Take Action This Earth Month

April is Earth Month, and it’s as important as ever that we come together to defend and protect our environment and communities against climate denialism putting our planet at risk. More than 160,000 MoveOn members have signed the petition started by MoveOn member Pat M., committing to uphold the Paris Agreement, following President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the critical global treaty. Trump will not decide our future—we will. And together, we can—and must—continue to take climate action, no matter who’s in office. Here are four things you can do to continue fighting for a livable planet.

Push for local and state leadership

We don’t have to wait for the federal government to take bold climate action. Cities and states across the country have the power and responsibility to lead the way. By organizing locally, we can push our leaders to meet and exceed the goals of the Paris Agreement right in our own communities. Climate Mayors is a bipartisan group of nearly 350 mayors who are committed to advancing climate action in their cities. And the U.S. Climate Alliance is a similar coalition of governors working at the state level to specifically meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. See if your mayor or governor has committed to climate action: Climate Mayors: https://www.climatemayors.org/member-cities U.S. Climate Alliance: https://usclimatealliance.org/members Find their contact information here: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials-results If they have committed to climate action, thank them and let them know you want them to keep fighting for a sustainable future. As the political landscape gets more hostile, it’s important elected officials know their constituents want them to prioritize climate. Hello! I am a constituent in [your city/state]. I’m contacting your office to thank you for your continued support as a [Climate Mayor/U.S. Climate Alliance governor]. As President Donald Trump withdraws the U.S. from the Paris Agreement—again—and Congress fails to take scaled action to address the climate crisis, it is imperative that local and state governments continue to implement policies at the local level that help us move toward goals to address and combat climate change. If they have not, contact them to let them know you want your city or state to join. Hello! I am a constituent in [your city/state]. I am contacting your office to express my disappointment that [ELECTED OFFICIAL NAME] is not yet an official [Climate Mayor/U.S. Climate Alliance governor]. As President Donald Trump withdraws the U.S. from the Paris Agreement—again—and Congress fails to take scaled action to address the climate crisis, it is imperative that local and state governments implement policies at the local level that help us move toward goals to address and combat climate change. As a constituent, I urge [ELECTED OFFICIAL NAME] to join immediately and commit to representing our families and our future.

Show up at climate rallies

Sunrise Movement, Climate Power, the Green New Deal Network, and other groups are organizing nationwide demonstrations this month to speak out against Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s attacks on our communities and planet. And local organizations and groups across the country are hosting rallies and events this month as well. Trump’s administration is cutting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), silencing scientists, and dismantling the very agencies tasked with protecting our air, water, and future. These aren’t isolated rollbacks, they’re part of a sweeping attack on climate progress and a broader agenda to slash programs, services, and care that our communities need and deserve. We are all in this together. If you’re going to a local action near you, download and print our climate posters to take with you! We ask event attendees and hosts to follow simple rules on nonviolent, peaceful protest should they participate. Learn more here

Meet with your representative

April is another chance to meet with your representative and senators as they return to their district and state offices for recess. Even if they refuse to host in-person town halls, you can have your concerns heard by scheduling an in-district meeting. Here’s how: Reach out. Look up your representative or senator’s home office (not their D.C. location). Call or email to ask for the scheduler’s contact information and make a written request to the scheduler to set up an in-district meeting. Invite neighbors to join you. While you can certainly meet with your member of Congress solo, it’s ideal to have four to eight people attend meetings to show there’s additional support for your cause. You can recruit some of your neighbors to join you, or reach out to a local climate group to see if they have people in their network who would want to join. Do your research. Make sure you’re familiar with your elected official’s track record when it comes to climate action, the environment, and the Paris Agreement. Do some basic research so you can be prepared. Determine your talking points. It’s good to have general talking points for what you want to say during the meeting. You can express your disappointment and frustration with the anti-climate actions of the current administration, or there may be a specific climate action you want the administration to take. Either way, make sure you have one clear, direct ask that you want to make at the meeting. Share personal stories. You don’t have to be a climate expert! Each and every one of us is impacted by the climate crisis and the decisions being made right now at the federal level. Share personal stories about how the failure to address climate change impacts you, your loved ones, your community, and your future.

Stay connected

Join the grassroots campaign fighting to meet the demands of the Paris Agreement—no matter who is in the White House. Visit www.wesignon.org to learn more and sign up to stay in touch. “We Sign On to Uphold the Paris Agreement!” represents the opinion of the author and does not represent any organization outside of MoveOn Civic Action.

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