Citizens' Climate Lobby

The BIG WIRES Act has been introduced in the House and Senate. Join CCL's Research Coordinator Dana Nuccitelli for a training that will discuss how this policy could update and streamline the country’s patchwork energy transmission system. An updated transmission system will be technology neutral, prioritize regional flexibility and improve electrical grid reliability and reduce energy costs for all Americans. 

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• (0:00) Intro & Agenda

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Ben is the head of the CCL government relations team in Washington D.C. and in his role, he works to the advance the policy goals of CCL in Congress. Ben has worked for over 20 years in Washington both as Congressional staff and as a government relations professional. For several years, Ben served on the legislative staff of Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM). Most recently, he was Senior Vice President, Policy and Legislative Affairs for a national trade association. Ben has worked in a wide range of policy areas including taxes, natural resources, agriculture and national security. He has successfully advanced standalone legislation as well as provisions in annual appropriations bills, tax extender legislation, and farm bills. He has also worked extensively with federal agencies and worked on numerous federal regulations.

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October Action Sheet: https://cclusa.org/actionsheet 

This training was led by the brilliant team (Vanessa Gonzalez-Rychener, Bob Loeb, Sin Ng, Steffanie Munguía and Sharon Bagatell) behind the Intergenerational Conversations Guide, will explore how this toolkit can expand the climate movement. The Intergenerational Conversations team will walk the audience through how to use the Guide to talk about climate change across generations and share stories about the power of these intergenerational conversations. The team will then share examples of how intergenerational action can drive political will across our policy agenda areas.

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Presentation Slides:  https://cclusa.org/intergen-slides  

Join CCL's Research Team for an overview of the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act that will explore more details about the policy and provide more time for Q&A. If you have new volunteers that have joined CCL since the last time the Energy Innovation Act was introduced in Congress this training will help them gain deeper understanding.

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(0:00) Intro & Agenda

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BIG NEWS! Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) just reintroduced the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (H.R.5744) in the U.S. House of Representatives this week!  Join CCL Staff for an all-volunteer webinar to get the details around the legislation this session and how you can take action and build support for the policy in your community and in Congress. 

The Energy Innovation Act is a carbon fee and dividend bill — and it’s pretty much our favorite climate policy ever. Polluters shouldn’t use the air as a trash can. A policy like this charges polluters a fee for the carbon pollution they put into our air. The money collected goes to Americans in the form of a monthly “carbon cashback” payment to keep things affordable.

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In episode 88 of Citizens Climate Radio, we dive into the passion and action of young climate activists, exploring their journeys from concern to meaningful action. Host, Peterson Toscano leads the conversation, spotlighting the endeavors of students like Emily O’Keefe and Helen Tiffin in fostering awareness about climate change and feasible solutions, focusing particularly on the carbon fee and dividend policy.

See full show notes and transcript at here

From Concern to Action

Emily O’Keefe, a student at the College of William and Mary, candidly shared her progression from a state of existential concern about climate change to actively seeking out impactful solutions. Emily’s journey started with a realization about the importance of sustainable living and protecting the environment. This ultimately led her to a gap year where she could detach and reconnect with nature by hiking the Appalachian Trail.

"I want to do something really big about climate change. And I'm just trying to figure out how can I do that?" - Emily O’Keefe

Evolving Ideas & Shared Enthusiasm

Emily’s initial idea to start a social movement was supported and molded by her friends, like Helen Tiffin. They delved deep into discussions about the nature of the movement and the message it should convey. Eventually, she was introduced to the carbon fee and dividend policy by a friend, Philip Ignatov. This policy became the focal point of their movement due to its effectiveness and tangible impact.

Helen Tiffin supported Emily’s enthusiasm, remarking on the nonpartisan nature and wide appeal of the carbon fee and dividend idea, noting, “It really is something that we can all agree upon.”

Carbon Fee & Dividend – An Equitable Solution

The carbon fee and dividend policy essentially imposes a fee on corporations extracting fossil fuels, making fossil fuel-intensive products more expensive and thereby encouraging consumers to opt for more sustainable alternatives. Importantly, the policy also includes an equitable dividend system where the revenue from the fees is distributed equally among Americans.

"So that actually makes it so that the majority of Americans, around two-thirds, will actually break even or profit from the money coming back to them in this cashback form, than they have to pay in increased prices." - Emily O’Keefe

Building a Movement

Emily, Helen, and their friends engaged in creating signs which read

Most Effective Climate Policy #carbonfeeanddividend bit.ly/writecongresshere

They raised awareness on their campus, and beyond and fostered a ‘snowball effect’, enabling more and more students and people to recognize and understand the carbon fee and dividend policy, spreading across multiple universities and leveraging online platforms like Instagram for greater reach.

Their campaign also linked to direct actions, creating templates for people to write to Congress and advocate for the policy. “It is all about spreading that awareness and education and whatever form it presents itself,” Helen stated.

Sustaining Impact & Longevity

The Carbon Fee and Dividend Movement initiated by Emily and her friends has found a stable home base within the Citizens Climate Lobby’s Higher Education Team, ensuring the sustainability and longevity of their efforts.

"We are going to be partnered with Friday's For Future in advocating for this...This will bring a lot of power to the movement." - Emily O’Keefe

Emphasizing the nonpartisan and optimistic values of the Citizens Climate Lobby, Emily believes in the importance of embodying these values for the successful advancement of the movement. They continue to use platforms like Slack to coordinate efforts across various chapters and provide resources to aid climate work.

