Citizens' Climate Lobby

Join CCL’s VP of Field Operations for a training that will preview CCL’s new “BRIDGE” program - Building Relationships in Dialogue, Growth, and Engagement. Brett will preview the framework that offer practical insights for having more effective, empathetic climate conversations that build understanding and momentum for change. A relational advocacy program based on behavioral and social science from Drs. Haidt, Willer, Cialdini; Amanda Ripley; and more. The program will serve as one of the foundational building blocks for Citizens’ Climate’s advocacy. Understand people’s underlying moral foundations, and learn to practice moral reframing across political perspectives. The program wi...

Are you curious about what to expect about CCL's Fall 2025 Conference and Lobby Days or have a question about any final details? Join Alison Kubicsko, National Events Director and Mindy Ahler CCL Congressional Liaison Manager for a final walk-through of the who, what, and where for CCL's Fall 2025 Conference and Lobby Days to help you prepare for what to expect with the schedule, logistics, and details.

Presentation Slides: http://cclusa.org/lobby-conference-qa 
Lobby Toolkit: https://community.citizensclimate.org/lobby-meeting-toolkit 

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Intro & Agenda
(2:00) Conference Details 
(9:50) Lobby Wee...

Join CCL's Vice President for Government Affairs Jennifer Tyler, Congressional Liaison Program Manager Mindy Ahler, and Research Manager Dana Nuccitelli for a training that will review more details and the context for CCL's Fall 2025 Primary Asks as well as guidance for lobby teams as they plan their online meetings. We'll also have time to get your questions answered by CCL's government affairs team! This is the second of two recommended trainings for any CCL volunteer planning on being a part of their group's Fall 2025 Lobby Planning (as well as this Thursday's Oct 30th Lobby Training #1 - Primary Asks).

Join CCL's Vice President for Government Affairs Jennifer Tyler, Congressional Liaison Program Manager Mindy Ahler, and Research Manager Dana Nuccitelli to participate in strategizing for the upcoming fall lobby meetings, get more information on the meeting asks, and have time to get your questions answered by CCL's government affairs team! This is the first of two recommended trainings for any CCL volunteer planning on being a part of their group's Fall 2025 Lobby Planning (as well as this Monday Nov 3rd's Lobby Training #2 -CCL's Legislative Plan).

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Intro & Agenda
(2:28) What's...

In this training, Charlotte Ward, CCL’s Communications and Media Manager, shares:
How the Statewide Media Manager program works
Which states are already leading the way — and why it’s effective
The resources and support available for volunteers who want to ramp up their media work

This training is for everyone who wants to be involved in media work so they can understand how CCL staff supports them through their Statewide Media Manager. You’ll learn about CCL’s new Statewide Media Manager role — a leadership position designed to strengthen media work across entire states, not...

Jessica Trotman is the Assistant Town Manager of Black Mountain, North Carolina, where she leads recovery and resilience efforts following Hurricane Helene. She also serves as a Senior Consultant with the American Flood Coalition. To her work in resilience, Jessica brings 15 years of experience in sustainability, planning, stormwater, public health and public administration. She serves in multiple advisory roles, including the North Carolina Flood Resiliency Blueprint advisory committee and Resilience subcommittee of the Governorʼs Advisory Committee on Western North Carolina Recovery.

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(0:00) Intro & Monthly Highlights
(6:10) Conversation with Jes...

CCL volunteers put a lot of work into pushing the clean energy tax credits within Inflation Reduction Act over the finish line to be signed into law in 2022, and into protecting some of its provisions from outright repeal in the big budget bill this year. But how much did our efforts achieve for the climate? Join CCL Research Manager Dana Nuccitelli for an exploration of modeling scenarios in an effort to quantify how much climate pollution CCL volunteers' efforts succeeded in preventing in our pursuit to preserve a livable climate.

