Why bother writing or calling?

Don’t let groups or companies that profit financially or gain power from harming the environment be the only people that your elected officials or others hear from on these issues!

You may be skeptical about how much your voice matters, but politicians know that energized constituents who contact them are more likely to vote based on the issues (or for that matter to vote at all).

Politicians also know those constituents who bother to contact them are more likely to feel strongly about the issue, be vocal about the environment, and have friends and neighbors who are voters as well.

To contact the president and vice president

You can write or call, but they say they prefer email.

To contact your congressional representatives

Put in your address and you get your senators’ and house representative’s names, office phone numbers and Twitter information. You also get a link to their website, with their email contact information (and websites are a good source of information about where they stand on issues).

Call your representative directly or call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.

Common Cause, a nonpartisan grassroots pro-democracy organization, has a search tool “find your representatives.” Their search includes your federal and local representatives; it does not always give their contact information and legislative histories, but once you know who they are they are easy to find online and put their information in your contact

For state, county or local governments

Hosted by the group Open States: Find your federal and state representatives by entering your address. Clicking on each representative gives their contact information.

You can also access state, county and city representatives through local government websites when there are local concerns or initiatives.

For example, if you live in Los Angeles:

Los Angeles City government

California State government. Honestly, a bit cumbersome.

This organization had a tool to find California, Los Angeles County and City of Los Angeles representatives and their contact information.

When you write or call

Let them know you are a voter in their district.

Be polite, clear and to the point.

Tell them why you are calling specifically: to thank them for voting the right way or for introducing legislation, to tell them their vote was misplaced if they disappointed you, to encourage them, to suggest how they should vote on an upcoming bill, etc.

Tip: If it is about a bill, try to have the name or number of the bill on hand. It lets them know you are informed and exactly what you are referring to.

Contacting your representatives doesn’t have to be over a specific piece of legislation. It can be to tell them that these issues matter to you and you want real action. Have them count another voter who thinks climate change and other environmental issues matter!

However, in general, the more directed toward legislation and the more specific you can be about what you want them to do, the better.

Tip: Consider having a written script, or at least the “bullet points,” if you call. You can go off script, of course, especially if you are talking to a human, not voicemail.

Some say calls are better than emails or letters, although the White House website suggests emails are “faster.” Calls take more personal commitment (you have to actually talk to the person who answers the phone who will take your message). If you call after hours, most elected officials will have voicemail where you can leave your message (helpful if you are shy or work during their office hours!).

Other writing

Keep in mind that politicians aren’t the only ones you might contact. Writing op-eds for local news outlets is a way to communicate. There may be groups, institutions or corporations whose activities can be either good or bad for the climate and the environment, and you can consider sharing your thoughts about their activities with them and others. See also communication for other ideas.

Additional resources