Changing the American Climate of
Climate Change Together
Americans Are More Unified Despite Believing They Are Not
![flag of USA on grass field](./assets/TK0ZOhkS2s/sh-unsplash_9c8r4quwzrq-jqzwlx3jrn-0.5-4096x2792.jpg)
Climate Change is Worsening Climate Disasters
Marking the 6th costliest year in recorded US history, American communities lost $92.8 billion worth of homes, businesses, and other damaged infrastructure with 28 billion-dollar climate and natural disasters in 2023.
Maui Wildfires
Location: Lahaina, Hawaii
Date: August 8-11, 2023
Deaths: 101
Economic Impact: $5.5 billion+
The deadliest wildfire in over a century destroyed mainly homes as it burned over 2,000 buildings. As the fire reached the town and began burning out cars, it forced people to jump into the rough waves killing one. More than 2 of 3 victims were above 60 years old with the youngest victim being 7 years old.
Historic Tornado Super Outbreak
Location: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Iowa, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania
Date: March 31-April 1, 2023
Deaths: 33
Economic Impact: $5.7 billion
Nearly 1 in 10 Americans were under a tornado watch with more than 145 tornados hitting the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. This marked the 2nd most tornados in 24 hours in recorded U.S. history. In Munford, Tennessee, at 4:28 PM, shortly after school had let out, one of these tornados struck Mumford Middle and Mumford Elementary schools significantly damaging the elementary school's gymnasium and walls and continued to damage over 500 other buildings in Tipton County, TN.
Drought and Heatwave
Location: Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, Illinois, Missouri, and Nebraska
Date: April 1-September 30, 2023
Deaths: 247
Economic Impact: $14.5 billion
For the past 3 consecutive years, Texas has broken its record for most annual heat deaths. While delivering the mail in Dallas, TX for the USPS in June 2023, Eugene Gates Jr., who had worked for the USPS for 36 years, collapsed on the lawn on his route and passed away from the extreme heat with a heat index of 115°F. Impacting the at-risk younger population as well, the extreme heat killed a 5-day-old in Irving and a 6-month-old in Dallas.
Of the 3,000 randomly selected from all climate-related research papers produced from 2012-2021
Over 99% of researchers agree fossil fuels and other greenhouse gas-producing activities by society led to the global climate-changing
![2 men in white dress shirt holding green plant](./assets/fbxHu9rHjt/sh-unsplash_qb6xk8hajs8-4096x6141.jpg)
![2 men in white dress shirt holding green plant](./assets/fbxHu9rHjt/sh-unsplash_qb6xk8hajs8-4096x6141.jpg)
Electricity generation produced 1.57 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2022
![silhouette of electric post during sunset](./assets/tmxE00Wy32/sh-unsplash_qpaoxji4dao-bw-0.9-4096x2730.jpg)
Renewable Energy Has Increased by 33% in Production
Fossil Fuels have Declined by 8% From 2012-2022
![wind turbine surrounded by grass](./assets/fZCaln15eW/sh-unsplash_wyghtlym344-4096x2731.jpg)
Yet, talking about climate action
still feels taboo.
Only 36% of America will talk about it at least occasionally
(But there are some who want it to stay that way)
Big Oil paid $132.8 million in 2023 lobbying those in power to lie to you to create division and hopelessness through
denial, deflection, and apathy
![sunset](./assets/XcjIRTgkCj/sh-unsplash_grmwvnvssdu-3626x2479.jpg)
Unfortunately, this type of approach has been working.
58% of Americans believe we cannot have civil conversations when we hold different views
But the data suggests we agree a lot more than we might think...
In 2023, 152.1 Million American Adults Agree
Human Activity Causes Climate Change
...that is enough voters to have massive climate victories in
44 states
We want the same direction for our electricity sources
![blue solar panel boards](./assets/rb37lVYQeO/sh-unsplash_v4zyjzj3w4m-4000x2649.jpg)
Photo by Zbynek Burival on Unsplash
Photo by Zbynek Burival on Unsplash
Solar
Republicans: +14.63% ↑
Democrats: +30.58% ↑
Independents: +20.92% ↑
![close up photo of burning wood](./assets/aetGcOAeFc/sh-unsplash_p17vdgrfxaq-4096x2731.jpg)
Photo by KWON JUNHO on Unsplash
Photo by KWON JUNHO on Unsplash
Natural Gas
Republicans: -6.06% ↓
Democrats: -11.93% ↓
Independents: -9.12% ↓
![grayscale photo of rock formation](./assets/AlLJ9cwAFr/sh-unsplash_5yafb0djsga-4016x6016.jpg)
Photo by serjan midili on Unsplash
Photo by serjan midili on Unsplash
Coal
Republicans: -14.41% ↓
Democrats: -18.23% ↓
Independents: -17.26% ↓
![road near dam](./assets/Sy1kJ9sCy1/sh-unsplash_w269phh8lok-4000x6000.jpg)
Photo by Emily-Jo Sutcliffe on Unsplash
Photo by Emily-Jo Sutcliffe on Unsplash
Hydroelectric
Republicans: +4.83% ↑
Democrats: +8.32% ↑
Independents: +8.62% ↑
![black transmission towers under green sky](./assets/mOSYTlnWSJ/sh-unsplash_q6n8nirdqhe-bw-0.9-4096x2731.jpg)
We need your help in clearing the A.I.R. on climate engagement
Assert science-backed evidence in regular conversations using resources such as Skeptical Science talking to those who are disinformation victims or unsure
Ignore carbon purity shaming such as food habits or travel methods which promotes infighting among our pro-climate allies. While reducing our carbon footprint is important, shaming allies will not get the change we need
Report disinformation online to protect those vulnerable
![four people leaning on railings](./assets/qQrm2LK9KV/sh-unsplash_ymwhl1aqu7m-4096x2731.jpg)