Climate Trailblazers
Activists take initiative to tackle climate change and exemplify how everyday actions can help people achieve extraordinary results. Feature people or communities making a positive climate impact.
Quick Facts
Ideas to Jumpstart Your Thinking
Changing the world takes action, dedication, and community organizing. Highlight an exceptional person or organization who is at the forefront of activism.
How do you or others prepare, organize, and execute plans to promote climate action? You may already know prominent voices like Greta Thunberg, Bill Nye, and Xiuhtezcatl Martinez. There are many, many others throughout the world who are champions of climate change and action. Tell a story about who’s making strides to address climate change.
Facts
- Climate change campaigns use some methods like distributing information, framing information about climate change to change attitudes and behaviors, testifying before congress, and protesting.
- In 2015, 21 youth filed their climate lawsuit, Juliana v. United States, against the U.S. government. Their complaint asserts that the government’s inaction on climate change has violated the youngest generation’s constitutional rights to life, liberty, and property. The U.S. Ninth Circuit federal court dismissed the case.
- In the 2000s several climate-specific organizations were founded, such as 350.org, Energy Action Coalition, and the Global Call for Climate Action.
- Since August 2018, inspired by Greta Thunberg, children and students in at least 270 cities took part in school strikes for the climate.
- The arts can also be powerful tools against climate change
Helpful Tips
- Look local! Organizations near you like Physicians for Social Responsibility, TreePeople, and the Audubon Society have champions who fight for the environment every day. Find a person who excites you and make a short film highlighting them, how they take specific action, and the causes they support.