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    The U.S. remains the only developed economy globally without a national carbon price—distorting domestic perceptions of its viability. This session explores how carbon pricing has worked successfully across the world and how those lessons apply to the evolving U.S. conversation. Dr. Danny Richter will highlight the emerging fourth generation of U.S. carbon policy, centered on border adjustments and bipartisan interest in leveraging America’s carbon efficiency. Join us for a global tour of carbon pricing and a look at where U.S. policy may be headed next.   Presentation Slides: https://cclusa.org/carbon-pricing-around-world-slides 
Training Page: https...

Dr. Daniel Swain is a climate scientist focused on the dynamics and impacts of extreme events—including droughts, floods, storms, and wildfires—on a warming planet. Daniel holds joint appointments as a climate scientist within the California Institute for Water Resources within University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR), the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at UCLA, and as a research partner at the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research. You can follow Daniel on Bluesky (@WeatherWest) and YouTube (@WeatherWest). During September's meeting, Daniel will help us understand how climate change is impacting wildfires.

Ski...

At CCL’s 2025 Summer Conference and Lobby Day in D.C. last month, we were privileged to hear from Amanda Ripley in a keynote conversation with CCL’s Illinois State Coordinator Alex Marianyi. We want every CCLer to have a chance to hear Amanda’s powerful message and Alex’s takeaways, so this month’s meeting features recorded highlights from their keynote session. Amanda Ripley is a New York Times bestselling author, a Washington Post contributing columnist, and the co-founder of Good Conflict, a media and training company that helps people reimagine conflict. She has written three award-winning, nonfiction books abou...

The July 2025 CCL meeting focused on midyear updates to the 2025 Roadmap, highlighting key accomplishments like nationwide in-district drop-offs, introduction of the bipartisan Foreign Pollution Fee Act, and a full-court press to protect clean energy tax credits. Despite setbacks from the recent budget reconciliation bill, CCL's VP of Communications emphasized the significant positive impact of volunteer advocacy in softening harmful provisions and building long-term bipartisan support for clean energy. Volunteers across the country were encouraged to share local wins and continue showing up, with an eye on sustained progress through grassroots pressure. Looking ahead, the spotlight turned to the upcoming...

CCL's Vice President of Government Affairs Jenn Tyler and CCL's Research Manager, Dana Nuccitelli provide up to the moment insights on the dynamics in Congress and how we can most effectively use our time in meetings to support our agenda.

Join CCL's Senior Director of Field Operations Elli Sparks for a training that specifically addresses how to prepare yourself for a successful meeting with a member of Congress. You will learn about CCL's methodology, research tips, available tools, lobby meeting roles and parts, the value of practice, and the power of listening.

Presentation Slides: https://cclusa.org/prepare-to-lobby 
Training Page: https://community.citizensclimate.org/topics/working-with-congress/lobbying-201 

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Intro & Agenda
(2:38) Purpose of Citizen Lobbyists
(7:15) Building Relationships
(20:25) Lobby Team Roles
(26:24) Meeting Outline

In Citizens Climate Radio's newest installment of our  policy series, hosts Elissa Tennant and Dana Nuccitelli dive deep into the latest updates from Capitol Hill. With the Senate Finance Committee’s budget proposal now public, they unpack what it means for the clean energy tax credits created by the Inflation Reduction Act.

How do the House and Senate versions compare? What would repealing these tax credits cost American households and jobs? What role does energy security—and even AI—play in the clean energy conversation? Elissa and Dana bring clarity to a complex policy moment and offer listene...

This month, Dana Nuccitelli, CCL’s Research Manager, breaks down why protecting the Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy tax credits is a huge opportunity for America. Losing these tax credits would have a serious impact on America's climate progress. Keeping these credits in place means lower energy bills, more clean power, greater energy security, and hundreds of thousands of good jobs across the country. We're telling Congress: Keep these tax credits intact!

The Senate is moving forward on their version of a budget reconciliation bill that could drastically cut clean energy tax credits. CCL wants to protect those tax credits. We have been emailing, calling, and meeting with members of Congress about this for months. Now it's time to take the conversation public in local media all around the country! Join this special workshop with Charlotte Ward, CCL's Communications and Media Manager, to learn everything you need to know to write an effective letter to the editor (LTE) or a full op-ed about the tax credits. After a quick overview and...

