the audience and the alignment of the communication plan with the organization's goals. While it’s tempting to follow trends because everyone else is doing it, take a pause before you jump onto every possible platform. Try to methodically assess each channel to determine its potential value and compatibility with your organization's objectives. Approach engagement with a solid database awareness of what the organization wants to accomplish. In our increasingly connected world, adopting a multi-channel strategy is integral to reaching diverse audiences across multiple platforms. Creating a persona helps clarify the tone, tool, and outcome that the organization wants to achieve because you have a specific individual to aim for rather than a general group. Following best practices for your campaigns also means respecting your contacts and authorities that monitor communications.

This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls - including new polling on utility costs, Trump’s handling of energy costs and other energy and environmental issues, climate change impacts, and federal funding cuts.

Most Americans say that their energy bills are higher now than they were a year ago, and there is widespread confusion and dissatisfaction around utilities. Utility bills remain a major cost of living concern, as three in five Americans (62%) say that their electrical and/or gas bill has increased compared to a year ago. Further, around three-quarters (73%) are concerned that their electrical and/or gas bill will increase this year. Most Americans are familiar with their local utilities, but few know much about how their utility sources its energy or how it’s regulated. Around seven in ten (69%) say that they’re at least “somewhat” familiar with their local power and/or gas utilities, though only around half (47%) are at least “somewhat” familiar with how their local utilities source their energy. Just 12% say that they’re “very” familiar with the energy sources that their utility uses. Additionally, less than half of Americans (39%) are familiar with the state or local regulatory agency that oversees their local power or gas utilities.

The majority of voters say that Elon Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration makes them feel more negatively about Trump; climate/environment remains Democrats’ top issue strength over Republicans in voter trust. Most voters have unfavorable attitudes about Musk (38% favorable / 56% unfavorable). Voters also tend to strongly dislike him, with 46% saying that they feel “very” unfavorably about him. By a 56%-21% margin, voters find it more concerning that “Republicans are attempting to cut Social Security and Medicaid, eliminate the Department of Education, and ban abortion nationwide” (56%) than that “the Project 2025 agenda is being implemented” (21%). By a 46%-29% margin, voters find it more concerning that “Republicans are attempting to cut Social Security and Medicaid, eliminate the Department of Education, and ban abortion nationwide” (46%) than that “Elon Musk is being given too much power and is recklessly cutting critical programs” (29%). By a 46%-27% margin, voters find it more concerning that “Elon Musk is being given too much power and is recklessly cutting critical programs” (46%) than that “the Project 2025 agenda is being implemented” (27%).