This Sunday, we were proud to join 400,000 people and clients like the Sierra Club and Climate Reality Project as they took to the streets in favor of proactive climate legislation during the history-making People’s Climate March. And as we speak, delegates are convening at the UN to lay groundwork for the December 2015 climate talks in Paris. In both cases, it has felt like the conversation around climate change is finally getting the air-time it deserves.
This week has left us with a lot of hope. But it’s also reminded us to never stop asking, what’s next?
March organizers rallied hundreds of thousands of people all over the world, which means they now have an unprecedented amount of energy, data (hopefully), and attention at their disposal. They’re in a unique position to engage more supporters and make an even bigger impact. But they have to claim this moment—and soon.
Digital must play a role in mobilizing real world action around climate change. By empowering advocates to rally their networks, organizations will be able to activate a bigger tent of supporters and diminish the divide between a hard-core fringe and a more mainstream set. To succeed, they need to create engaging experiences with more personalized content (and actions) for supporters, based on both their interests and their geographic location.
We’re also encouraged by the shift in messaging and tone. Research shows us that optimism inspires people to direct their energy, influence, and money towards solutions. People want progress, not apocalyptic messaging.
When people come together around their shared passions, they do can nearly anything—even solve the climate crisis. Environmentalists (never a group to take a day off) can expand this community exponentially through a meaningful message of hope to fight for both policy change and behavioral shifts across the nation—and ultimately, around the world.
We’re excited to be a part of what’s next. If you want to get more involved, visit our friends at Sierra Club and Climate Reality Project.
