Resources
Tools Available for Planning Your National Conversation Event
The tools listed below have been specifically designed or selected to support your National Conversation on Climate Action event and are all available on or through the National Conversation on Climate Action website. If you have questions about how you can use these tools and materials to engage your community in your climate protection and sustainability efforts on Earth Day and beyond please email climateconversation@iclei.org or call Suzie Cownie at 510.844.0699.
Download this resources checklist and make sure you are taking advantage of all of the National Conversation on Climate Action planning resources as they become available!
Event Planning:
Guide for National Conversation Event Hosts: This event host guide is your starting point for planning a National Conversation event. It is filled with tips on choosing realistic and action-oriented goals for event outcomes, conducting outreach to fill your event with a representative sampling of the community, and structuring a discussion that fosters meaningful engagement and action. Discussion tips have been designed to be as flexible and adaptable as possible to address the needs of a wide variety of groups and situations.
Guide to Hosting a Green Event: This short guide will tell you what you need to consider to minimize the environmental impact of your event and includes practical tips for greening-up your event, no matter what the size.
Media Tipsheet: The National Conversation on Climate Action tipsheet walks through the timeline for engaging your local media to maximize the coverage of your event—before and after April 22nd.
Climate Change Experts List: This list, a directory of scientists and journalists interested in presenting their work on climate change to the public, includes information on how to learn more about these potential speakers for your National Conversation event and how to contact them if you are interested in inviting them to speak.
Event Promotion:
Sample Opinion-Editorial (Op-ed): Customize this op-ed, or use any of the language, and pitch it to the opinion and editorial sections of your paper. It is designed to be signed by a local elected official, lead staff member or event sponsor. Reference the Media Tipsheet for how to use this resource.
Save-the-Date Postcard and Poster: These promotional materials contain space for you to add the details for your local event—simply type your information into the template and send them to a local printer. The postcards can be mailed to community members or groups or left at your local coffee shop as a way to get the word out to everyone to save-the-date!
Sample Press Advisory and Press Release: You can customize these template materials with local information to help capture media attention for your event. See the Media Tipsheet for information on when and how to use the template press materials.
Event Profile on www.climateconversation.org: When you register your local event on the National Conversation website, a page is automatically generated with your event information. You can use your unique event page to post event details and promote your event to your community. Find an event.
Materials for Engaging Citizens at Your Event:
National Conversation on Climate Action Discussion Guide: This discussion guide gives sample worksheets and discussion activities that you can use to ensure an action-oriented and engaging event.
Citizens Guide to Local Climate Action: This guide to citizen action, designed specifically for you to distribute to citizens at your National Conversation on Climate Action event, is a simple primer on how everyone can be a part of local climate action. Choose from the ready-to-print version or the customizable version, which includes space for you to let your citizens know about what programs you have locally for them to get involved and reduce their emissions at home, at work and in their civic and religions organizations.
National Conversation on Climate Action Welcome Video: All National Conversation events should feature this welcome video, designed to inspire participants to action and highlight the significance of being a part of a truly National Conversation. The video (approximately 6 minutes in length) will be available for all participants download in early April.
Other fact sheets and educational materials: The “Additional Resources” page of the www.climateconversation.org website contains a number of fact sheets and informational resources that you may be interested in making available to those who attend your event.
Tools for Keeping Your Community Engaged:
We are currently working with our allies to create tools for keeping your community engaged long after your National Conversation event on April 22nd. Stay tuned for more information on exclusive trainings for National Conversation participants on how to use these tools to engage your community.
Climate Culture Household Emissions Calculator: Climate Culture provides a way to interact directly with your community members, to see what your citizens are doing to reduce their energy usage, and to help them measure their own carbon emissions footprint and save money on their energy bills.
Climate Crossroads: Learn more about Climate Crossroads and how you can use this powerful tool to connect with your community and as part of the National Conversation.
ICLEI Outreach and Communications Guide: ICLEI’s Outreach and Communications Guide is a tool to help local governments effectively communicate climate information to their constituencies. The Guide contains an array of steps and methodologies for communication and outreach efforts, as well as a compilation of best practices from around the United States.