Follow the Climate Fee and Dividend Movement on Instagram and visit their website. 

Takeaways

This episode sheds light on the relentless spirit of young activists, their journey of transforming concern into impactful action, and the communal spirit that propels the movement forward. Their dedication to spreading awareness about the carbon fee and dividend as an effective and equitable solution is not just inspiring but is paving the way for a more informed and resilient climate movement.

Take a Meaningful Next Step

Each month we will suggest meaningful, achievable, and measurable next steps for you to consider. We recognize that action is an antidote to despair. If you are struggling with what you can do, consider one of the following next steps. 

• Visit our Climate Change Action Page. Each month we provide you with steps you can take to engage with your lawmakers and to spread the word about climate solutions. 

Resilience Corner

Tamara Staton, CCL’s Education and Resilience Coordinator, recently introduced a new series, “Resilient Climateteering through Crazy Climate Connections,” focusing on actionable insights related to climate awareness and playful curiosity.

In this installment Tamara illustrates a parallel between the mental and physical benefits of high-intensity exercises like burpees and the sense of hope derived from proactive climate actions. This connection emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balance between mental stimulation and actionable insight to foster hope and resilience against the adverse effects of climate change.

Get more tips and resources by visiting The Resiliency Hub. 

New CCR Team Members!

Citizens Climate Radio is welcoming three new team members, Lily Russian, Horace, and Karina Taylee, who will be regular voices on the platform. Lily is a political science major and environmental science minor at Trinity College, whose passion for the environment was ignited by her experience at the Island School, a program focused on sustainability and marine biology. She enjoys playing the ukulele and emphasizes intentional living for a sustainable future. Horace, a recent graduate from the University of Michigan and an environmental specialist, has had a lifelong connection to nature, instilled by his family's trips immersed in the natural beauty of his hometown in Chongqing, China. He is dedicated to promoting sustainability and addressing climate change to preserve the environment for future generations. You will meet the third new member, Karina Taylee, next month.

Good News 

Shelterwood Collective, a non-profit focusing on communal healing and ecosystem restoration on 900 acres in Northern California, is the focus of this month’s Good News Story. CCR team member Lila Powell researched, wrote, and recorded the story about the indigenous, black, and queer-led group that uses Kashia and southern Pomo traditions in forest restoration, involving controlled burns and invasive species removal. In 2022, they received a $4.5 million grant to enhance their restoration efforts. The collective also uses art, focusing on interconnected ecosystems, to inspire community involvement and is developing a center to foster environmental relationships and inclusivity. 

If you're looking for more good news and you want to connect with other climate advocates who refuse to give up, then check out Grassroots Rising Leveling up in the Climate Fight. This is CCLs fall virtual conference November 4 and 5, 2023. You will hear speakers like CNN correspondent and author Van Jones. Plus there's a special plenary presentation by our very own Dana Nuccitelli, host of the Nerd Corner. For more information and free registration, visit the Grassroots Rising Leveling up in the Climate Fight webpage.  

Listener Survey

We want to hear your feedback about this episode. After you listen, feel free to fill in this short survey. Your feedback will help us as we make new decisions about the content, guests, and style of the show. You can fill it out anonymously and answer whichever questions you like.

We also feature a special tribute to Madeline Para who retired this month from CCL. We played Cody Francis singing Weather Any Storm. 

Join CCL National Actions Director Todd Elvins for a training that walks you through the process of highlighting support for CCL's Policy Agenda from local community leaders on both sides of the aisle and provides specific examples of other CCL groups' success stories. Starting with community leaders in your direct network, as well those who have already endorsed, will likely be more efficient and effective.

 (0:00) Intro & Agenda

Presentation Slides: https://cclusa.org/grasstops-lobby-meetings 

Madeline began her political career working for campaigns, nonprofits, and labor unions across New England. In 2018, she moved to Utah to help found the Rural Utah Project to empower underrepresented voters, bringing its fundraising and communications programs online. Two years later, she built an organic digital and earned media program with an advertising equivalent of $11.1M across the rural Southwest. Since then, Madeline has continued her work as a narrative strategist, driving outcomes for nonprofits, labor unions, and candidates for office who are curious to engage with people who call rural landscapes home. Her notable projects include National Nurses United, The Sierra Club, SEIU, and the Rural Democracy Initiative. She's proud to partner with the Rural Climate Partnership on building a transformative narrative framework for hardworking rural people. Madeline lives in Boulder, Utah, a town of 250 people, where she searches for new watering holes with her border collie, Melon.

Sept 2023 Monthly Pre-Call Video: https://vimeo.com/862666362 

Join CCL's Research Coordinator Dana Nuccitelli for a special training on Dana's work assembling region-specific climate impacts presentation slide decks. These slide decks detail the most important climate change impacts for each of the seven regions in the continental United States.  Each slide includes the scientific source references in the notes, which are primarily the 2018 Fourth National Climate Assessment Report and the Working Group I of the 2021 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report.  These are the most comprehensive and authoritative assessments of the latest and greatest climate science research pertaining to the United States and world, respectively, but other individual papers are referenced in the slides as well.

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Presentation Slides: http://cclusa.org/local-impacts-training 

Join economist and superstar CCL volunteer Jonathan Marshall for a training that will review what is going on around the world in other countries and subnational governments in terms of carbon pricing. Jonathan will review some recent innovations, recommendations on what other countries are learning from the best available designs and how these lessons can apply to our own advocacy here in the United States.

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Presentation Slides (with embedded study links): https://cclusa.org/carbon-pricing-around-world