Plus, CCL’s Montana tour, coverage of the Climate Solutions Caucus in Politico and more

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  Citizens' Climate Lobby  
 
  CCL Weekly Briefing, Aug. 23, 2017
   
 
   
Table of Contents:
Congressional Education Day
4 new cities support CF&D
CCL Montana tour
Politico covers the CSC
LTE of the week in Boulder, CO
CCU: Environmental Justice
Online climate support seminar
Congressional Education Day: Unique and powerful

 

Every November since 2014, CCL volunteers have returned to Washington, D.C., for a Congressional Education Day. But this event isn’t just another opportunity to lobbyit’s a chance to make a new, helpful connection with your representative.

Legislative Director Dr. Danny Richter explains, “In June, we make the hard ask,” such as prompting representatives to join the Climate Solutions Caucus. But in November, instead of asking them for something, “We provide a valuable resource that no other group provides.” That valuable resource is the June Analysis. Danny analyzes the notes from the hundreds of lobby meetings held during the June conference and puts the findings together in a report like this one.

That report is a key element in a successful Congressional Education Day. It’s shared with all the offices on the Hill, regardless of who currently agrees or disagrees with our policy goals. The response on the Hill is always “very positive,” Danny says, because we’re “showing MoCs that CCL volunteers really are a resource. Everyone wants to be a resource—CCL volunteers really can deliver. This is the event where we show that.”

To learn more about the history of Congressional Education Day and what goes into producing the June Analysis, head over to CCL’s blog.

LEARN MORE

 

4 more cities support Carbon Fee & Dividend
 

Many CCL chapters have obtained resolutions from their local governing bodies expressing concern over climate change or supporting our legislation. Recently, these four cities joined the ranks by passing resolutions in support of Carbon Fee and Dividend:

- Claremont, CA
- Portland, ME
- Bethlehem, PA
- Allentown, PA  

Sandy Simon, who helped lead a CCU lesson on local resolutions, says it’s no easy feat. “I can attest to how time-consuming and focused the process is. These resolutions would not have been brought up in the first place without a concerted effort on the part of our volunteers.”

One of those volunteers is Sarah Braik from Portland, Maine, who testified before her City Council along with several of her fellow CCL volunteers. “The resolution passed unanimously. We were overjoyed,” she says. “We are currently discussing which surrounding town to approach next.”

Municipal resolutions like these can be useful in lobbying, LTEs and op-eds, editorial board meetings, building partnerships, and gaining the support of community leaders and businesses. The more that Congress and the Senate hear from our local municipalities, representing thousands of citizens, the more attention will be paid to the implementation of a carbon fee. You can see a complete listing of all state, county and city municipal resolutions which have passed on CCL’s website here.

Have some good news to share, want tips on how to pass a resolution, or have questions to ask? Email resolutions (at) citizensclimatelobby (dot) org.

CCL’s 'Montana Stampede'

 
Earlier this month, a group of CCL volunteers in Montana swept through their state with outreach events to their neighbors, the agriculture community, local media, local government, and more.

“We’re experiencing the impacts of climate change, and we live in a conservative city,” said Kathy Masis, group leader for the Billings chapter. “Lots of people in Eastern Montana are coal, gas and petroleum supporters. Our chapter’s goal is to stretch and strengthen our organizing muscles in doing more outreach.”

And outreach they did! From a meeting with the editor of a local paper to a Climate Advocate Training with 19 people, this four-day tour built wonderful momentum throughout the state. Read Alex Amonette’s blog post for all the highlights. 

READ THE BLOG
Politico covers Climate Solutions Caucus

 
The Climate Solutions Caucus got some nice coverage in Politico this weekend, in an article titled “More GOP lawmakers bucking their party on climate change." 

The piece quoted Bob Inglis, former Congressman and current leader of RepublicEn, saying, “Members of Congress who are attuned to their districts are picking up on the reality that Americans on both left and right are concerned about climate change.”

That’s especially true given the current administration. Caucus co-founder Rep. Ted Deutch told Politico that when Trump withdrew from the Paris agreement, “some of my colleagues were looking for ways to show that they actually do want to respond.”

