Take Action Now
Here are the most effective quick actions you can take right now to fight for climate justice. Want to get more involved?
Climate change is scary, but there are meaningful actions that anyone can take to fight back. Help us build the just, resilient world we all deserve by signing the Pledge of Action! Whether you are brand-new to the movement or a seasoned activist, we want you to join us by taking the pledge.
Say NO to the Drax biomass plant in Longview, WA
The Drax Group, a multinational energy company, is currently proposing building a woody biomass pellet production plant and export facility in Longview, Washington. If built, the biomass plant would pose serious air quality and health risks for local communities, lead to destruction of Pacific Northwest forests, and exacerbate the climate crisis.
TAKE ACTION: SUBMIT A PUBLIC COMMENT TO THE WA SOUTHWEST CLEAN AIR AGENCY
The people of the Pacific Northwest are saying NO to Drax building their new biomass plant in Longview. We are coming together to protect the health and safety of our communities, our local forests, and the climate. Use this form to send a public comment to the WA Southwest Clean Air Agency (SWCAA), telling them to reject Drax’s application for a clean air permit. The deadline for submitting a public comment is March 29, 2024.
You can also join us in-person at the Southwest Clean Air Agency hearing, info below:
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Cowlitz PUD auditorium, 961 12th Ave, Longview, WA
General presentation at 5:30pm
Public comments begin at 6:00pm
Support the Portland Clean Energy Fund
The Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) was designed by and for BIPOC communities and others on the frontlines of the climate crisis to create a critical funding stream for climate and environmental justice initiatives.
PCEF is projected to bring in over $150 million more than expected over the next 5 years through its tax on big businesses. Some City Commissioners are looking for ways to divert that funding to government work that is not related to climate or environmental justice, which would go against the original intent of the fund.
The PCEF Committee — a community-led group tasked with oversight of how PCEF money is allocated — is bringing forward a proposal this Thursday (March 21) for how to allocate the extra $150 million from PCEF. They are proposing that government agencies and community groups work together to identity significant projects toward which PCEF money can go. We agree that partnerships between government entities and community groups can be beneficial, as long as they stay focused on community benefits and make significant progress on climate goals.
Sign this petition to voice your support for the PCEF Committee’s proposal to keep PCEF funds focused on the original intentions of this essential program — to support climate and environmental justice work in the community.
Join us in thanking our legislators for passing climate justice bills, and calling on them to prioritize climate justice next year.
While we are disappointed that some bills didn’t pass, we would still like to thank our legislators for what they did pass this session — and to call on them to deepen their commitment to climate justice by listening to us, the people of Oregon, in all future decisions.
Communities in the Blast Zone coming together!
Do you live in the blast zone of Zenith’s oil trains? Use this map to find out. If you do, call and write to the City of Portland and share that you live in the blast zone and are concerned for your safety. You can also pick up a yard sign to have in your front yard or apartment window to educate your neighbors about the blast zone and what they can do to #StopZenith. Send an email to stopzenith@350pdx.org to coordinate receiving a yard sign from one of our team members.
The 350PDX Fossil Fuel Resistance Team is also helping folks hold Neighborhood Parties to educate their community about the issue, reach out to dineen@350pdx.org and lisebethjacobs@gmail.com to learn more.
Take action for clean air!
Multnomah County Commissioners have a huge opportunity to pass an electrification resolution that would help us fight back against the gas industry and enact policies that ensure cleaner and safer air for us all to breathe. The Commissioners need to hear from us now! Join us in telling the Commissioners that the people of Multnomah County support them voting yes on this critical electrification resolution.
3 ways you can take action:
1) Email Multnomah County Commissioners to say we need Clean Air Quality Standards NOW!
2) Come testify to the County about this issue. We will help you come up with a 2-minute testimony you can share. Meetings are Thursday mornings at 9:30 am. Reach out to Dineen at dineen@350pdx.org to learn more about how you can support.
3) Call Chair Vega Pederson to ask that the county schedules a vote on the electrification resolution.
☎️ Call Multnomah County Chair Vega Pederson: 503-988-3308
CALL SCRIPT (leave a voicemail): “Hello Chair Vega Pederson. My name is __ and I am a Multnomah County Resident. I am calling to encourage you to schedule a vote on an electrification resolution to address the significant air quality and climate impacts of using fossil fuels in homes and buildings. It is critical that the county moves quickly to take action on the issue in order to protect public health and our climate. Please schedule a vote on the draft resolution before budget season starts. Thank you”
Sign the Stop Zenith Pledge of Resistance!
For years, community members across the city have been opposing Zenith Energy’s dangerous oil-by-rail operations. Together we’ve rallied, called, wrote, built a garden on the tracks, held a 60-hour vigil at the facility, educated our neighbors about the problem, sued the company, wrote songs, lobbied our elected officials, and so much more. Despite this ongoing organizing, Portland City Council turned its back on the people of Portland when it approved Zenith’s request to continue transporting crude oil through our community. Enough is enough. Join us in taking action to Stop Zenith!
While City Council has let us down, we are still doing everything in our power to show them that the people of Portland are saying NO to Zenith Energy’s oil-by-rail. Please also join us in signing this petition demanding City Council rescinds the permit they granted Zenith through these dirty backroom deals. Together, we can make our voices loud enough that they can’t ignore us.
Join the 350PDX Book Club
A place for anyone interested in the climate justice movement to come together and talk about the most important books of our time
- We meet every other month, usually the second Wednesday 6:30pm-8pm, in the 350PDX Office (although this sometimes changes, so doublecheck)
- We sometimes have an additional virtual meet-up is there is demand, for folks who can’t make it in-person
- We alternate between fiction and non-fiction
- Need to borrow the book? Reach out and we’ll see what we can do!
