Step 4: Support Climate Protection Leadership
You have the power to help protect the climate, if you choose to use it. For example:Your Power as a Voter
Support elected officials and candidates at all levels of government who are committed to leadership on climate action. Ask your elected officials and candidates where they stand. Write to your representatives at all levels of government and encourage them to be leaders on climate protection.
Check this web site if you'd like to know what action your State is taking:
http://www.pewclimate.org/what_s_being_done/in_the_states/
ICLEI Cities for Climate Protection - Urge your community join the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign sponsored by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives. http://www.iclei.org/index.php?id=1118
U.S. Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement: Nearly 300 Mayors have now signed this agreement, pledging that their cities will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Urge your Mayor to sign the agreement and to lead your community in carrying out its commitments. You'll find the agreement and the current list of enrolled cities at this site: http://www.seattle.gov/mayor/climate/
Apollo Alliance: Launched in 2003, the Apollo Alliance is a campaign to reduce America's dependence on foreign oil, promote clean energy and cut GHG emissions. The campaign involves a coalition of environmental and labor organizations, and is active in many States. Check out what's happening in your State: http://www.apolloalliance.org/
Your Power as a Consumer
Support companies that supply low-carbon products and services and that pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their own operations. Some of the companies that have made formal commitments to reduce their emissions can be found at these web locations:
Pew Center on Global Climate Change: This organization brings together business leaders, policy makers, scientists, and other experts for new approaches to climate action. Among the many features of its web site is a summary of what businesses are doing.
http://www.pewclimate.org/what_s_being_done/in_the_business_community/
World Wildlife Fund and the Center for Energy and Climate Solutions. These two organizations sponsor a "Climate Savers" program that works with leading corporations willing to make commitments to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. http://www.worldwildlife.org/climate/projects/climateSavers.cfm
The World Wildlife Fund also provides a card that you can submit with your next utility bill, urging your utility to join its campaign for clean power. http://www.worldwildlife.org/act/pdfs/PS_card_final.pdf
Partnership for Climate Action: Sponsored by Environmental Defense, this is a coalition of businesses willing to make commitments to reduce greenhouse gases. Members publicly declare emissions limits and associated management policies, and measure their progress.
http://www.worldwildlife.org/act/pdfs/PS_card_final.pdf
California Climate Action Registry. The Registry was established by California law as a non-profit voluntary registry for greenhouse gas emissions. It helps companies and organizations with operations in California to establish emissions baselines against which any future emission reduction requirements may be applied. The Registry encourages voluntary actions to increase energy efficiency and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
http://www.climateregistry.org/
Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX). CCX is the world's first and North America's only voluntary, legally binding rules-based greenhouse gas emission reduction and trading system. Businesses that have joined include Baxter, AEP, and Interface Inc.
http://www.chicagoclimatex.com/
Your Power as an Investor
Invest in "green" companies and in nonprofit organizations dedicated to climate protection. Worthy companies and nonprofit groups are listed throughout this Four Step Action Plan.
Your Power as a Member of Your Community
Encourage your workplace, church and civic organizations to join the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Urge them to take the four action steps listed here. If you lead a business, commit your company to climate protection. If you are an employee, encourage your management to take action by joining one of the voluntary programs for businesses, listed above. Additional help for companies is available from the following organizations:
Business for Social Responsibility. BSR offers guidance for companies at:
http://www.bsr.org/CSRResources/IssueBriefDetail.cfm?DocumentID=48802
The World Resource Institute: If you operate a business, check out "Working 9 to 5 on Climate Change". It offers t ips on how to gain organizational support for a climate commitment, information needed to calculate office CO 2 emissions and set a reduction target, and suggestions on how to reach that target. The book is available free from WRI at:
http://pubs.wri.org/pubs_pdf.cfm?PubID=3756.