An accessible, solutions-oriented guide for addressing the earth’s environmental crisis and enacting meaningful change

What can we as ordinary citizens do about climate change?” While countless environmental books focus on the causes of our current crisis, Advocating for the Environment is one of the first to focus on advocacy and policy-based solutions, arming readers with the tools they need to take action and enact change.
 
In Part I, environmental policy expert Susan Inches discusses storytelling, empathy, mindset, and how effective communication can help us collaborate with others, even those with opposing views. Part II focuses on practical skills like coalition building, media relations, communication strategy, and navigating political and bureaucratic obstacles that block large-scale legislation. The book also includes case studies, research, and templates to deepen learning. Professors and teachers, students, legislators, environmental clubs, and church groups will also find useful ideas and strategies on every page.

A graduate of College of the Atlantic and the University of New Hampshire, Inches has worked in public policy for over 25 years. As Deputy Director of the State Planning Office, she conducted research, designed and led public engagement processes, and lobbied on behalf of the Governor. Her key achievements include: establishing Maine’s Uniform Building and Energy Code, establishing Current Use Taxation for the Working Waterfront, and writing legislation to establish Efficiency Maine, a state agency. Prior to this Inches worked with the fishing, aquaculture and seafood processing industries as a Director at the Department of Marine Resources. Inches also Chaired the Board of Coastal Enterprises, a Community Finance Development Corp providing funding to low income areas in Maine and nationally. The annual budget was $10M, and assets under management $800M. She also served on the Maine Technology Institute Board for seven years. This agency provided over $100 million in funds to start up companies during her tenure. Inches now works as an author, consultant, teacher and advocate with a focus on the environment and climate change. She developed and teaches a course called Advocating for the Environment at several colleges, and offers public workshops on the same topic. She also provides strategic planning, advising and communications services to clients.