Climate Campaigning Reimagined: Communic

Plenty of people wonder, “What can I do?” about the planetary climate change crisis and environmental destruction. Reimagining the traditional strategies, this course teaches how campaigners can turn “What can I do” into “What can we do?” and ultimately, “What can we do that will make the biggest change?”. By examining different advocacy approaches, students will gain experience in analyzing climate campaign strategies, development, and implementation and practicing the concrete skills of communications for climate advocacy. 

The course challenges students to consider contradictions and dilemmas in climate campaigns, including debates about pragmatic vs. ambitious goals; working with like-minded allies vs. defusing or engaging opponents; “inside” vs. “outside” strategies; the relationship between organizations and social movements; risk and stakes in different political environments; and how to confront power. 

For their assignments, students choose a current campaign on an issue in climate, environment, and/or biodiversity. Over the seven weeks, they will create assets and propose new approaches to supplement the campaign, including messages, speeches, social media posts, and spokespeople. 

The professors are the co-founders of the climate justice campaigning organization Planet Reimagined, which leverages the celebrity platform and reach of musician Adam Met (of 7x platinum music group AJR) and the human rights and climate advocacy experience of nonprofit executive Mila Rosenthal (of leadership roles at Amnesty International and the UN). Their organization translates research into action, bringing advocacy to life through partners in media, entertainment, politics, business, and nonprofits, bringing together the private, public, and social sectors annually, reaching over 100 million hearts and minds.