Let’s go all in on local climate action

The sad reality in America is that unless you’re very wealthy or very well connected, or devote your career to it, you can’t meaningfully influence federal policy as an individual. 

For at least the next four years, our federal government is going to be a major force pushing us towards climate chaos, and there’s not much you can do about that.

But the U.S. federal government isn’t the only player in this fight. We absolutely CAN make major progress on climate through local level action. And that’s exactly what we must do, starting yesterday.

We can push our local governments to take stronger action on climate. We can help elect climate champions to our city council – or run for city council ourselves, on a platform of climate action. 

You can join a city commission that oversees transportation, development, utilities, or other realms with major climate implications (transportation and buildings are the two biggest sources of carbon emissions, and they are both heavily regulated by local governments, including unelected volunteer boards and commissions).

You can encourage our school boards, or PTAs, to ensure that our public schools are educating the next generation on climate action, and leading by example and making our schools more sustainable. 

You may not have previously seen yourself as a person who gets involved with local government. But if you care about climate action, it is actually one of the most powerful ways to make a difference in the coming weeks, months, and years.

And the good news is the organization I founded, Run On Climate, is here to help you. This past year we supported thirteen climate champion candidates, nine of whom were elected into local office for the very first time. We also worked with elected climate champions and local climate advocates in over 35 cities across the country to pass some of the strongest climate policies in U.S. history. And we are building and growing our team to have a much bigger impact in 2025.

Whether you want to volunteer on a campaign, advocate to your city government for better climate policy, join a commission, or run for office yourself, we can support you. 

Let’s discuss! 

Jack Hanson

Founder and Executive Director, Run On Climate

info@runonclimate.org