One way to get legislators to pay more attention to climate change is to put emotional messages in front of them. The national organization 1Sky has convened an unusual team, built on mothers and their kids, to appear at more than 500 congressional district offices and almost 500 climate change rallies across the country.
In June, 1Sky turned up the heat even further when it delivered more than 130 banners and images made by mothers, children and other family members to 175 House and Senate offices. The effort came immediately after the Senate killed a leading bill on climate change, the Lieberman-Warner act. The intent was to encourage lawmakers to keep pushing for bold, innovative legislation.
1Sky’s goal is to convey one clear message: American voters want effective environmental policy to protect their planet, and they want it now. Not even a year old, 1Sky is gaining traction among a sea of environmental and advocacy groups by inspiring community action. The organization now has almost 70,000 volunteers and is collaborating with 60 proenvironmental organizations. “1Sky is uniting voices, so all the environmental groups don’t come off as noise,” says Betsy Taylor, founder and president. “We have many people and groups coming together around the simple platform that the United States must act decisively, boldly and quickly.”
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
In the past six months volunteers—including environmental activists—have set up meetings with elected officials to talk to them about the science behind climate change and the specific policies needed to slow or halt the planet’s warming. And by allying with various voter registration campaigns to educate candidates on environmental issues, 1Sky is rallying citizen demand to make climate change efforts a national priority.
Timothy Greeff of the League of Conservation Voters agrees that the country needs to motivate sitting senators to pass effective policy and to elect new candidates who are ecologically minded. “1Sky can help make this happen, especially in places like Colorado with an upcoming election between proenvironmental and anti-environmental senators.”
Note: This article was originally published with the title, "United under 1Sky".