Third-Way, ” the leading think tank for the moderate wing of the progressive movement,” released a fascinating report about the semantics of the contemporary ‘green movement’, I mean ‘environmental movement’, I mean ‘sustainability movement’, I mean …..ahhhh help.
The report based on focus group findings shows that the public is hungry for change in energy policy, yet the language that is currently used is not working.
major points:
1. Green jobs are about the economy – make the argument in terms of the overall economy
2. Change terminology:
a. Drop the argument for “cap & trade” replace it with “clean energy incentives”
b. Drop green – most voters seen green as organic/vegetarian but they understand terms like “clean tech” and “renewable energy”
c. Government investments are like the bailout very unpopular with Main Street. Change the terms to “government-sponsored “research an development”
see the full report here:
http://www.thirdway.org/data/product/file/218/Clean_Energy_Focus_Group_Report_061509.pdf
* thanks to Efficiency First for posting this on its blog *