This training provides a detailed explanation of the Foreign Pollution Fee Act introduced by Senator Cassidy (R-LA). CCL Research Fellow Dr. Danny Richter outlines the bill's objectives, including creating a tariff on carbon emissions embedded in imported goods, promoting international coordination on climate policy, and establishing a carbon accounting infrastructure. Danny discusses the bill's specifics, such as the tiered tariff rates based on pollution intensity relative to the U.S. baseline, the inclusion of various greenhouse gases and emissions scopes, and the aggressive enforcement measures. He also places the bill within its political context, highlighting bipartisan interest, the different...

This month, we’re excited to feature a group of standout CCL volunteers who represent a wide range of activities. They’ll be sharing their stories in a conversation with CCL’s Vice President of Communications, Flannery Winchester. In order of appearance, we'll hear from Beth Chajes, Delaware State Coordinator; Luke Clarke and Kyle Kalinich, Group Leaders for the Golden-Jefferson, CO Chapter; and Frankie Fachilla, Curtis Baysinger, and Group Leader Fred Lemay from the Middle Tennessee chapter.

In this session, we take a close look at the Senate version of this important bipartisan legislation and explore why it’s critical for the climate, for forest health, and for wildfire resilience. You’ll hear from Dana Nuccitelli, CCL’s Research Manager, who will walk us through the science and policy details, and from Jennifer Tyler, our Vice President of Government Affairs, who will explain what this means for Congress and how CCL volunteers can help move it forward.

In this episode of Citizens Climate Radio, we dive into the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)—the biggest climate legislation in U.S. history—and the urgent effort underway to protect its clean energy tax credits.

CCL’s Content Marketing Manager Elissa Tennant joins CCL’s Research Manager Dana Nuccitelli to break it all down. You’ll learn what the IRA funds, how clean energy tax credits work for individuals and businesses, and why these programs are now under threat. Dana also explains the budget reconciliation process, the challenges in Congress, and the surprising level of bipartisan public support fo...

Danny Richter, a policy fellow for CCL, led a discussion on CCL's strategic approach to engaging with the newly configured Congress. He highlighted the organization's priorities, including defending the clean energy provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act, advocating for the Fix Our Forest Act, supporting Foreign Pollution Fees and cautiously entering the permitting reform space. Danny emphasized the shift in CCL's approach from playing offense to playing defense, as we now focus on defending a bill that has already been passed. He also noted the change in the balance of power, with Republicans holding a majority in both the...

In this episode of Citizens Climate Radio, Elise Silvestri explores how art can strengthen climate advocacy with Carrie Ziegler, an interdisciplinary Artist, Speaker, and Community Engagement Expert. Carrie talks about her process for creating and executing the Chrysalis Project: Transforming Together, an art and climate policy project that enacted powerful change over Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the participating students, Brisa Sabel, shares her experience of the successful campaign and the  joy and inspiration it gave her. 

Peterson Toscano has a surprisingly good news story: like our responses to climate change, the format of CCR is...

Kari Hall is an Emmy Award-winning meteorologist for NBC Bay Area’s morning newscast, Today in The Bay. Kari holds a degree in Geoscience with an emphasis in Broadcast Meteorology. Her career has spanned the country, from covering Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Gustav with KATC in Louisiana; to covering tornadoes and snowstorms at WKYT in Kentucky; to serving as Chief Meteorologist at News 12 in Connecticut. She is a member of the American Meteorological Society and a leader with the Climate Reality Project. She has won two Emmy Awards for her weather and climate coverage.

CCL hosts a training session on tabling events for Earth Month 2025, highlighting this year's significance and providing actionable recommendations. Participants learn about the new CCL Tabling Toolkit, which aids in organizing these events. Creative strategies, like using origami frogs, are shared to engage families. The session emphasizes public engagement, conversation starters, and art projects to raise climate awareness, while encouraging community involvement in bipartisan climate advocacy.

Panel discussion featuring CCL Congressional Liaison Manager Mindy Ahler, Action Team Director Drew Eyerly, and Vice President of Government Affairs Jenn Tyler. Mindy, Drew, and Jenn reviewed the outcome of our annual Conservative Climate Leadership Conference and Lobby Day and answered questions about lobby meetings, asks, and the importance of sending right-of-center volunteers to meet with Republicans.

