April 17, 2025
From 2013 to 2018, Liz Rogers served on the steering committee of the Maine Climate Table and chaired its messaging committee. In this role, she helped guide a collaborative initiative involving a diverse network of organizations and individuals working to bridge political divides on climate issues. Together, the group developed a research agenda to inform communication strategies and policy actions that could resonate broadly across Maine’s population.
Partnering with Goodwin Simon Strategic Research, the team conducted in-depth public opinion research that uncovered how Mainers perceive and experience climate change in their daily lives. While the initial focus was on identifying messages that could accelerate greenhouse gas reductions, the findings revealed broader insights—especially about adaptation.
This research laid the groundwork for a set of widely used tools and resources. The Climate Communications Toolkit and Research Report that Liz helped to author offers a deep dive into the findings and provides guidance for advocates, policymakers, and community leaders seeking to foster productive climate conversations.
Access the report here: Toolkit and Research Report (2017)
Building on this work, Liz, Cathy Lee of Lee International, and Goodwin Simon Strategic Research also developed a practical Climate Table companion resource: the 101 Messaging Guide. This guide distills key findings into clear, actionable communications strategies. Since its release, countless trainings have been conducted across the state using this guide to help Mainers talk more effectively—and collaboratively—about climate change.
Access the guide here: Maine Climate Table Communications 101
As noted in the Community Development Innovation Review (Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco):
“The research provided clear insights to support emissions reduction, but also revealed valuable findings relevant to climate adaptation. Partners learned that audience attitudes, knowledge, and reactions could point to opportunities for shared understanding and deeper community engagement. The process helped build trust among stakeholders, identified promising policy solutions despite political tensions, and influenced subsequent advocacy, investment, and programmatic decisions.”
Read the full article (page 97): Community Development Innovation Review, Vol. 14, Issue 1 (PDF)