Since 2004, I have been studying social systems, society’s constructs, social movements and generally, how humans and the animal kingdom work in isolation and groups. I have met a lot of social and environmental activists (including freedom fighters, wow, I know, yes) and had the privilege to be mentored by a few. I have participated in protests and campaigns and have spearheaded some.
I am an introvert, but it is fascinating to learn about humans and what makes them behave the way they do.
So, I have been researching how to do Climate advocacy right. During my Terra.do fellowship, I had the privilege to attend a keynote from Bill McKibben, and since then, I have been checking out the podcasts featuring him.
One was Crowdsourcing Sustainability‘s podcast episode with Bill Mckibben on Where We Are, How We Got Here, and What to Do. Mckibben is a journalist, author and environmentalist who has founded climate movements like 350.org and, more recently, the Third Act for activists aged 60 or older. There is more to him than I can cover in a paragraph, so I urge my readers to check out his books and devour all his content.
In the podcast, he mentioned that the activists won the climate change argument because they had science on their side — there was no denying that climate change existed and was caused by the fossil fuel economy. However, they were losing the fight as it was not about data, reasoning or evidence but more about power and money. So, he had to mobilise power (since money was out of the question) through civic support to challenge the fossil fuel industry.
Another podcast episode by Sustainability Defined, titled Climate Advocacy with Brady Walkinshaw (Grist) and Varshini Prakash (Sunrise Movement), discussed how the activists’ climate movements have been successful.
While at Grist, Brady uses the power of storytelling for advocacy:
- He mentions that we ought to frame the narratives around climate in a way that is not just depressive but would show the people the way out.
- Grist aims to support people with solutions who want to act on climate change.
- Brady also wants to bring climate into the conversation for those already fighting for other causes like animal rights, racism and such. He mentions that getting out there and telling the story of why climate change affects you so much, to the people that matter the most, matters a lot!
- He believes that building a shared identity with the people (you are talking to) and tying the climate change narrative to their personal experiences in a storytelling format breeds an indisputable power for advocacy and climate action.
Varshini gave her 2 cents on how to create good climate movements:
- She quoted the social scientist Erica Chenoweth, who has found out that if a movement can get 3% of the population activated around an issue or campaign, then that campaign is most likely to win. So, the Sunrise Movement works more on enabling passive supporters to become active ones.
- She holds demonstrations, sit-ins and other events that create moments of public confrontation, bringing people and media attention.
- Activists need to hold community gatherings, go to the grassroots, and talk to the people in their habitats, for a movement to work. However, people who do digital advocacy are also welcome at Sunrise Movement.
- Sunrise Movement has a meta-narrative, vision and action plan detailed out for its members on what the movement is about, and what it wants to achieve with 11 principles (code of conduct) that guide every part of their work so you wouldn’t see them throw bricks through windows or vandalise paintings. They call themselves a peaceful movement.
I have also recounted my experiences with a few activists here. Which socio-enviro-political movements and activists have inspired you?