September 2025: the future of energy
Each month, we break down our topic into four weekly modules. Catch up on previous editions here.
This week's module: LEARN
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Here's what we'll learn today Reader
BEARY EXCITING NEWS! (And YES I'm still addicted to the bearcam, just assume that I'm gonna leave it up all of September. They are going to go to sleep soon after anyway)
My news is:
I HAVE MADE THE GRIST 50 FIXERS LIST FOR 2025!!!!!!!
If you've been following our Changeletters for even like, two weeks, you already know I'm obsessed with Grist. They are my favorite news source. Period.
In the six-ish years since I've discovered Grist, I've been looking at their Fixers list, starry-eyed, fangirling over everyone on there who is infusing hope into a world which dearly needs it.
AND NOW THEY LET ME INTO THE COOL KIDS CLUB! But it's all thanks to YOU. Thank you for joining our movement at Soapbox that started as me crying in my closet, and has now grown to me AND 8,000 other people crying + laughing + advocating inside and outside of the closet.
Thank you for nominating me.
Thank you for believing in our core values of courage and joy.
Thank you for every newsletter you've clicked on, every email you've replied to, and every dollar you've given. (For the first time this year, I've been able to pay myself to then pay rent to then make sure I have a closet to cry in, and I don't take that lightly.)
Thank you for spreading the word.
Thank you for not giving up on this beautiful place we call home.
It takes a lot of heart to sit through the grief and anger, clawing away until you reach the light, but that's what you're doing.
That's what we're all doing, and it's only worth doing together.
Thank you, and here's the list.
✨ And if you want to celebrate with Soapbox, come join us a month from now for our first gala. (Tell your Seattle peeps, please!)
We can't do this without you Reader
A wee lil note: if you enjoy getting these Changeletters and you would like to make a gift of reciprocity, a $9 contribution would go such a long way. Especially if you make it monthly! 100% of this work is me sitting behind my keyboard stressing about if anyone cares about this stuff, so encouragement and financial support is so greatly appreciated!
Thank you Mark and Kriselle for supporting this month!
|
Your bite-sized action plan Reader
✅ ACT by choosing at least one of the four R's of social transformation (credit to our friend Jodi at NCCJC)
- RESIST: Remember to call it "methane gas" instead of "natural gas"
Natural gas is methane, which is Bad For You. But "natural gas" sounds pleasant, doesn't it? Resist that term. Call it what it is.
For more, read our Action Pack on methane.
- REFORM (5 DAYS LEFT): Leave public comment for the buffoonery that is the Environmental Protection Agency
The EPA is cannibalizing itself, which might be funny if it wasn't so harmful. They're trying to revoke an "Endangerment finding" that says fossil fuels harm our health. Here's a template from Climate Reality Project opposing it. Theirs is quite long; yours can be as short as a sentence as long as you hit the major points of 1) who you are 2) why you're concerned and 3) your opinion EPA's proposal to rescind the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment findings (I for example, wrote that I strongly oppose this rescission)
Go here to submit your actual comment at the top of this page.
- REIMAGINE: Right now, block 15 minutes to understand where your energy comes from and how that could be different.
The action is to send yourself a calendar invite or some other reminder, because this stuff is convoluted. I wish I could tell you about where your energy comes from, but as we learned at Soapbox Seattle last night, it varies from country to country, state to state, and even city to city.
- REIMAGINE: Listen to this song about heatpumps and think about how you can use your own creativity for narrative change
Turns out heat pumps are sexy af. Shoutout Nathan for this.
- RECREATE: Contribute to Sun Day by drawing your half of a sun (and then find an event to attend)
This Sunday, September 21st, climate organizations around the world are uniting for Sun Day. You can draw a sun (takes 30 seconds and is super cute and fun), find an event, and look for more ways to get involved with renewable energy near you!
- RECREATE: Commit to making ONE structural change in your life towards renewable energy by the end of 2025
Ebike to minimize driving? Yes. Amtrak USA rail pass to swap out fossil-fuel intensive plane travel? Yes. Investing in a induction range to save your kids from unnecessary asthma or even acquiring a portable induction cooktop that's a hundred bucks? Yes. A HEAT PUMP?! Hell yes.
Renewable energy doesn't have to be this whole thing. (I mean, in many ways it does, but there are also so many inroads for you to make a difference starting now. Even when buffoons are in charge of incentives.)
Happy learning,
Nivi
Upcoming Soapbox events
Our entire events calendar for ALL locations + virtual can be found here.