In this episode of Citizens Climate Radio, co-hosts Peterson Toscano and Elise Silvestri dive into the pressing issue of climate anxiety with Kate Schapira, creator of the Climate Anxiety Counseling Booth in Providence, Rhode Island. Kate shares her decade-long journey of listening to people’s climate worries, how she transformed these conversations into actionable climate engagement, and the insights she presents in her book, Lessons from the Climate Anxiety Counseling Booth: How to Live With Care and Purpose in an Endangered World.

This episode also features an inspiring good news story: a group of students in Tucson, Ar...

We highlight two powerful voices shaping the climate conversation—Elise Silvestri, a college student and musician passionate about climate justice, and Linda Sue Park, an award-winning author using storytelling to inspire young activists.

Elise, who has worked on the Citizens Climate Radio team for six months, shares her journey through eco-anxiety, activism, and music production. She believes that addressing the climate crisis requires radical imagination—envisioning the world we want to create rather than just reacting to the crises around us. Elise also introduces us to Linda Sue Park, whose latest book, Gracie Under the Waves, follows a yo...

Danielle Watson manages American Forests’ climate policy portfolio, focusing on programs, policies, and funding that empowers those who steward state, private, and Tribal lands. She also supports policy and government relations needs for American Forests' Tree Equity and Resilient Forests programs. Prior to joining American Forests, Watson worked for over a decade in the forest policy arena with the Society of American Foresters. On CCL's February call, she discussed American Forests' work and their support of the new bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act.

In the eighth and final episode of Hot Mess: How Climate Consensus Turned Into Political Chaos, we bring together a powerhouse panel of conservative leaders and thinkers to reflect on the series and chart a path forward. Former Republican Congressman Bob Inglis, Chelsea Henderson (host of EcoRight Speaks), and Katie Zakrzewski and Zach Torpie (hosts of Green Tea Party Radio) join host Peterson Toscano to explore cultural and political factors shaping the conservative climate movement. Later, Peterson speaks with Drew Eyerly, Citizens Climate Lobby’s Conservative Outreach Director, about how conservatives are creating solutions and opportunities for climate action. Th...

CCL Research Coordinator Dana Nuccitelli examines the data volunteers can use to advocate for preserving the Inflation Reduction Act. This includes a discussion about the various provisions included in the IRA and the relative importance of each, the political climate in which those provisions find themselves, and a new database of IRA-funded clean energy projects and manufacturing facilities by Congressional District and State that CCL volunteers can use for lobbying and grasstops outreach efforts.

In this penultimate episode of Hot Mess: How Climate Consensus Turned Into Political Chaos, we expand our focus beyond the United States to explore the global landscape of climate skepticism. Climate denial is not just an American phenomenon but takes on unique forms in different nations, influenced by cultural, political, and economic factors. We compare the deeply entrenched skepticism in the U.S. with the varied approaches seen in countries like China, Germany, Australia, and South Korea, shedding light on what drives climate attitudes worldwide.

Featuring insights from four dynamic voices, this episode delves into how media...

Lucero Marquez is the associate director for federal climate policy at American Progress. She previously worked as a research consultant for the Evans School Policy Analysis and Research Group investigating development policy through a climate change lens and as an air dispersion modeler for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. She earned her Bachelor of Science in meteorology from Texas A&M University and her Master of Public Administration in environmental policy from the University of Washington. The Inflation Reduction Act's investment in manufacturing and clean energy jobs is starting to pay off, and millions of individuals are benefiting...

In Hot Mess Part Six: Snowballs, Skepticism, and Climate Lies, we uncover the deliberate tactics used to mislead the public about climate change, highlighting key players like the Koch brothers and Senator James Inhofe, alongside truth-tellers like former Representative Bob Inglis. The episode examines how misinformation campaigns, economic fearmongering, and symbolic stunts, such as Senator Inhofe’s infamous snowball moment, undermined climate science and bipartisan efforts for climate solutions. Featuring insights from guests Chelsea Henderson and Katie Zakrzewski, the episode delves into the emotional and cultural barriers to climate action and explores how understanding these dynamics can foster a pa...

