ghg mitigation in municipal governmentdocuments.grenadine.co/citizens' climate...

GHG Mitigation in Municipal Government

Cooper MartinProgram Director, Sustainable Cities Institute

Leadership in Community Resilience

GOALS• Collect and share ideas and best practices that will

help advance local resilience efforts• Develop and test models for NLC to engage with

elected officials, staff, and community groups in member cities on resilience issues

• Provide direct support to enhance or expand the existing resilience priorities of 10 local communities

Leadership in Community Resilience

SolSmart Provides Assistance

ZONING

FINANCING

PERMITTING

GRID CONNECTIONS

WWW.GOSPARC.COM

Active Projects• Guidance on GASB rules for conservation and efficiency

• Implementation Projects

• IRS Treatment of Water Rebates

• Fall Water Leaders’ Conference TBD

• “State of Climate Adaptation” - Kresge Report• “Curbside Chat Companion Guide” - Strong Towns• “Let’s Talk Climate” ecoAmerica• “The Myth of Global Cooling”

Municipal Mitigation Readings

• 50% of Global Population is ‘Urban’• 80% of US Population is ‘Urban’• 90% of US Economic Activity occurs within ‘Urbanized Areas’

Facts About Cities

So Cities Can Lead Climate Mitigation, Right?

• Cities have very little authority over electricity

• 80% of the buildings that will exist in 2030 is already built (old statistic)

• Most Americans live in Small Cities, Unincorporated Areas

Facts About Cities

DC Metro = 6.1 millionWashington DC = 680,000

Arlington VA = 230,000Alexandria, VA = 140,000

Silver Spring, MD = 75,000

• US Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement• Compact of Mayors• COP-21• The Global Covenant of Mayors• MNCAA – Climate Mayors• Ready for 100• “We Are Still In”

Current City Efforts

Mission: Build a critical mass of institutional leadership, public support, and political will for definitive climate solutions in the United States. ● Shift the national narrative● Build collective impact● Provide programs +

resources

ecoAmerica – Let’s Talk Climate

I. Understanding Your Audiences

II. Effective Messaging and Messengers

III. Workshopping Climate Communications

IV. Local Climate Engagement

The Public and Climate Change (2016)

Percentage of adults, by state, who think global warming is happening. Credit: Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, George Mason Center for Climate Change Communication

Percentage of adults who think humans are causing the Earth to warm. Credit: Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, George Mason Center for Climate Change Communication


Percentage of adults who think scientists agree on the causes. Credit: Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, George Mason Center for Climate Change Communication


Percentage of adults who think there are smart ways to fix global warming. Credit: Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, George Mason Center for Climate Change Communication


Percentage of adults who talk about global warming... Credit: Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, George Mason Center for Climate Change Communication


Motivated Avoidance

Fear

Confirmation bias

Techno optimism

Conflict avoidance

Competing priorities

Social norms

System justification

Fatalism & resignation

What Do People Hear About Climate?

We have been warning about this for years, and did too little to stop it.

Subtext: it’s your fault for not listening to us

• The scientists agree that this is happening.

• Subtext: you are ignorant if you • disagree, or are uncertain


• You need to act now to save polar bears and stop global sea level rise.

• Subtext: forget about your own needs, • think about the planet


• If we don’t stop burning fossils fuels we cannot stop this from happening.

• Subtext: you must abandon your way • of life to save the planet


• Last month was the hottest month on record.

• Subtext: too late, you blew it, • and we’re all going to die


• Weather disasters are going to keep getting worse.

• Subtext: too late, you blew it, • and we’re all going to die


Evolution of Climate Messaging

Armageddon Social BenefitsGlobal Warming Opportunity

V2V1 V3

Family and Freedom

Exceptionalism, compassion• We can all make small steps to make the world better (94%)• People can be the solution (90%)• Compassion for those who are suffering (86%)Personal rights to clean environment for all• Clean drinking water (84%)• Clean air (83%)• Safe neighborhood, free of toxics (79%)• Access to natural spaces, parks (75%)Responsibility to do something about climate• Companies that pollute (81%)• EPA (78%)• Me (75%)

What Resonates With 75% of Americans?

▪ Learn 15-step process for message development

▪ Explore importance of stakeholder mapping and engagement

Part III: Effective Messaging and Messengers

15 Steps Breakdown

11. Have at least one powerful fact from a trusted messenger

12. Ditch doom and gloom

13. Use stories to strengthen engagement

14. Stay above the fray

15. Message discipline is critical

5. Emphasize solutions

6. Inspire and empower

7. Focus on personal benefit

8. End with your “ask”

9. Sequence matters

10. Describe, don’t label

1. Start with people, stay with people

2. Connect on common values

3. Acknowledge ambivalence

4. Make it real

Build Rapport

1. Inspire & Empower1. Strengthen Message

• Show your audience you care about them

• Start from their perspective

• Use tangible, relevant concerns• Move from people to climate


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• Understand your audience’s priorities and concerns

• Common values are powerful motivators

• Build rapport


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• People have different levels of climate concern

• Respect different perspectives

• “Some of us are more worried about climate change than others...”


