Citizens Climate Lobby

Want to show ‘Happening’ in your town? Plus, stories of outreach success to conservatives, candidates, bikers and more

	CCL Weekly Briefing, Aug. 8, 2018

Table of Contents:
	Carbon tax has majority support
	Regional conferences
	Host a 'Happening' screening
	CCL tables at YAL
	LTE of the Week
	This week on the CCL blog
	Learning opportuninties
	Action Team updates

Taxing carbon has majority support across the country

This week, the Yale Program on Climate Change Communications released the latest version of its interactive mapping tool (pictured above). This update reveals public opinion on 14 new climate-related questions, including support for a carbon tax.

In an email to subscribers, program director Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz explains, “We find that 68% of Americans, including majorities in all 50 states and all 435 Congressional Districts support requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a carbon tax and using the money to reduce other taxes (such as income tax) by an equal amount.”

E&E News reporter Adam Aton put these numbers into context in an article today. Despite the passage of Rep. Steve Scalise’s recent anti-carbon tax resolution, he writes:

64 percent of adults in Scalise's fossil fuel-rich district would support a carbon tax, and respondents in House Speaker Paul Ryan's (R-Wis.) and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy's (R-Calif.) districts would support it by the same margin.

These numbers are evidence of the political will you are building each and every day. Want to see where public opinion stands in your district? Check out the Yale Climate Opinion Maps.

VIEW THE MAPS

Regional conferences kick off

As Congress heads home for the August recess and students head back to school, CCL volunteers are also getting in the swing of the season. For us, that means a new round of regional conferences. These regional events offer intimate connections, locally relevant climate education, and a chance to feel the fun and inspiration of our annual D.C. conference a little closer to home.

The first three this year are conferences in the Wild West, North Wind, and Great Lakes regions. Each will include a few consistent elements:

- Climate Advocate Training for any new volunteers
- Engaging keynote talks and breakout sessions
- Inspiration and motivation from fellow volunteers

Beyond that, each conference offers its own unique elements. For example, attendees at the Wild West conference will have a chance to hear from RESULTS founder Sam Daley-Harris and CCL’s own Vice President of Programs, Madeleine Para. Folks at the North Wind conference will train with CCL Executive Director Mark Reynolds and learn from South Dakota-based author and buffalo rancher Dan O’Brien.

For dates, registration costs, lodging, and more, visit the regional conference page of CCL’s website. Keep an eye out for your region’s conference, and mark your calendar!

REGIONAL CONFERENCES

Host a screening of 'Happening'

Did you enjoy “Happening: A Clean Energy Revolution,” the film screened at our 9th International Conference in June? This delightful film by James Redford (pictured above, left) takes a personal look at how clean energy is creating jobs, turning profits, and making communities stronger and healthier across the country.

The Redford Center has generously provided CCL with “Happening” DVDs and 75 public screening licenses so CCL volunteers can host their own film screenings. We would love to get at least one film screening in each of the 50 U.S. states in the next year.

Interested in hosting a screening? Email Morgan McCue at morgan@citizensclimatelobby.org for details. You can also watch a trailer of the film and learn more below.

WATCH TRAILER

CCL connects with Young Americans for Liberty

CCL’s nonpartisan nature is obvious in how we work with Congress and how we conduct outreach. The Conservative Caucus is constantly working to connect with fellow conservatives and engage them on climate change.

Most recently, they did so at the Young Americans for Liberty annual convention in Reston, Virginia. Bruce Morlan, George Kralovec and Warren Beeton set up a table at this event for the second year running. “The libertarian college students from across the country were engaging and open to conversations about how climate and energy policy fits within a libertarian worldview,” said CCL Conservative Director Jim Tolbert.

CCL wasn’t alone in talking about climate change and carbon pricing at this event, either. Both RepublicEn and Students for Carbon Dividends also had booths. Pictured above are Alex Posner and Kiera O’Brien from S4CD talking with Bruce Morlan. Our volunteers left the convention with the names of dozens of interested people, hailing from 18 different states and wanting to learn more.

CONSERVATIVE CAUCUS

LTE of the Week in Richmond, Virginia

This week’s featured letter to the editor is super! CCL volunteer Mollee Sullivan ties her family’s love of superheroes to the issue of climate change in a charming, effective letter that was published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on July 31. Here it is:

Carbon-pricing bill makes mom hopeful

Superhero culture is big in our house right now. My husband loves superhero movies, and the kids love the books and toys. Marvel Micro Popz litter our floor and little feet leap over them as they pretend to save the day in colorful capes.

