How environmentalists could decide the election, Ep #94

We’re weeks away from a historic election. It’s one that will decide the course of climate action in the United States at a pivotal moment, a moment when we can’t afford to slow down or send mixed signals abroad. And, it’s an election that all expect to be decided by just tens of thousands of voters. 

These are all facts that I’m sure you know already. 

Here’s what you probably don’t know: millions of environmentalists don’t vote. These are people who list the environment and climate change as their number one most important issue – and getting just 1-2% of them to vote could easily decide the election. 

This is the premise and work of the Environmental Voter Project. They’re a nonpartisan nonprofit organization, not focusing on a particular party, but instead focusing on protecting the environment simply by getting environmentalists to the polls. I learned a lot from my conversation with EVP Founder and Executive Director Nathaniel Stinnett. We talked about the difference between voter preferences and priorities, who these non-voting environmentalists are, and what actually works in getting them to vote. The answer to that riddle and much else in this episode might surprise you.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• [03:18] What's at stake in the 2024 election?
• [04:40] The implications for climate
• [07:14] How local elections influence environmental policy
• [08:56] Public sentiment on the environment
• [11:13] The distinction between voter preference & voter prioritization
• [13:28] The lack of voter turnout among environmentalists
• [15:06] Why aren’t environmentalists voting
• [20:21] Fossil fuel PR campaigns 
• [21:24] Environmental Voter Project & what they’re doing to engage
• [23:55] The most resonant, persuasive, helpful message to motivate behavior change
• [27:31] Measuring EVP’s impact  
• [30:00] What is EVP hoping to achieve this year 
• [32:49] The sensitivity analysis for EVP

Resources Mentioned

• Environmental Voter Project

Connect with Nathaniel Stinnett

• Connect with Nathaniel on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

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• On Twitter

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