Mechanisms - Activism

To-Do Date: May 12 at 9:30am

You've learned about some of the solutions to reduce emissions or increase sequestration, and you've learned about some of the mechanisms that can ramp up the implementation of those solutions -- the government can require or incentivize implementation, it could enact carbon pricing, and businesses can use their purchasing power to demand more renewable energy.  But, as we've also seen, the U.S. government, and even our local and state governments, are not acting quickly enough to reduce emissions at the scale scientists say is necessary to meet our state goals.  

This is where activism comes in. People may have different perceptions of what activism means.  According to Merriam-Webster, activism is "a doctrine or practice that emphasizes direct vigorous action especially in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue."  

 

Activists Goals 

• • Supporting Transition to Solutions Outlined in Project Drawdown Links to an external site. 
    • Project Drawdown is an effort to examine the existing solutions to our GHG problem and implement the most cost and climate change effective solutions such as
    • ramping up of renewable energy production Links to an external site., cleaning up the transportation Links to an external site. sector through electrification and efficiency, retrofitting Links to an external site. homes to make them more efficient, decreasing waste and increasing efficiency in industry Links to an external site., transitioning to regenerative agricultural Links to an external site. practices that build soil health and sequester carbon, forest protection Links to an external site., peatlands protection, indigenous lands management Links to an external site., and more.
  • Reducing use of fossil fuels by working to halt projects that increase rates of extraction
    • preventing new or closing existing  oil and gas development, pipelines, and coal- or natural gas-powered electrical plants.
  • Pressure is on banks, educational institutions, retirement accounts, and more, to divest from fossil fuels.
    • Divestment is the opposite of investment - it includes eliminating stocks or investment funds that, in this case, directly fund fossil fuel companies or fund companies that enable fossil fuel companies to extract, such as companies that build or finance pipelines.  To date (2020), $11.48 trillion has been divested.  You can read more about the divestment campaign here. Optional link to Fossil Free website Links to an external site.

While there is a long history of activism in support of transitioning to the solutions you've explored, because of decades of delay and inaction, activist pressure on governments and businesses has increased in recent years, and some new organizations are playing a large role, and making a difference.  Below are some different examples of activism around climate in recent years.

Types of Activists and Examples of Each

Occupation of Public Spaces

Example: Extinction Rebellion is a group that, while active globally, was founded and has been most impactful in the United Kingdom.  In 2019, they organized a 10 day occupation of public spaces in London.  1100 people were arrested, and the number of participants grow over the duration of the protest.  As a result of  this action, the U.K. parliament declared a climate emergency and the government announced a legally binding target for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.  Optional Link: A Revolution's Evolution: Inside Extinction Rebellion’s Attempt to Reform Its Climate Activism Links to an external site.

School Strikes

Example: Friday for the Future. The school strike movement began with teenager Greta Thuberg from Sweden, who began striking outside of the Swedish Parliament.  Watch the 7-minute video below to learn about Greta's journey from her solo strikes, to being one of the most well-known climate activists around the world.

Because of Greta's activism and the hundreds of thousands of youth who've joined her, in 2019 the European Union Commission committed to allocating at least 20% of all spending towards actions to mitigate climate change.  

 

Engagement with the Political Process

Example: The Sunrise Movement was organized in 2017, and is made up of youth and young(ish) adults from across the country (under 35).  They are the major activist force behind the Green New Deal and have been very successful at engaging politicians and engaging with the political process by mobilizing volunteers to work to increase voter participation by young people, those who have the most at stake in the fight against climate change. They contacted 6.5 million voters prior to the 2020 election. Watch the video below about the founding and goals of this organization.

There is a local Sonoma County Sunrise Hub.  You can learn more about them Sunrise So Cal Links to an external site..

 

Local Sonoma County Activism

Here in Sonoma County, activists have organized climate strikes/marches, including a large march in September 2019 that began on the SRJC campus (Optional Link: Sonoma County students skip school to join global climate strike, rallies Links to an external site.).  This event was co-organized by a number of local groups, including the local Sunrise Hub Links to an external site., Youth Vs. Apocalypse Links to an external site., Schools for Climate Action Links to an external site., 350 Sonoma Links to an external site., Sustainable SRJC Links to an external site., ECO2school Links to an external site., and the SRJC Biology Club.

There has also been local organizing around urging cities and the County to adopt climate emergency resolutions. Below are some optional resources about the Climate Emergency Resolution effort in Sonoma County and the RCPA

• • In Petaluma, climate change is an emergency Links to an external site.
  • Sonoma County supervisors declare climate emergency, pledge to make climate change priority Links to an external site.
  • Sonoma County Regional Protection Authority (RCPA) Links to an external site.

Sunrise Movement; Website. (Links to an external site.) they have an active local group.  (Links to an external site.)

350 Bay Area : Website    (Links to an external site.)350 Sonoma  is our local chapter 

Daily Acts: Website (Links to an external site.)

Citizens's Climate Lobby : Website . (Links to an external site.) They have an active local chapter (Links to an external site.)