#earthtweet – Turn Twitterers into Climate Change Advocates

#earthtweet – Turn Twitterers into Climate Change Advocates

Brighter Planet, a Vermont-based environmental start-up, launches #earthtweet, to unleash the passion and creativity of people who want to help the environment and have a story tell in 140 characters. Using Twitter’s reach of its now estimated 9.7 million users, the potential for “EarthTweeters” to inspire others to get involved and reduce their collective carbon footprint is staggering.

National climate leaders such as Treehugger, 350.org, and The Climate Project are joining in to encourage their Twitter followers to share conservation tips, environmental news, and Earth Day plans with the #earthtweet hashtag. Partners are spotlighted on earthtweet.com and a live feed brings together all user-submitted tips, news, and activities.

“We believe many people are doing good things to combat climate change and wanted to cut through the noise and allow them to organize and converse in real time,” said Patti Prairie, CEO of Brighter Planet. “Our goal is to get 2,000 tweets that inspire environmentalism. When we started designing the #earthtweet campaign in December, we considered Twitter to be the hottest social network on the web. It’s only gotten hotter since.”

Gallup’s recent survey shows Americans over the age of 30 are cooling to the seriousness of global warming, believing now more than ever that it is exaggerated. Views of Americans age 18 to 29, by contrast, are more in line with ninety-nine percent of scientists and global proxy reconstructions: the average global temperature is warmer now, and the temperature is rising faster now, than at any time in the last thousand years.

Americans under the age of 30 are also naturals for Twitter and similar social networking sites. Brighter Planet values social media as key to making environmentalism more accessible. The Earthtweet campaign follows the success of other web-based campaigns that engage consumers and businesses in the green movement such as the 350 Challenge, Climate Matters, and One Day.

Truly inspirational tweets will be rewarded with smart, eco-friendly prizes from partners committed to sustainable lifestyles such as Gaiam, Patagonia, Clif Bar, Brilliant Earth, and Brighter Planet Advisory Board member Bill McKibben. Earthtweet badges and avatars are available to web sites and blogs adding personalization and enhanced design elements to users.