Rep. Carlos Curbelo, who founded the caucus with Rep. Deutch, spoke about next steps for the caucus. “I think the next phase, and hopefully we can get to that this Congress, is to turn the caucus into an ideas factory, get behind proactive legislation,” he said. “I think the vast majority of House Republicans are shifting toward accepting the science and openness toward at least modest policy prescriptions.”

Head over to CCL’s Twitter to read the full article and share it with your own followers. 

SHARE ON TWITTER
LTE of the week: Boulder Daily Camera
 

This week’s featured letter to the editor comes from Susan Secord, published in Colorado’s Boulder Daily Camera on August 14.

Partisan divide shifting on climate change

Thank you for running the editorial "Scientists to Trump: Global warming is real" (Daily Camera, Aug. 10). It's concerning to hear that some scientists fear their part of the National Climate Assessment won't be released, as written, by the Trump administration. I hope they are wrong. Scientists in 13 federal agencies prepared the report, and they concluded that Americans are already feeling the effects of human-caused climate change. As originally reported in the New York Times, "The authors note that thousands of studies, conducted by tens of thousands of scientists, have documented climate changes on land and in the air. 'Many lines of evidence demonstrate that human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse (heat-trapping) gases, are primarily responsible for recent observed climate change,' they wrote." The National Academy of Scientists has approved the draft, and the scientists are waiting for the administration's permission to release it. 

Climate change appears to remain at a partisan impasse in Washington. However, there are quiet shifts along this partisan divide, most notably the growth of the bipartisan House Climate Solutions Caucus. With membership now at 26 Republicans and 26 Democrats, this caucus is actively collaborating to develop climate change solutions. In addition, in a recent House vote, 46 Republicans joined Democrats in rejecting an anti-climate change amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill. These events aren't often reported in newspapers, but they are important indicators of shifts in partisanship on climate change.

Fortunately, there is a market-based legislative proposal to reduce CO2 emissions that should appeal to both parties. A national revenue-neutral carbon fee and dividend program would reduce CO2 emissions by 52 percent after 20 years, relative to the baseline, while also adding jobs and growing our economy. Passage of this legislation would be a powerful step toward slowing global warming and its growing impacts on American communities.

Susan Secord, Boulder

Want to learn more about writing effective LTEs, op-eds and more? Join the Print Media Action Team on CCL Community for support and resources, such as the Media Tip of the Month

JOIN PRINT MEDIA TEAM
CCU: Working with EJ communities

 
CCL’s Climate and Environmental Justice Action Team works to help our volunteers learn more about the history and background of environmental justice and climate justice groups. These groups represent communities that have been underrepresented, underpaid, and underserved since the beginning of the U.S. It is important within CCL's outreach work that these voices are included in our efforts to ensure that any proposed policy protects vulnerable and low-income households from price increases.

Join leaders from the Climate and Environmental Justice Action Team to learn, discuss and practice two larger approaches within environmental justice outreach: 1. Building personal relationships built on genuine interest. 2. Working toward broader community engagement through shared alliances. The webinar will provide participants with best practices from the field and help empower attendees to think about moving beyond diversity and into inclusion within their own group’s efforts.

Thursday, August 24, 8 p.m. ET: Working with Environmental Justice communities

Join online or via phone: 1-877-369-0926, access code #2017201717

Add to your calendar: iCalendar  •  Google Calendar  •  Outlook   •  Yahoo! Calendar

Online climate support seminar this fall
 

Would you like to join a climate support group for Citizens’ Climate Lobby leaders? If so, you're invited to find out more and sign up for the Climate Support Seminar beginning this fall.

Up to 20 participants will use guided exercises and mindfulness practices in a weekly workshop tailored to CCL climate advocates. The group will work together through The Ongo Book, a self-guided selection of daily practices in Mindfulness and Nonviolent Communication (NVC). The core practice of NVC is empathy, for oneself and others, which leads to greater understanding, connection and common ground.

The workshop will be held weekly on Sundays at 6 p.m. EDT starting September 10 for the 12-week seminar and also feature weekly "partner-pairings." To find out more and sign up, visit this informational page.

“Each time I have felt invigorated, energized and connected more empathetically toward myself and others.  I’ve more easily let go of habits and strategies that no longer serve me. And I have seen ways to connect and strategize in CCL that are more aligned with who I am and what I want.”  - Jeff Joslin, CCL Climate Support Seminar Organizer​

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