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The countdown to Copenhagen has begun--the talks that could lead to a global agreement on how to fight climate change are only a couple months away. The question is, what can each of us do to get involved? What can one single solitary guy or gal do to help the world agree to turn back the tides of climate change? Plenty. Here are the 7 best ways you can help out.
For an introduction to COP15, this 5-minute guide should get you up to speed in, well, about 5 minutes.
1. Join the World's Largest Pro-Climate Action Community
Tck Tck Tck has gathered more people to wave the climate action banner than any other single community--nearly 2.5 million as of this writing. Made up of civil society orgs, trade unions, faith-based groups, and individuals, Tck Tck Tck represents a collective voice for change. Sign up at the group's website, and pledge to support strong climate action and to help spread the word about COP15.
2. Sign Up to Civilly Disobey with 10,000 Others
Okay, so just how passionate are you about seeing global action taken to fight climate change? If you answered, 'passionate enough to get arrested along with 10,000 other people', then perhaps this option is for you. The Yes Men, the often ingenious climate activists behind the fake New York Post climate issue, the staged Chamber of Commerce press conference supporting climate legislation, and the bizarre Survivaballs, have revealed that they plan on staging the largest climate-oriented civil disobedience ever. They're mobilizing 10,000 people who are willing to get arrested to call attention to climate change. The details are still a secret, but if you're interested you can sign up at the Beyond Talk website. Even if you're not willing to get arrested yourself, you can still pledge to support those who are.
3. Help Others Tune in to COP15 with Social Media
Using social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, Digg, you can help keep your friends informed about important developments in the COP15 saga. Stay up to date by following COP15 on Twitter and becoming a fan of the COP15 Facebook page. Digg and StumbleUpon stories about COP15 you think will be of interest to the masses. New to social media? Guess this is as good a time as any to get your feet wet. And this fine guide to using social media for tracking COP15 will get you up to speed in no time.
4. Prod Your Senator into Passing a Climate Bill
The prospect that international progress could be made towards reducing global greenhouse gases in COP15 is exciting. But the US won't get very far at the negotiating table if we haven't passed a climate bill at home first, or made some serious strides towards doing so. And time is running out here--so if you have ten minutes, write your senator to let him/her know that you want them to act towards passing meaningful climate legislation. And before you roll your eyes at this option, know that letters like this are important--and with the climate bill garnering tentative bipartisan support in the Senate, our lawmakers need more than ever to know how their constituents feel. A little persuasion could make a lot of difference.
5. Become a Citizen of Hopenhagen
Another way to help out is to become a citizen of Hopenhagen. This campaign, launched by former UN Secretary General Ban-Ki, provides a platform for people around the world to share with an international community what gives them hope for climate action this December. There are currently 320,000 citizens of Hopenhagen on every continent, and each have taken the time to express their hope. Take the UN pledge and join the good people of Hopenhagen. Make sure to visit the UN's sister campaign, Seal the Deal as well--it's looking for millions of signatures, and time is running out.
6. Join 350, Hit the Streets
350.org is the brainchild of renowned author and environmentalist Bill McKibbon. His organization, 350, gets its name from its goal--to get the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere down to a healthy target of 350 parts per million. The action group has already made a name for itself with demonstrations and protests around the country--they've targeted mountaintop removal mining, the Capitol Coal Plant in DC, among others. And 350 offers some of the best ways that you can make a difference in reaching Copenhagen climate goals. After you join its mailing list, 350 will keep you in the loop about pro-climate action events going on in your area, and even provide you materials to help you launch your own if there isn't one nearby. And make sure to join 350 on Saturday, October 24th, when the group organizes thousands of people at events around the world to call for action to stop global warming.
7. Take Individual Action--Do Something, Anything! - All of the online communities and pledges and demonstrations are great, and we certainly need as many of them as we can get--but in the end, this comes down to getting each and every one of us to recognize how important it is that a meaningful treaty is drafted this year. Climate change is likely going to be the biggest issue of the century, and we need to get a jump on fixing the damage we coal-plant burning, gas-guzzling, CO2 spewing humans have done to the planet. So do whatever you can: talk to your friends and family about COP15, stay informed, write your representatives, organize a climate action group at your school, make banners, shout from the rooftops--whatever comes to mind. Within reason, of course.
Because we're not going to get too many shots at combating climate change while we're still in a decent position to do so. Do what you can--and I'll see you on the front lines.
More on COP15
COP15 United Nations Climate Change Conference
What Will Happen After COP15 ? Three Possible Scenarios
COP15 : What's at Stake in Under 5 Minutes
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