I often feel like we’re living partway through a superhero movie in real life. The planet is warming, the seas are rising, and our leaders are conflicted about how to address these issues. We’re already being affected by climate change in Richmond with longer allergy, tick, and mosquito seasons, and higher temperatures.

Our family tries to do our small part with our reusable bags, bottles, and straws—and we appreciate local places like Ellwood Thompson’s, Galaxy Diner, and others that are trying to phase out single-use plastics—but we know that much more must be done.

I desperately wish a caped crusader could fly in and rescue us by capturing all the excess carbon in the atmosphere.

That obviously won’t happen, but I was pleasantly surprised last week when Republican Reps. Carlos Curbelo and Brian Fitzpatrick, both members of the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus in the House of Representatives, introduced the Market Choice Act.

Their carbon-pricing bill isn’t perfect (it would be better if it was revenue-neutral and the dividends went to American households), but it gives me hope, especially since it came from Republicans.

Maybe someday we’ll look back and see these men and other conservatives who care about climate change as heroes, even without capes.

Mollee Sullivan, Midlothian

Want help with your chapter’s letter to the editor efforts? Have questions about how to report your success to CCL headquarters? Email Communications Director Steve Valk or Communications Coordinator Flannery Winchester for some one-on-one coaching.

This week on the CCL blog

Connect with candidates: Campaign season is a natural time for voters to set the political agenda. Learn how CCL’s Tucson chapter is connecting with candidates before the Arizona primary later this month. Read more.

Outreach at Pedalpalooza: As part of Portland’s month-long Pedalpalooza, CCL volunteer Francine Chinitz led two bike rides complete with climate change information and ice cream breaks. Read more.

Driving innovation: Reducing emissions using a carbon price is even cheaper than economic models have predicted, thanks to innovation driven by market forces. Dr. Philip Harding with CCL’s Economics Policy Network explains how it works. Read more.

Learning opportunities

CCL offers two ongoing learning series for volunteers: Citizens' Climate University and Core Volunteer Training. Here are the next few sessions you can join:

8/9 Citizens' Climate University: Working With Other Community Groups & Organizations - What are chapters doing to build connections with other groups? Learn best practices from Stephanie Doyle, CCL’s National Outreach and Partnership Coordinator. Learn more.

8/14 Core Volunteer Training: Engaging in Grassroots Outreach - Tabling, scheduling, and giving presentations are important, rewarding activities that any CCLer can do. This interactive webinar will teach you tips to be effective in all these efforts. Learn more and register for the training.

8/16 Citizens' Climate University: Managing and Decluttering Your Inbox - Nobody wants email to take over their lives. Join this webinar for advice about staying on top of your email communications. Learn more.

To see all upcoming topics, visit the Learn page of CCL Community.

Action Team updates

Featured Action Team: The mission of Team OIL is to liaise with the oil and gas industry and to educate CCL volunteers on the oil and gas industry's view on carbon pricing. Their monthly call is tonight, August 8, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. Team OIL will review a recent communication from David Bailey, Research Director of the Climate Leadership Council. The call details are on the Community Events Calendar. For more information and to join Team OIL, visit their page on Community.

Also meeting this week…

8/8 - Grasstops Engagement Action Team support call at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT with guest speaker Harold Hedelman from the Business Climate Leaders
8/14 - Agriculture Action Team support call at 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT
8/15 - Climate Reality Leadership Corps Action Team has three support calls on this date: one at 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT, a second at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT, and a third at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
8/15 - Coal Country Action Team support call at 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT.
8/15 - Strategic Planning Action Team support call at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
8/15 - Engaging Youth Action Team support call at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
8/15 - Schools for Climate Action webinar for teachers takes place at 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT.
Visit the full event calendar for dial-in details and future events

To check out all of CCL's Action Teams and join any that interest you, head to the Action Team directory on CCL Community.

Sign up for CCL Text Messages

As we build political will for climate solutions, CCL can notify you of timely actions via text message. This will be critical once a bill is in congress. You can opt out at any time. Sign up today!

CCL Climate Advocate Training
Do you want to be a more effective volunteer? Start by joining our Informational Session, then register for our Climate Advocate Training, and wrap up with our Core Volunteer Training.
The Info Session is held weekly on Wednesdays at 8pm ET, 5pm PT.

Join Info Session

Climate Advocate Training is held the first Wednesday of every month at 1 pm ET and the third Wednesday monthly at 8 pm ET (adjust for your local time zone).

Core Volunteer Training is held weekly on Tuesdays at 8 pm ET, 5 pm PT.

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