If you want to join the fight against the climate crisis, there’s no lack of opportunities, from grassroots organizing to high-level advocacy. There are countless ways, big and small, to educate others and raise the alarm about our changing atmosphere. That can mean everything from sharing TikToks about carbon emissions to getting a PhD in atmospheric science.
When it comes to fighting climate change, there are great ways to get your hands dirty, sometimes literally—like planting trees or starting a community garden. While every choice can make an impact, helping save the planet from the devastating effects of the climate crisis can’t just be a one-person job.
It takes collective action to really turn things around for our planet, and the clock is ticking. We need action—whether that’s taking to the streets for a climate march demanding government officials and mega-industries divest from fossil fuels, or joining a political movement to drive a clean energy revolution.
Really, the sky is the limit here—and it’s what we’re trying to protect, anyways. So, here are a few ways you can engage with your friends, community, and country in a meaningful way.
Join or organize a climate movement
It’s common knowledge that fossil fuels are the biggest contributors to climate change globally. Calling on the fossil fuel industry to stop all new coal, oil, and gas projects is a critical step towards building a clean energy future for all.
Joining a climate movement that already exists or organizing with friends or colleagues in your hometown can be a great way to build and spread awareness around climate justice. No matter your method, raising your voice alongside a community of creative and passionate climate activists will spread valuable knowledge about the issues that we face together.
Call on government officials and businesses to divest from fossil fuels
The Biden administration has set goals to create a carbon-pollution-free power sector by 2035 and a net-zero emissions economy by no later than 2050. A major milestone on the journey to nationwide carbon neutrality is the commitment to slash emissions in half by 2030.
The high-level commitments have been made, but now is still more an important time than ever to hold your local and state-level representatives (as well as your favorite brands) accountable to divest from the fossil fuel industry. It will take a village (more like the whole country) to push forward the urgent economic and structural changes that are needed.
Here’s a sobering statistic: The 40 largest U.S. insurers hold over $450 billion in coal, oil, gas, and electric utility stocks and bonds. Before Lemonade, no other US insurance company had publicly forsworn investment in fossil fuels.
This is an important first step, but it’s just the beginning. That’s why Lemonade joined private sector partners to call on the business community to demand that fellow insurers stop both underwriting and investing in fossil fuels. Call on your favorite brands to commit to sustainable business practices by signing on to encourage US insurers to divest from the fossil fuel industry.
Wondering how influential the insurance industry really is in the world economy? One of the most powerful U.S. insurance brokers, Marsh McLennan, is trying to help get the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) over the finish line by finding insurance for the project.
The project is projected to be the world’s longest heated crude oil pipeline, at more than 1,400 km. It is slated to go through Uganda, Tanzania, and Africa’s largest lake, Lake Victoria. The EACOP would displace over 100,000 people and could jeopardize the water and food supply of more than 40 million people—not to mention how the pipeline might further threaten livelihoods and critical ecosystems.
The insurance industry has a crucial role to play here, and in doing so might be able to prevent the immeasurable and potentially irreversible damage this project would cause. The pipeline simply cannot operate without insurance. 350.org is actively campaigning to stop the funding and insurance of this project, and you can join the movement, too.
Support organizations and causes that are making a difference
Sure, taking personal responsibility can make you feel good and perhaps put a dent in your own carbon footprint. You could switch to a plant-based diet, trade your car keys in for a bus pass, and shop local. At the end of the day, we all have the power to make choices and take action towards a better future.
Since 2020, Lemonade has partnered with 350.org to stand together against the fossil fuel industry, joining voices to stop all new coal, oil, and gas projects, and build a clean energy future for all.
There are so many ways we can raise a collective voice to encourage—or outright demand—that all levels of government and the private-sector do their part to move away from fossil fuels as quickly as possible. It’s really a matter of choosing a method that works best for your time, energy, and interests. Together we can divest for a better future.
About the Author
Shelby Kaplan is an Associate Content Writer at Lemonade. She previously wrote extensively on climate security, environmental peacebuilding, and sustainable development issues in the non-profit sector.
Lemonade is a full-stack insurance carrier that was built to provide the best, most delightful, and most transparent insurance experience in the world. While they’re a fully licensed and regulated insurance company, they’re also a public benefit corporation and a certified B-Corp—which means they care about the community and environment, and not just business results.
Through collaboration with 350.org, the Lemonade community has already sponsored 300 buses for climate activists taking part in direct action through their Giveback program.