In order to make the big structural changes that the climate crisis demands of us, we need both policies and personal actions. At best, they inspire, support, and reinforce each other in a “virtuous” feedback loop.

We’re looking here for suggestions for policies and other actions that can be implemented locally -- at the city and county level. Of course, we need policies at the federal level -- a carbon fee and dividend, an end to subsidies for fossil fuels, a ban on new leases for oil and gas exploration, a ban on fracking, a deadline for manufacture of gas and diesel vehicles, a Green New Deal... would be a great start! -- and at the State level, but we’re limiting our scope here to local policies.

To help evaluate policies, we suggest starting with the following criteria. All policies will not be able to meet each criteria, but the criteria will help guide us to the best policies:

• Largely within local control;
• Equitable across economic, race, gender, and all other lines;
• No-cost or low-cost;
• Results in immediate/ongoing cost savings;
• Results in demonstrable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, drawdown of existing greenhouse gases, and/or adaptation/resilience (preparation for inevitable climate impacts;
• Results in multiple co-benefits.
• Visible and engaging to the public.

Some of the policies listed here have already been implemented somewhere. Others are good ideas that haven’t yet been tested.

Here's how to shape policy with us!

1. Click on any of the categories below to get started;
2. Browse the policy pages to see what other people have already proposed;
3. Use the comment features to suggest improvements;
4. Propose new solutions (or ones that are not yet listed here) using our policy submission form or by using the comment feature at the bottom of each policy page.

Click on a category to get started