Just like last time, Bored Panda reached out to Jamie Wertz, Generation180's Communications Manager, to discuss the organization's innovative strategies for advocating clean energy and more.

When asked about the next big step for Generation180 in engaging the public further, Jamie emphasized the importance of big, creative approaches to capture people's attention. "As communicators, we believe we have to go big and invest in creative approaches that get people’s attention in order to accelerate a culture shift toward clean energy.

We’ve found more people gravitating toward short-form video, so we are exploring YouTube Shorts as a platform to share more of our climate comedy work. It is a great opportunity to capture the limited attention span of people, get them to start thinking about climate change, and open the door to them being more willing to take action. You can check out some of our videos here. One of them was recently honored in the 2024 Digital AVA Awards."

In response to how Generation180 evaluates the impact of its campaigns, Jamie explained that their work revolves around equipping individuals to be clean energy leaders. "We’re constantly considering impact in all that we do. A big component of our work is about equipping people as clean energy leaders to amplify impact in their communities. We have a growing network of more than 3,000 clean energy ambassadors across the country– including Clean Energy School Leaders and EV Ambassadors–and these clean energy champions are inspiring others to adopt clean energy. 

Our latest research found that car buyers are more likely to consider an electric vehicle if their neighbors have one, showing how another person’s influence really does matter when it comes to encouraging clean energy behaviors like driving electric."

When it came to discussing some of the successful collaborations, the communications manager shared the organization's unique approach of partnering with comedians to engage new audiences and popularize clean energy behaviors. "We need creative approaches to tackle the climate crisis. By partnering with comedians, we’re able to engage new audiences and help popularize positive clean energy behaviors, as comedy is uniquely persuasive and attention-getting when it comes to serious issues like the climate crisis. 

We work with several comedians, including members of our Climate Comedy Cohort, to create short-form video content that is funny and engaging, and introduces new audiences to our work, especially people who might not see themselves as having a role in the climate movement. 

Some of our favorites are featured in this series of climate comedy videos co-produced with Adam McKay’s Yellow Dot Studios."

Wertz also offered advice for people looking to become more involved in clean energy advocacy. She highlighted the evolving energy landscape, "Our new energy reality — a transition away from fossil fuels and toward clean energy — means you can now choose clean energy in your home or community. Everyone can play a meaningful role in the transition — now more than ever.

Whether you’re a homeowner, a parent, a renter, or a student, no matter your background or occupation, you have a critical role to play in our clean energy future.

We lead national education campaigns to electrify homes, buildings, and transportation – the biggest sources of carbon emissions. By partnering with artists and storytellers, we work to change the climate narrative from gloom and doom to “We Got This!” and give people meaningful ways to take action toward a cleaner, healthier, and more equitable energy future. The transition is already underway and it’s not too late — we just need more voices and actors to help us get there faster."

Lastly, looking towards the future, Jamie addressed the challenges and opportunities in accelerating the transition to clean energy with Bored Panda. "The majority of Americans say they are alarmed or concerned about climate change. But they aren’t driving, voting, or powering their homes like it. News reports leave people feeling helpless, and they don’t realize their own power to take action. 

That’s where we step in, to inspire and mobilize individuals to take action in their homes and communities. The concept of clean energy is widely popular, but people need to see the pathways they can take. Some climate actions make a bigger impact than others, so we focus on those and how individuals can play a key role. From voting for clean energy candidates, to pressuring your university/alma mater to divest, to installing solar or pledging to make your next car electric, there are many high-impact ways to tap into the clean energy movement."

Bored Panda also reached out to John Klossner, an artist renowned for his ability to weave humor with significant messages on contemporary issues, notably climate change and clean energy.

When asked about balancing humor with serious messages on climate change, Klossner detailed his approach: "What I find works is taking an angle of the topic and pushing it to an absurd logic. It helps that most readers of the cartoon have knowledge about climate change. When I first started drawing cartoons on climate change, it was mostly making fun of the absurdity of the deniers, or the fact that one denier was given the equivalent platform as 99 climate scientists." He went on to explain how the increased awareness around climate change has broadened the scope of his work: "The depth of knowledge that many now have allows me to go in many more directions - different weather terms, how to speak to your climate denier relatives, etc. - and trust that these tap into people already accepting how serious climate change is." For Klossner, inspiration for new cartoons often comes from reading articles on the subject, where a specific topic will "pop" out at him.

Discussing his work with the Flip the Script campaign, Klossner shared a realistic perspective on the impact of his cartoons: "Not to take away from the great work that Flip the Script is doing, but I think their readers are already in the choir, if you know what I mean, and I don’t imagine that the comics have drastically changed anyone’s understanding." However, he cherishes the "little victories," such as when his family purchased an electric car, which inspired him to explore and share the economics of electric vehicles through his cartoons. "There are so many details in the economics of electric cars - money savings in unexpected places, how the auto industry advertises, the arguments over range anxiety, etc. - that I was unaware of and, by including them in the cartoons, was able to both learn from and share." Klossner finds it very complimentary when others reuse his cartoons in presentations and blogs, as it shows his work can convey messages more directly than a lengthy post.