Protect the planet: How to start an environmental petition

To put it plainly, the effects of climate change on people and the environment are frightening. If it doesn’t get under control, it could lead to one third of all animal and plant species becoming extinct by 2070, and 250,000 average deaths expected per year between 2030 and 2050. These are just some of the dire outcomes of the climate crisis.

Some of the major human-driven causes of worsening climate change are carbon emissions from vehicles, electricity generated from fossil fuels, and greenhouse gases from industrial manufacturing and agriculture.

Other urgent environmental problems include biodiversity loss, plastic pollution, deforestation, and food waste. While these critical issues are extensive, there are solutions. But, the solutions require action from legislators and other decision makers. 

One proven method for initiating action is by creating a petition. Use this guide to start a petition for an environmental cause you care about.

Why should you start an environmental petition?

You can start a petition to bring attention to and change any environmental issue that matters to you, from combatting plastic waste and factory farming to transitioning to renewable energy.

Starting a petition campaign on Change.org is a powerful tool for grassroots advocacy, and climate-focused grassroots movements have achieved significant results. An analysis of 19 different grassroots groups fighting for climate solutions revealed over 250 impactful outcomes from their work, including: 

• Directly influencing environmental policy, like congressional and court decisions

• Directly influencing shifts in government practices, like developing city-wide transportation plans, collaboration with government officials and communities, and government consultations with civil society organizations

• Stopping or curtailing an environmentally destructive project like further development of pipeline projects

Change.org petitions have impact

Many environmental petitions on Change.org have contributed to and directly resulted in significant victories. Some of those include:

• Amazon stopped the use of plastic air pillows in their packaging, eliminating 15 billion plastic pillows a year based on a petition that gained over 780,000 signatures

• A petition with over 5 million signatures helped scale back the Willow oil drilling project in Alaska by 40%

• This petition to protect the Porcupine Mountains and Lake Superior from a copper mine development that would contain toxic waste has over 460,000 signatures to date. With enormous support, the petition helped influence the Michigan Senate to block a grant for the project.

• A petition and its supporters successfully convinced Gilmer County City Council to reject the development of a crypto mining facility that would result in pollution, loss of wildlife, and public health problems

How to start a petition for environmental causes

Follow these steps and best practices to craft and build support for a petition that wins results.

1. Determine the problem you want to solve

There’s a wide range of important environmental issues to tackle, so the first step is to identify one specific cause to target. The more narrow and precise the focus of your petition is, the more likely it is to get a response from a decision maker and achieve its goals. 

For example, these are some problems that successful environmental petitions targeted:

• A proposed SpaceX telecommunications facility that would set a precedent for allowing large-scale industrial projects on rural land and potentially cause RF exposure, soil contamination, wildlife disruption, and water quality problems

• An appeal to city council by a developer to demolish an affordable housing complex with gardens and 90 mature trees to build a large apartment property that would significantly increase traffic in a residential area

• A manufacturer contaminating a local water source with toxic chemicals to make waterproof products for consumer goods brands

These petitions pinpointed clear, specific problems, making it easier and more realistic for decision makers to respond to.

When picking your environmental battle, choose an issue that you have some connection to. That could be something that has directly affected you or your community, or an area you have experience or expertise in. This will enable you to add personal stories or knowledge that will strengthen your message and approach.

2. Research the issue

Once you identify the issue you want to focus on, do your research to boost your knowledge and gather all the information you need to present a strong case in your petition. Here are some guidelines for researching your issue:

• Read all the recent news reports, media coverage, or official press releases you can find on the subject of your issue to understand and communicate all the latest details and developments

• Review successful environmental petitions on Change.org to see how they framed their narrative and presented their facts and data to help guide your petition research and writing

• Gather any available data and statistics you can find related to the issue and its potential impact on the environment and community. Some helpful environmental resources include the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the EPA, NASA’s climate change hub, World Resources Institute, UN Environment Program, Natural Resources Defense Council, Science Direct, and Springer Nature.

• Talk to people impacted by the issue in your community — like neighbors, business owners, and colleagues — to include real stories and experiences in your petition.