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• Focus on local realities people can see with their own eyes

• Assume the realities, don’t argue the science

• Use one or two examples, pivot quickly to solutions

4. Make it real

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• Highlight the co-benefits of solutions, like health and community

• Use local examples that show real solutions are already here

• Avoid messages of sacrifice


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• Doom and gloom doesn’t motivate, but it can alienate

• Focus on hope and opportunity

• We can make a difference • America can lead on climate

6. Inspire & empower

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• Personal relevance

• Climate action doesn’t come with a cost on lifestyle

• Always emphasize the co-benefits of solutions

7. Focus on the personal benefit

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7. Focus on the personal benefit

Pocketbooks Health Community

• Turn awareness into action

• Give examples that align with your audience’s goals

• Make ask accessible • Provide one or two ideas

8. End with your ask

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9. Sequence matters9. Sequence matters


11. Have at least one powerful fact from a trusted messenger

12. Ditch doom and gloom







4. Make it real


6. Inspire and empower

7. Focus on personal benefit

8. End with your “ask”

• Use their language, not yours

• Jargon and labels confuse people

• Avoid terms like mitigation or atmospheric carbon dioxide• The most persuasive language is vivid and familiar

10. Describe don’t label

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REPLACE EMBRACEClimate change, climate crisis, global warming Damage to the climate

Stop/mitigate/slow down climate change Create healthy and safe communities, protect our families’ and children’s health

Renewable energy, green energy, domestic energy Local/locally made clean energy, home-grown energy, clean energy, made right at home

The planet, polar bears Families, our children, and future generations

Economy Good for [city or state], good for people

Creates jobs (on its own) Saves money and creates jobs

Dirty energy, fossil fuel energy Dirty fuels, out-of-date fuels, outdated fuels

Rely on fossil fuels, relied on dirty energy Use, used dirty fuels

Government taking steps to curb pollution Rules and fines fines on

Build resilient communities Build stronger communities

Country HomeProtects the environment Best place for our families

• A fact with relevant and emotional power

• Trusted messengers lend credibility

• Use a memorable fact or quote from trusted source

11. Have at least 1 powerful fact from a trusted messenger

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• Dire messages cause fatalism

• Negativity leads to emotional numbing and disengagement

• Inspire with solutions and benefits• Empower action

12. Ditch doom & gloom

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• Stories make messages relevant and vivid

• They enhance empathy and rapport

• They opens audience to new perspectives• Weave in a personal story


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• Focus on the big picture

• Don’t wallow in or get sidetracked by details

• Avoid blame and arguing

• Distractions lose your audience’s attention


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• Stay on your talking points

• Repeat key points

• Don’t explain the same thing in different ways • Be consistent


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Successful Tested Message

We all want to live in the best place for our families. And communities across America are learning that smart investments in sustainable energy like wind and solar provide a healthier environment, attract new business, create jobs, and build stronger communities. We see climate change, and we can’t just wait for politicians in Washington to solve our problems. Right now, in our own communities, we can reduce pollution, improve our health, and create new jobs that can’t be outsourced, by producing and using clean energy. We can protect our cities by leaving dirty fuels behind. A community with sustainable solutions is the place I want to call home.

Group Exercise – pick one of each

1. Letter to the editor

2. Blog + social media piece

3. What do you DO?

1. General public

2. Elected officials

3. Local business leaders

4. Faith community

5. Young adults

1. Green infrastructure

2. Adaptation plan

3. Clean energy

4. Emergency preparedness

Topic Audience Communications Piece

1 2 3

Topic1

Audience2

Communications Piece3

Let’s share

Des Moines, IA

Case Study

• Start with people, stay with people – at this point in the debate there are real, common costs and impacts today

• Sweat the small stuff (or start working with states)

• Most impact = water, long-term transportation plans, zoning

• No More Sign On Statements!

In Conclusion

Outline• My background

• Students’ background

• NLC/SCI Activities• Overview, Paris, current active programs

• Cities overview – all unique snowflakes. Mostly small cities in the US even though “80% urban”

• Curriculum• Things are moving fast!

• Paris, Compact of Mayors, Climate Mayors• Explore Readings

• Discussion: What was most interesting? Compelling• ecoAmerica• StrongTowns

• Closing Messages• Start with people, stay with people – at this point in the debate there are real, common costs

and impacts today (use US News piece)• Sweat the small stuff (or start working with states)• Most impact = water, long-term transportation plans, zoning• No More Sign On Statements!

ghg mitigation in municipal governmentdocuments.grenadine.co/citizens' climate...

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