Making Climate Change Activism Accessible

From record-breaking wildfires and devastating floods to extreme heat waves and unpredictable storms, reshaping communities and ecosystems before our eyes the climate crisis is omnipresent in our lives. The scale of the crisis and the urgency of action can make it difficult to know where to start or how to make a meaningful impact. Climate Changemakers is working to change that.  

Climate Changemakers is a modern climate advocacy network designed for people who want to drive change but have limited time. The organization focuses on advancing systems-level climate solutions through strategic policy advocacy and key electoral priorities.  

Through a mid-year grant from the Bloomberg American Health Initiative, Carl Latkin, vice chair, and Lauren Dayton, associate research professor—both from the Department of Health, Behavior, and Society—conducted an analysis of the facilitators and barriers to climate activism as experienced by members of Climate Changemakers from January 2023 to September 2024.  

The researchers analyzed responses to  29 semi-structured interviews: 23 with highly engaged climate activists and six with participants who had not attended meetings in 90 days. Their goal was to identify what strategies were most effective, and which fell short, when it came to advocacy. The researchers found that many of the approaches used by Climate Changemakers and similar organizations were successful in empowering members.  

Successful strategies included:  

• Encouraging members to dedicate small, consistent amounts of time to activism—one hour per week proved most effective.  
• Assigning manageable, specific tasks that could be completed quickly, such as calling legislators, signing petitions, or canvassing.  
• Providing issue briefs for members who felt less confident discussing policy implications.  
• Fostering a supportive community where individuals could share advice and resources.  
• Helping members highlight the local impact of policies when advocating for climate action.  

While these strategies are not exhaustive, they offer valuable insights into how advocacy organizations can better support their members and drive meaningful, lasting change.  

To read the full report, click here.