ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE GLOBAL #CALL4CLIMATE ACTION

In a critical year for our future, we're kicking off
The world's biggest-yet climate change writing movement

Join us and hundreds of other bloggers, journalists, and campaigners
As we flood the media with blogs, articles, op-eds, interviews and more.

Shaping the global conversation around climate issues, one article at a time.

Join the mobilisation

This is a critical year in our story as a global movement facing climate change

The cost of clean energy is dropping and fossil-fuel now face growing opposition.Governments around the world are making commitments to transition to clean energy and protect our future.

But it’s not enough. Sharing your voice, your concerns, your hopes, and your ideas will help get us there.

This year, let’s flood the media with your voice. Lets make climate issue relevant to people’s daily lives. In doing so, we’ll help build massive public pressure on leaders as they prepare a new global climate agreement for Paris this December.

We start now!

Most governments around the world are still working on their climate action plans for Paris

We have a small window for you to push for as much ambition as possible. To do so, we to connect to people’s lives, and change the political landscape so leaders know they must do more to safeguard our future.

On June 1st, Governments are headed to Bonn to restart climate negotiations leading to Paris.

In our first Global #Call4Climate Action, we’re asking you to put your passion to work by ensuring your voice is heard when they get there. Join us in publishing your call for climate action between May 25th and June 1st.
COP20 team
 

Join us and hundreds of others as we write the movement and flood the media with blogs, articles and op-eds all about what climate change means to us. All it takes is four steps:

Step 1: PLAN

Pick a Topic, Angle and Platform more »

Step 2: WRITE

Find a Unique Way to Tell Your Story more »

Step 3: PITCH

Flood the Media more »

Step 4: SHARE

Publish and Share! more »

Step 1 - Step 1 – PLAN: Pick a Topic, Angle and Platform

Pick a topic – for this first #Call4Climate action, focus on 1 change you want to see made to national policy; 1 Climate Campaign you want to support; or 1 decision you believe your government has to make right NOW.

Pick an angle – climate activists are planning actions around the world for May 31st, and UN Climate Change negotiations kick off again on June 1st. You can use one or both of these events as anchors to make your article ‘news worthy’.

Pick a platform – think about a who your topic might resonate with. What media channel or platform will reach them? It doesn’t have to be a big national newspaper. Sometimes a story in a small local newspaper or niche website is the best place to start. But think about where you can make the biggest impact.

 

Step 2 - WRITE: Find a Unique Way to Tell Your Story

You’ve thought about the topic, who you hope to reach and how you’ll reach them. Now it’s time to start writing. You don’t have to be a professional writer. Anyone can make an impact. You just need to let your own voice shine through.

Write about what is important to you. Most importantly, write from your heart. If we’re going to change the global narrative on climate change, we need to inject some emotion into the debate. We need to show the world the human side of climate change. We need to tell the real life stories that the media isn’t. This is the perfect time to start.

Additional resources:
 

Step 3 - PITCH: Flood the Media

Pitch your Piece - write a clear, concise email you can send to editors telling them exactly who you are, what you plan to write, why it’s important and when it will be written. Expect to be rejected a few times, and make back-up lists of editors to email. In some cases, you may need to email and call more than 10 editors before 1 says yes.

Now it’s time to pitch! Remember, it doesn’t have to be a big national newspaper, sometimes a story in a small local newspaper or niche website can have the biggest impact. And if this is your first time trying to get published, it can help to start small.

When you do pitch your story to someone, try to summarize your story in 3 sentences, and don’t forget to highlight why this is news-worthy. It might be wise to have a few different options in mind. If you’re first choice editor doesn’t like it, you can always send it to someone else (and someone else, and someone else,... ).

We organized a Skill-up on pitching earlier this year, and it’s packed with great suggestions for print, radio and video pitches.

Additional resources:
  • There's a great quick 'How to Pitch' guide over at the Oped Project.

  • You might also check out our Climate Tracker Skill-up on Pitching an Op-ed from last summer.
 

Step 4 - Publish and Share!

Aim to publish your work between May 25th and June 1st. We want negotiators to arrive in Bonn feeling the pressure from all of your articles. Now’s our time to turn it up!

We’ll use the form linked to the button above to track your work. Once you have published your article, submit it here so we can track it.

1. Tell us about your contribution

Then, share your work! Make sure to share your success with your fellow Climate Trackers (and the world!) by tweeting your #Call4Climate with the link:

2. Tweet your #Call4Climate Action!

Between May 25 and June 1st, we’ll be hosting a twitter storm to raise the profile of your efforts.

Even if you try and fail, use the form to let us know you tried so we can keep supporting you in the coming months.

Just think what an impact you could make with a story in your local or national news. The impacts of climate change are being felt by people all around the world, but the media isn’t paying attention. It’s time we let the world know that we’re not going to just watch our future go to waste.

Lets get writing!