Jonah Kurman-Faber
Policy and research director, Climate XChange Somerville resident
Taking action on climate change can seem daunting, especially when you already feel you’re doing so much.
You can avoid plastic bags, start composting, and even adopt Meatless Mondays. These personal choices help, but we won’t solve this issue by convincing everyone to make them every day. That’s too hard.
The truth is, you should have access to affordable electric vehicles and fast public transportation. You should have a warm home powered by cheap renewable energy. You should have clean air to breathe and healthy, sustainable food to eat.
Climate change will be solved by creating a world where individual choices are already cheap, easy, and improve our lives. The best way to achieve this is by engaging with policy-making.
This is easier than it sounds — it just means you’re voting for public officials who want to address climate change, and making sure they keep to their promises. Today, there are tons of ways to do this from the comfort of your own home. Here are some key ones:
1. Stay informed. There are numerous local, state, and national organizations that track, analyze, and mobilize around climate policy. You can keep abreast of important moments to get involved by following Massachusetts organizations on social media, subscribing to newsletters, listening to podcasts, or reading climate-related news articles 2. Vote for pro-climate candidates. Mark elections on your calendar. These aren’t just every four years. We had primaries and midterm elections last fall and special elections can happen anytime. Take 15 minutes to view voter guides produced by climate organizations. Electing officials who vote with climate change in mind can have a massive impact on your community’s health and long-term resilience. 3. Engage directly with
your elected officials. After elections is when the real work happens — when your elected officials make — or break — their promises on climate by their votes in the Legislature. Pay attention when organizations you follow ask for your signature, texts, calls, or emails to communicate with your representatives on policy actions. Even 10 constituent calls can impact how a legislator votes on a bill.
We can all take steps to reduce our carbon footprints. But to truly tackle this global emergency we need to fight together for the policies that will create a more livable world.