TED Talks Daily Why isn't the climate movement voting? | Nathaniel Stinnett
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Aug 1, 2024 
Nathaniel Stinnett, founder of the Environmental Voter Project, advocates for transforming environmental concern into political power. He reveals the surprising disconnect between climate awareness and voter turnout, emphasizing how millions who care about climate change don't vote. Stinnett discusses innovative strategies to engage non-voting environmentalists using behavioral science and social influence. By focusing on accountability and aligning climate issues with voter interests, he aims to mobilize a strong coalition for climate action.
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Political Barriers to Climate Action
- The climate crisis faces a significant barrier: lack of political will, influenced by special interests.
- This is worsened by insufficient climate voters to counteract these influences and push for necessary action.
Low Voter Turnout Among Climate Supporters
- In Georgia's 2020 election, climate voters showed an 8% lower turnout than the average, impacting the close result.
- In swing states like Pennsylvania and Nevada, non-voters were twice as likely to prioritize climate, showing a trend of climate-concerned citizens not voting.
Impact of Low Turnout on Climate Leadership
- Low climate voter turnout results in few voters prioritizing climate, hindering the election of climate leaders.
- Even elected climate leaders have limited political capital, making them less likely to prioritize climate action with low voter demand.