Join CCL staff for a training that will unveil the updated Film Screening Guide resource and walk through how CCL chapters have used screenings to attract their community for discussions on climate and clean energy solutions.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):

Presentation Slides: https://cclusa.org/film-screening-slides 

Film Screening Guides: https://community.citizensclimate.org/resources/item/19/307 

This episode of Hot Mess: How Climate Consensus Led to Political Chaos explores the emotional and psychological forces that fueled climate skepticism and the role of media and fossil fuel interests in amplifying doubt. It examines how the once bipartisan approach to climate action fractured, with key players like conservative media and environmental activists shaping public perceptions. The episode highlights how emotional manipulation and misinformation campaigns delayed meaningful climate action and offers insights into reclaiming the narrative for a bipartisan path forward.

Chelsea Henderson

With the election behind us, we’ll have a clearer picture of the opportunities and constraints the new Congress may present for implementing a carbon price. Join Dr. Danny Richter, CCL’s Policy Fellow as he walks us through the lay of the land and how carbon pricing policy could evolve and tie in with tax policy reform.

The urgency of the climate crisis demands bold action to cut net emissions as swiftly as possible. Clean Energy Permitting Reform offers a critical opportunity to make substantial progress with the U.S. currently off-track to meet Paris Agreement commitments. Rob Gramlich President, Grid Strategies LLC and Shane Londagin Senior Policy Advisor for Innovation, Third Way join CCL's Research Coordinator Dana Nuccitelli to discuss the need for more permitting reform and why CCL believes the Energy Permitting Reform Act can lead to meaningful emissions reductions.

An inside look at the upcoming legislative landscape and what we can expect moving forward. Our legislative team — Ben Pendergrass and Mindy Ahler — reviews our goals for the remainder of this Congressional session and what’s on the horizon as a new Congress moves into focus. Learn why Permitting Reform will continue to be a policy priority and what work we can do before this Congress ends in a few weeks. We’ll also review our upcoming Lobbying Asks.

CCL's Executive Director looks ahead to our work in the 119th Congress.

Throughout the year, CCL’s policy roadmap has steered us on our journey to influence America’s climate policy. CCL’s Vice President of Communications, Flannery Winchester, reviews our advancements this year and what’s on the road ahead as we travel into 2025.

Senator-elect John Curtis (R-UT) shares his story to becoming a climate champion and his appreciation for the work and methods of Citizens' Climate Lobby.

CCL's Executive Director Rachel Kerestes sets the tone for a weekend of inspiration and transformational advocacy. Rachel reflects on our progress this year, outlines our path forward as a new Congress commences, and lays out our priorities and focus heading into 2025. Be sure to join us as Rachel reinforces CCL’s commitment to bipartisanship during polarized times and why this approach not only makes us uniquely effective but remains crucial to the incredible work our volunteers do.

Join CCL Research Coordinator Dana Nuccitelli to learn about the scientific evidence for climate change and answers common questions. Citizens’ Climate’s mission is to create the political will for a livable world, and we won’t stop working until we have a healthy and stable climate.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Intro & Agenda
(2:04) The Carbon Cycle
(5:51) How Do We Know Humans Are Responsible?
(14:56) How We Know CO2 Is The Cause
(20:48) Climate-Weather Connections
(26:32) Ocean Impacts & Tipping Points
(33:40) What Can We Do About It?

Presentation Slides:  https://cclusa...

By the 1990s, momentum for climate action was growing, but so was opposition. In Episode 4 of Hot Mess: How Climate Consensus Turned Into Political Chaos, host Peterson Toscano examines how fossil fuel interests, economic priorities, and cultural shifts began to unravel bipartisan efforts. Featuring insights from Chelsea Henderson and Katie Zakrzewski, this episode dives into the psychological and cultural barriers that fueled climate skepticism, the emergence of echo chambers, and the rise of polarization. Despite these challenges, the episode highlights leaders like Senator John McCain, whose bipartisan efforts provided hope for climate solutions.

