Five tips for taking climate action in your community
there are many personal behavior you can go help the environment this The Earth Daybut participation in climate action within larger communities can have a greater impact.
Christine Apa-Gaffeya pro bono lawyer specializing in environmental justice and Teaching Courses about the topic Columbia Climate Schoolshares some advice for anyone who isn’t sure what role they can play in advocating for climate and environmental justice, and pointers on where to start.
Christine Appah-Gyamfi teaches environmental justice at the Columbia Climate School.Photo courtesy of Christine Appah-Gyamfi
Climate and environmental justice issues are complex and multifaceted, Appah-Gyamfi said, and they require stamina to remain engaged and find ways to advance solutions. People from different backgrounds and experiences can contribute, from a local level to a more global level.
1. Start small – become an advocate in your local community.
“If I had the opportunity to sit down with someone new to the field, I’d start by thanking them for their interest,” Appah-Gyamfi said. She acknowledges that some people may feel overwhelmed by environmental concerns, and encourages them: Start where you can make a difference.
“Even the smallest activity matters—maybe it’s promoting more efficient composting practices in the community, starting community gardens, working to preserve green spaces, or helping people understand the link between extreme heat and the importance of having available resources. Reach out to vulnerable communities,” she said. All of these small changes and small activities add up to a big impact.
2. Amplify underrepresented voices to ensure that people with lived experience are included in the conversation and that their concerns are central to the direction of the advocacy.
Use your platform to amplify the voices of those who are underrepresented to ensure their lived experiences and concerns are heard and considered, says Appah-Gyamfi. Their voices should guide the direction of advocacy; this is one of the core principles of community lawyering that Appah-Gyamfi teaches her students.
3. Even though you may not have experienced it yourself, sit at the table and encourage your network to join you.
“People often worry, if they are not part of the affected communities, do they really have a voice or should they be at the table? I implore them to stay active because we need voices from people outside the affected communities in order to engage with Connecting their own community and getting more people involved,” Appah-Gyamfi said.
For those who may not feel like they have first-hand experience with a particular climate issue, remember that they can still take the empathy that comes from learning someone’s story and then transfer it to someone who may also think they don’t have any experience. For others, it’s helpful to address this issue, she added. Empathy plays an important role in making connections and driving advocacy efforts.
4. Be part of the legislative process by participating in regulatory comment periods.
“I introduce the students in my class to regulations.gov For Federal Policy Initiatives. For local policy, I discuss the opportunities available to focus on the work of New York City Council. I teach them to submit regulatory comments, which empowers them to really participate in the decision-making process, because every regulator should review every comment it receives,” Appah-Gyamfi noted. “It means they will be part of the record. “
In her class, Appah-Gyamfi also spoke about ways her students can testify locally at city council hearings, as well as best practices for effective regulation and legislative commentary.
5. Contribute to advocacy in creative ways by participating in participatory design and channeling your own experiences.
Appah-Gyamfi encourages individuals to use their own discipline—whatever it is—to find new connections to environmental justice.
“I really like this concept called participatory design, which basically involves collaborating with different fields, not necessarily creating solutions together at first glance,” she said. For example, certain experts such as community lawyers and journalists obviously work well together. “But maybe you’re a computer scientist. How can you use your expertise in developing projects to help improve the way we process and use data to inform our advocacy?” she said.
The key is to be creative and find ways to contribute that don’t involve following traditional paths. “You can decide to become a public policy advocate no matter what field you come from – architecture, medicine, education, fashion, engineering, the culinary arts, or any other career that can touch and shape environmental justice advocacy,” Appah-Gyamfi Say. “Your insights are valuable and your efforts are appreciated.
