Our climate needs you: A guide to getting involved
Photo by Sara Diggins. 2019 Families Strike for Our Future event.
I don’t know about you, but being locked in the house some days because of heat and smoke is already sucking eggs and breaking my heart (“Mommy can we go to the pool?” “No, the air quality is too poor.” “What’s air quality mean?” Ugh.) With hundreds dead from the Pacific NW heatwave and whole communities burned to the ground or ripped open from flooding, we count ourselves beyond fortunate at this moment.
It’s clear. The climate crisis is here. We need you (if you’re able) now.
Emily Atkin of Heated wrote a badass piece recently, “What can I do?” Anything. It’s full of resources for engagement and inspired this Montana-focused post.
“What’s needed today is sustained outrage at the powerful, by those with the time and resources to express it.”
If this describes you, three things to keep front and center as you join the fight for a livable future:
Things are dire. The climate crisis is here. Our children’s lives and futures are already being adversely impacted, and without action, it will get worse.
We have the solutions we need to solve it—maybe not all the way, but most of the way—and a TON of people are pulling for change. (Read this report about what “deep decarbonization” could mean for Montana)
Sustained action, by massive numbers of people, is our only hope.
Now, here’s a breakdown of getting involved based on time (and assuming some resources)
Do you have nearly zero time?
Donate to a Montana climate organization and/or a racial justice organization such as the following groups in Montana:
Mention your concerns about the climate crisis in your day-to-day conversations with friends and family. (For inspiration, watch “The First Step to Tackling Climate Change”, featuring Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, which covers why talking about climate is critically important.)
Schedule 10 minutes per week to call people in power and tell them you want a livable future for your family. Call about something specific, or you could simple say, “As a constituent, I call on the (Governor/Senator/Representative) to take immediate and effective action to combat the climate crisis, and help ensure a livable future for all Montana families. Montana is suffering from extreme drought and wildfire conditions, and it will get worse if we don’t act now. What is the (Governor’s/Senator’s/Representative’s) plan to deal with the climate crisis?” In Montana, call the following people:
Governor Gianforte. Phone: (406) 444-3111. Or, email Gov. Gianforte here.
Senator Jon Tester. Phone: (202) 224-2644. Or email Sen. Tester here.
Senator Steve Daines. Phone: (202) 224-2651. Or email Sen. Daines here.
Representative Matt Rosendale. Phone: (202) 225-3211. Or email Rep. Rosendale here.
1 hour a week?
Take 10 minutes to make calls to Montana political leaders and demand action on climate. (see above)
Have 1-2 more in-depth conversations with friends or family about climate focusing on a shared interest or value. (See the link to Katharine Hayhoe’s talk above for inspiration.)
Find a Montana climate organization you care about, donate, and/or show up to an event or action, or volunteer for an hour.
Or, organize an action with your kids such creating art and letters to send to our political leaders, or holding a bake sale for climate, then donate the money.
2-3 hours per week?
Volunteer more.
Lead your own initiative, for example, is anyone leading the climate conversation in your field? How could you lead it?
Create life-affirming art, writing, happenings with your family and friends. Gather your kids’ climate writing and art, or your own creative work and submit it to The Changing Times.
Reach out to other families and invite them to take action, or join our Families for Action meetups, or…
If possible, as time allows, assess your family’s big-ticket emissions:
Energy Use: Can you afford to put solar panels on your home? Yes? Now is the time. MT DEQ offers low interest loans, as does Missoula Federal Credit Union.
Transportation: Can you transition to bikes, or an electric cargo bike for most of your car trips (something like what Yuba Cycles offers), or purchase an electric car? Did you know that Flannagan Motors in Missoula sells used electric vehicles?
Investments: Find an investment person to transition your retirement and other investments our of fossil fuels. Watch our Decarbonize Your Money webinar to get started.
Purchases: From food to clothes, we can “vote” with our wallets and reduce impacts by shopping locally and avoiding online retailers.
Reach out to us anytime to talk about ideas, or for moral support!
Stay safe out there.
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Winona Bateman is the director of Families for a Livable Climate. She’s a trained Climate Reality leader, and a committed parent climate activist.