Key Topics:

Join CCL's Vice President for Government Affairs Ben Pendergrass and CCL Policy Fellow Danny Richter for a training that will review more details and the context for CCL's Fall 2024 Primary and Supporting Asks, as well as guidance for lobby teams as they plan their online meetings. Attendees will have the chance to start strategizing for the upcoming fall lobby meetings, get more information on the meeting asks, and have time to get questions answered by CCL's government affairs team. This is the recommended training for any CCL volunteer planning on being a part of their group's Fall 2024 Lobby Meeting.<...

Are you curious about what to expect about CCL's Conference and Lobby Days or have a question about any final details? Join Alison Kubicsko, National Events Director and Mindy Ahler CCL Liaison Coordinator Team and North Wind Regional Director for a final walk-through of the who, what, and where for the Summer 2024 Conference and Lobby Day to help you prepare for what to expect with the schedule, logistics, and details.

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Presentation slides: http://cclusa.org/lobby-conference-qa 

Training Page: h...

Show Notes for Hot Mess: The Great Climate Divide - How Consensus Became Chaos

Episode Summary: In this third episode of Hot Mess: How Climate Consensus Turned Into Political Chaos, host Peterson Toscano unravels the pivotal shifts that transformed bipartisan climate cooperation into a landscape rife with skepticism and polarization. Joined by guests Chelsea Henderson and Katie Zarkreski, the conversation delves into the rise of disinformation campaigns, strategic political alliances, and economic anxieties that redefined the public perception of climate change.

Key Topics:

Led by different CCL staffers, this hour of action will provide real-time opportunities to make a collective difference. Whether we're writing to Congress, spreading the word online, or using a number of other vehicles to make our voice heard, we'll come together and continue to make climate action a priority no matter the election outcome.

Introduction

In this episode of Hot Mess: How Climate Consensus Turned Into Political Chaos, Peterson Toscano introduces us to Marshall Saunders, a man whose unexpected journey from a Texas businessman to a climate advocate sparked a powerful movement. Saunders, the founder of Citizens Climate Lobby, channeled his skills and personal growth into creating a grassroots organization that has inspired climate action across the political spectrum.

Hot Mess is a six-part series hosted by Peterson Toscano that uncovers the untold stories behind the rise and fall of bipartisan efforts to address climate change in the United States.

Hot Mess: How Climate Consensus Turned Into Political Chaos is a six-part series hosted by Peterson Toscano that uncovers the untold stories behind the rise and fall of bipartisan efforts to address climate change in the United States.

In this first episode, Peterson Toscano takes listeners back to a time when political cooperation on climate issues was possible. The episode explores the beginnings of climate politics in the 1960s, including early warnings about carbon emissions and surprising cross-party collaborations that are difficult to imagine today.

For full show notes and transcript visit www.cclusa.org...

Join CCL's Research Team for a training that outlines the background behind attribution science -- the process of quantifying the contribution of global warming to extreme weather and other events --and a discussion around how we can employ attribution science to Hurricane Helene, the process for how connecting climate change with extreme weather events is done, what it has found, as well as how we as CCL volunteers can employ effective communication in using its research and findings.

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(0:00) Intro & Agenda
(3:37) What is Attribution Science and How Is It...

The confluence of three external forces may present an opportunity in the next Congress for a carbon price. However, those external forces also constrain the opportunity such that if something passes, it will look different from the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. This webinar will explore how those three forces constrain the debate, what that means for CCL’s priorities, and most importantly, for the climate. To further enhance our discussion, we'll also be hearing from one of the Hamilton Project's authors of the Climate tax policy reform options in 2025.

Skip ahead to the following section(s...

Our 100th episode of Citizens Climate Radio focuses on climate adaptation and how it’s shaping new career paths. Doug Parsons, host of the America Adapts podcast, joins us and shares his insights on the urgent need for adaptation and the exciting opportunities in this evolving field. We also hear from an engineering student who reveals how he discovered a new climate-related career path. Plus, we share a special report from the future about unexpected climate solution celebrities.

