You can cut and paste the below text into an email, personalize it and send if to your realtor.

Subject: Please sign the Real Estate Climate Declaration

Hi [Insert Realtor's Name],

I hope this email finds you well. I’m a volunteer with Citizens’ Climate Lobby working on federal climate legislation. Realtors have an important voice in getting Congress’ attention on this issue. Would you take a minute to read our recently launched "Real Estate Climate Declaration" urging Congress to take action. If you agree please sign.

In addition to the accelerated destruction of real property, unmitigated climate change creates the following risks:

• Decreased liquidity - Climate change has the potential to greatly decrease or eliminate the value of the real property assets on lenders' balance sheets. A recent study likens this risk to the "toxic assets" of the 2008 financial crisis.

• Cost of property damage - Increased severe weather damages commercial and residential properties alike, lowering property value and increasing cost of ownership. The San Francisco Federal Reserve recently published studies on how the real estate industry will suffer.

• Increase in property tax- Many municipalities, take for example Miami, are funding adaptation and repair through bonds and property taxes.

• Rising costs of insurance

• All of the above makes real estate more expensive and riskier to own/sell/buy

If you know other Realtors that want to see action on climate change, please forward them this email to give them a chance to voice their support. It would be wonderful to see the real estate industry become a leading force in the fight against climate change.

Thank you,

(Include contact information - email & telephone)

Mark your calendar, set up a notification, keeping a copy of your original message handy. One week is enough for them to see it and respond.

If they don't respond in a week, take your copy of your original message and "Reply to All" with a simple message (e.g. "friendly reminder :-)"

If they do respond, see Step 3 below.

If they signed and told you: When they get your email, it's not unusual for them to sign and email you back telling you that they did. If that happens, reply by email and a phone call thanking them for signing. Then, if you want to be a climate superstar, ask them for a referral (see below)

If they signed but didn't tell you, you will eventually be able to see their name on the Declaration page. But that can take a week, so we recommend you call them after a week in any case.

You: "Could I talk with Realtor Sarah? Sarah, this is Caitlin. How are you? Did you see my email about the Real Estate' Climate Declaration?

Realtor Sarah: "Yes, I signed it."

You: "Wonderful, thank you so much! It will be really important for Congress to hear from businesses like yours!

If they signed, ask them for a referral. Referrals are a powerful way to "market your product." And, if they agree, and are enthusiastic, consider asking them to become a CCL member and join your Chapter in meeting with your Member of Congress.

You: "I was wondering if you might be able to refer us to anyone else in the real estate industry who you think might want to sign? ---- If they do, you have a couple of options

You: "I'll send you an email like the one I first sent you, and you can forward it to your friend(s), and copy me." or...

You: "Could you give me their contact information, and I'll email them and cc you?

If they didn't sign and had questions, answer their questions or put them in touch with someone who can.

Realtor Sarah: "No, I wasn't sure about..."

You: answer their questions about CCL or the Real Estate' Climate Declaration, or say "can I put you in touch with one of our experts?" and then forward the email thread to your local expert or to info@businessclimateleaders.org.

If you've been given a referral, repeat steps 1-3 above with the referred company.