Timeframe: ASAP
Sign the Petition & Write to Congress: Restore Federal Recognition for the Chinook Indian Nation
In 2001, the Chinook Nation obtained federal recognition from the U.S. government. However, celebration turned into heartbreak when the U.S. government rescinded this recognition eighteen months later.
The Chinook Indian Nation was essentially declared nonexistent in the eyes of the government. The nation has been unable to access programs and resources to which federally recognized tribes are entitled. Over the last 20 years, the lack of federal recognition has cost $200 million dollars, opportunities for youth, and countless lives.
Congress has both the power and authority to recognize tribes. We are calling on our elected officials to do what’s right and end this humanitarian crisis. Stop the genocide. Federally recognize the Chinook Indian Nation.
ASAP
Tell your local city and county leaders we need action to protect our communities from harmful methane gas!
Recently, a new report was released that details the public health impacts of methane gas in our community’s homes, apartments, and buildings. The report, Methane Gas: Health, Safety, Economic, and Climate Impacts, is authored by local leaders and experts in our community and 76 different organizations across the region signed on in support of its findings.
Join us in sharing this crucial information with your local City and County elected officials and policy makers. We need our political leaders to stand up for the climate and our health by making a just transition away from gas. As this report shows, research supports the rapid electrification of Pacific Northwest buildings as an affordable way to help meet Oregon’s carbon reduction goals and keep our communities healthy and safe. Thank you.
Timeframe: anytime – it’s not actually specific to summer, and we’re going to change the name soon to reflect that!
350PDX Climate Movement Fundamentals
A free, self-paced, online course that explores the fundamentals of the climate justice movement. 25 video lessons (90 minutes total) take you through three sections:
- People Power 101
- Climate Justice 101
- Finding Your Place In The Movement
This course was originally called 350PDX Summer School, as we made it over the summer of 2022, but the content is relevant all year round. In some of the videos you might hear it referred to as Summer School, so just a heads up!
Click here to enroll in the course.
Anytime
Join the 350PDX Creative Roster
Our Creative Team uses art and storytelling to make the climate justice movement irresistible.
This team does the whole creative process, from developing the story (or the narrative strategy) of our campaigns, to figuring out the most strategic way to get the story out to the right audiences, to producing all the banners, videos, songs, performances, creative direct actions, social media campaigns, press releases, webpages, animations, poems, and whatever else that will get our message out there.
The creative roster is our list of folks with creative skills that we can call on when we have a one-off need. Next time we need a songwriter or a photographer we’ll look through the roster and reach out to a few people who have those skills to see if they are free to help! Sign up here.
Deadline: ASAP
Wall Street CEOs: Stop Funding Climate Chaos
Wall Street banks and insurance companies are the largest financial backers of corporations expanding their fossil fuel operations. Since 2015, six US Banks have loaned nearly $500 billion to the 100 corporations most aggressively expanding fossil fuel operations. Insurance giants AIG, Travelers, Liberty Mutual, and Chubb are among the top ten insurance providers to the oil and gas industry.
Send the CEOs, executives, and top decision-makers of each of these corporations a message: they must pass policies prohibiting support for any company that is continuing to ignore climate science and expand its fossil fuel operations.
Deadline: ASAP
Take Action with Divest Oregon!
Over the past few years, it has become increasingly clear that fossil fuel investments are risky and dangerous. There has been a wave of organizations and states divesting from fossil fuels, most recently the State of New York. Still, the Oregon State Treasury remains invested in fossil fuels. Not only is the Treasury jeopardizing our state’s financial future by holding onto risky investments, but they are actively fueling the Climate Crisis. We’ve already seen the impacts of the crisis – from wildfires to droughts to heat waves. We’ve seen how Black and Indigenous People and People of Color, working people, and other marginalized groups are bearing the worst of these impacts.
Divest Oregon is a grassroots coalition of over 85 organizations, including 350PDX, fighting for our state to divest from fossil fuels and invest in our future.
Learn ways to take action with Divest Oregon!
Become a donor!
350PDX is a grassroots, volunteer led organization. Our supporters not only lead our campaigns and programs, but are foundational pillars in our funding. By making a gift to 350PDX, you are investing in the longevity of our organization and the role we play in building our local climate movement! Anything, from $10, to $20, to $100 helps us fund the movement, and lets us keep our focus on our campaigns instead of fundraising.
Thank you for your support and commitment to climate justice! Donate here.
Do a Facebook Fundraiser for 350PDX
Facebook can be a great tool for the climate movement. A movement grows through personal connections – when people see their friends involved it paves the way for themselves stepping in. By setting up a Facebook Fundraiser you can let your social network know why you care about the climate crisis, and encourage them to take a small first step into climate action – by donating. A birthday fundraiser raising $350 can be super effective at growing the movement! See our guide to Facebook Fundraisers here.
Get trained up on movement skills
There is a world of learning out there. We are standing on the shoulders of the movements and activists who came before us.
We encourage 350PDX volunteers to be on an ongoing journey of learning through their time as activists. Our trainings page has dozens of prerecorded trainings and resources for you to get skilled up, and also shows any upcoming live trainings we’re putting on.
Join the 350PDX Mailing List
We are building a people’s movement to fight for climate justice. Will you join us?
We send a weekly update with all the latest news and opportunities in the Portland climate justice movement, and occasional other action alerts and general emails throughout the month. Join the mailing list here.
Check out our monthly update
Each month we send out a update about what all our teams and campaigns are up to. This is the best place to learn what we are working on, and how best to get involved in our teams and campaigns. Read most recent update here.
Any questions? Email action@350pdx.org.