• Take notes of any relevant and striking information from your research that would strengthen your petition. For example, the petition that convinced Amazon to stop using plastic packaging included data on the harmful effects of plastic pollution and that “Amazon ships over 50% of the packages in many countries.”

The research you do will inform the other parts of crafting your petition. 

3. Decide on a goal

Next, determine what you want your petition to achieve, i.e. what you want to ask the decision maker to do. This should be whatever the best solution to the problem is, which could be one singular action or a set of multiple actions. 

For example, the petition that spotlighted the contamination of a local water source uncovered a larger issue: that the outdoor gear and clothing industry uses the toxic chemical to waterproof many of its products. So, the petitioner decided to call on the industry leader, REI, to stop using these chemicals in their products to create an industry shift away from these pollutants. This clear and focused call to action was successful in winning the requested outcome.

Another successful petition identified one specific, straightforward goal to address an equally clear-cut problem: to get the local town council to reject a commercial re-zoning request on agricultural land.

This successful petition presented a multilayered goal that included halting the construction of a hydroelectric power plant at the source of the Una River, preventing any future developments, and securing long-term protections for the natural resource.

4. Decide on the target decision maker

To make an impact, you need to direct your petition to the person or organization with the power to implement change. The more specific you are, the better. Decision makers can include government officials, corporate executives, regulatory agencies, or local councils.

For example, if you're petitioning for a ban on harmful pesticides, your target might be the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or a state agriculture department. If you want a company to switch to sustainable packaging, addressing the CEO or sustainability officer is the right move.

Research who has the authority to enact the change you're requesting. If multiple entities are involved, choose the one most directly responsible or influential. Address them by name in your petition and explain why they are the key decision maker.

5. Write and publish your petition

Now it’s time to turn your research into a compelling petition. Start with a clear, attention-grabbing headline that summarizes your cause. This is an effective way to structure the body of your petition:

1. State the problem: Explain the environmental issue and its impact, using facts and personal connections.

2. Present your solution: Clearly outline what action you’re asking the decision maker to take.

3. End with a strong call to action: Urge readers to sign and share.

Use clear, persuasive language and keep it concise. Include notable statistics and real-life examples to make your case stronger. When you're ready, create and publish your petition on Change.org, the world’s largest platform for social change, to reach a wide audience.

6. Attract supporters and increase awareness 

To gain traction, spread the word strategically. Here are some ways to boost your petition:

• Share in relevant online communities: Post in Reddit forums, Discord groups, and Facebook pages related to environmental activism.

• Directly reach out: Message potential supporters, including local activists, environmental influencers, and organizations that align with your cause.

• Leverage media and podcasts: Pitch your petition to environmental blogs, news outlets, and podcasts to amplify its reach.

The more visibility your petition gets, the more likely it is to gain signatures and momentum.

7. Outreach to decision makers

Once your petition gains enough support, it’s time to take it directly to the decision makers. Here’s how:

• Send a formal letter or email: Summarize your petition’s demands and highlight its public support. Attach a list of signatures. Use our guide to writing an effective petition letter.

• Request a meeting: If possible, arrange a meeting with the decision maker or their representatives to discuss your petition in person.

• Use social media pressure: Tag the decision maker on platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn, encouraging supporters to do the same.

Decision makers are more likely to respond when they see widespread public interest and organized pressure.

8. Engage and mobilize supporters

Keeping momentum is crucial. Engage your supporters by updating them on progress and encouraging them to take further action, such as:

• Sharing the petition: Ask supporters to post your campaign on social media and email it to friends.

• Participating in offline efforts: Mobilize supporters for rallies, public meetings, and phonebanking or letter-writing campaigns to decision makers.

• Keeping supporters informed: Use petition updates to share any developments and organize additional actions they can help with.

A passionate, engaged community can turn a petition into a powerful movement that drives real change.

Start your petition to protect the environment now on Change.org

Taking action for the environment is more critical than ever, and starting a petition is a powerful way to make an impact. Whether you're fighting for clean water, protecting wildlife, or pushing for sustainable policies, your voice matters. 

By crafting a strong petition, rallying supporters, and engaging decision makers, you can drive meaningful change. Many environmental petitions have already led to real victories — yours could be next.

Start your petition today and be part of the movement for a healthier planet.