Deep Canvassing
Talking to friends, neighbors, and anyone about being a climate voter! Deep Canvassing is a conversation-based technique that uses personal storytelling to persuade voters to prioritize climate change and increase voter turnout. This page has several resources to prepare you to take action.
We are the majority!
Public opinion data from the Yale Program on Climate Change shows that 70% of Michiganders believe in climate change and that 62% are worried about it. Yet, only a third of us actively discuss climate change with our friends and family. Let’s talk climate!
Be the Climate GOAT: Get Out the Climate Vote Campaign
The Citizens’ Climate Lobby’s (CCL) higher education and youth action team Deep Canvassing campaign persuades voters to prioritize climate change as a voting issue by connecting to their personal experiences and turning out eligible voters who already care about climate action but aren’t planning to vote. Volunteers used the Deep Canvassing Institute's Climate Script and conducted over a few hundred conversations so far with the script and, on average, reported being able to move voters up the scale in terms of prioritizing climate as an issue.
Join us in becoming the Climate GOAT by participating in this campaign. Use this script to help Get Out the Climate Vote! Here's a recording of the training for the script.
For more information or support, please fill out this Google Form or contact the lead organizer, Marwan Mikdadi. If you want to participate more directly, please complete the CCL membership form.
Deep Canvassing Resources
- Neighbours United’s Deep Canvassing Script: This script was particularly effective in persuading rural folks in a mining town to support a 100% renewable energy guarantee by the town government, with a 40% persuasion rate.
- Use the Neighbours United Personal Storytelling Worksheet to walk you through creating a powerful personal story that
you can share while talking to voters. Check out their full report/playbook. - Use the ready-made CCL Climate GOAT Campaign Script to get started right away.
- Visit the New Conversation Initiative to learn how to leverage the power of deep canvassing to create lasting progressive change.
- Take a deep dive into Deep Canvassing from NGP Van.
- Watch this webinar about Deep Canvassing from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communications:
Upcoming People’s Action Deep Canvassing Trainings:
Deep Canvass Institute Trainings (free): Tuesdays monthly through September 2024
More Climate Voter Resources
Are you in the Lansing, MI area? Visit Capital Area Friends of the Environment to get more involved!