ABSTRACT
It is time for climate change educators to jump into civic life by more directly engaging with local, regional, state, and national governments. We must engage the public with the full set of facts, connect them to our shared moral values and convictions, and the stop ceding of ground to the “merchants of doubt” and their followers. They have hamstrung action across all scales of government for 30 years. If science were sufficient to change policy, it would have done so decades ago. Science alone is clearly insufficient to reverse the climate crisis. But widespread civic climate change engagement – with climate educators playing a key role – might do it. In a democracy, those who understand what is at stake ought to use their knowledge and expertise to develop understanding, build will, prompt action, and see that it is achieved. In this short piece, we urge readers to go beyond general citizenship to not only advocate for climate policy through standard methods, but to engage government – including local government – by speaking to representatives directly and commenting on current policy considerations, participating on appointed governmental boards, running for office, staying connected to people of like mind, and building new bridges.
