Voice Your Future workshop: Write to your MP to on climate action
Climate action is a collective effort that we can all be a part of.
One way you can take effective climate action is by communicating and advocating to your local representatives. Local MPs value the opinions and views of their constituents and as your community's representative they want to know what's important to you. A great way to communicate your views with them is by writing to them, but where to start?
Climate Writers are here to bust a few myths about writing to your local representative: you don't need to be an expert; you don't need to be an amazing writer; and you definitely don't need to do it alone.
At this workshop, Climate Writers will teach you in an easy way:
Why contacting politicians is the most effective lever for systemic change
How to write a letter to a politician
Climate topics to write about and letter writing templates
How to reflect on and communicate your personal story and connection to climate change
All attendees are asked to bring a laptop to participate in this workshop.
This event is hosted by non-partisan grassroots community Climate Writers, in collaboration with Voices of Cook. You're welcome to come whether you live in the Cook electorate or not. :)
ABOUT CLIMATE WRITERS
Climate Writers is a non-partisan grassroots community that empowers the average Australian to become lifelong advocates for the environment and their local community.
After feeling powerless about the government’s inaction to climate change given the bushfires and floods in 2020/2021, they trained as facilitators under Climate for Change to teach everyday Australians what they can do about climate change. In April 2022, the urgency of the climate crisis compelled them to shift from hosting conversations about climate change, to carving a space for dedicated action.
This community has since grown entirely through word-of-mouth to 200+ attendees, of which 75% had never written to a politician before. It starts with events like these that empower the average Australian on how to take effective climate action.
Having sent 500+ emails to date, Climate Writers have had:
Policy wins on topics we've written to politicians about: e.g the passing of the Climate Change Bill, stronger rules on the Safeguard Mechanism, banning of native forestry logging in Victoria and more...
Contributions to a policy paper requesting a youth advisory council to the NSW Net Zero Commission, currently being actioned by MP Penny Sharpe's (NSW Minister for Climate Change, Energy and Enviro) team
Meeting with MP Chris Bowen (Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy) to discuss Labor's climate policies after Annie wrote to him about opposing fossil fuel exploration.
Group meeting with MP Jenny Leong (Newtown) after Marlene wrote to her on the NSW State election. Jenny connected us with other local climate non-profits, and hosted us in NSW Parliament.
1:1 meetings with local MPs / Councillors to ensure climate action is top of mind e.g Tim James (Willoughby), Paul Fletcher (Bradfield), Charishma Kaliyanda (Liverpool), and Dai Le (Fowler)
Publications in local papers
Countless responses from local MPs / their teams who are reminded about everyday people wanting climate action
Socials:
Instagram: @climatewriters
Website: www.climatewriters.community