Doug Parsons on Climate Adaptation

Doug Parsons explains that while mitigating climate change by reducing emissions is cr...

Akshat Rathi is a London-based senior reporter for Bloomberg News and author of the new book Climate Capitalism, which is the subject of his 2024 TED Talk. He also hosts Bloomberg Green's weekly Zero podcast and writes a weekly Zero newsletter, focused on climate change. Previously, Akshat was a senior reporter at Quartz and a science editor at The Conversation. His work has been cited widely, including in New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times and The Guardian.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Introduction & National Updates
(10:40) Interview w/ Akshat Rathi
(24:16...

Join CCL's Sr. Director of Programs Elli Sparks for a training that offers tips and suggested strategies for onboarding new people into your chapter so that they acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and behaviors to become empowered volunteers. Evaluate and then advance your chapter’s capacity and process for quickly welcoming and engaging new recruits so that people you've recently met to help them become engaged in chapter activities and CCL actions.

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(0:00) Intro & Agenda
(5:34) Basic Welcome Process
(18:31) Building Teams and Getting Help
(20:29) Boost Engagement via CCL Co...

In this episode, learn about the U.S. Energy Permitting Reform Act and how a music class inspired a student to gain new insights on climate change. We also explore how listening enhances climate communication skills. For full show notes, transcript, and links, visit www.cclusa.org/radio  

Barbara Wankollie’s Soundscape: Climate and Colonization Through Sound

We highlight Barbara Wankollie, a Liberian political science student at Bucknell University. She created a soundscape reflecting on colonization and Africa’s role in the Anthropocene, inspired by Gabrielle Hecht’s essay The African Anthropocene. Barbara’s piece blends original music wit...

Join CCL's Communications Team Flannery Winchester and Charlotte Ward for a training that will provide a broad overview of the opportunities chapters have as we enter into the fall of 2024 to engage with their local news media on climate solutions.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Intro & Agenda
(2:42) Fall Media Opportunities through Fall
(12:23) CCL's Latest Opportunities + Resources
(27:14) Volunteer Media Round-up

Presentation Slides:  https://cclusa.org/2024-media-opportunities   
Writers Circle Action Team: https://community.citizensclimate.org/groups/home/992  
Media Resources: https://community.citizensclimate.org/resources/item/19/431  

Given the wide array of responses the climate advocacy community has had to the introduction of the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024, this training will provide volunteers with the supportive mindset and resources to respond to questions earnestly and openly. We'll review an updated resource to help with some general guidance and perspective on how to respectfully engage with others who have critiques regarding one of CCL’s policy agenda areas in permitting reform.

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(0:00) Intro & Agenda
(2:26) Background & Where To Find
(11:04) Framework In Action
(20:06) Community Engagement Background & Ex...

Our September guest will be Dr. Dan Ariely, Professor of Psychology and Behavioral Economics at Duke University and a founding member of the Center for Advanced Hindsight. Dan does research in behavioral economics and tries to describe it in plain language. As Dan learned about decision making and behavioral economics, he realized that this knowledge is relevant to many aspects of our lives, from financial decision making, to health, to better habits and even to a better personal life. Dan is a three-time New York Times bestselling author, and his books include Predictably Irrational, The Upside of Irrationality, The...

Join CCL's Research Coordinator Dana Nuccitelli for a training that will provide updates to what the emission reductions potential is for the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024 based on modeling by Resources For the Future, RMI, Jesse Jenkins, and Third Way. Senators Manchin (I-WV) and Barrasso (R-WY) introduced a bipartisan permitting reform bill called the Energy Permitting Reform Act. This bill is a significant advancement in CCL’s clean energy permitting reform policy agenda, that we have been advocating for over the past two years.

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(0:00) Intro & Agenda
(1:51) Wh...

In 2024, CCL wants more climate voters to vote, and we want climate to be a key issue for every candidate in every election. We'll discuss options for CCLers to engage during the 2024 elections locally and nationally including the many events and outreach opportunities with CCL's Election Engagement Action Team: https://community.citizensclimate.org/groups/home/2977 
Presentation Slides: https://cclusa.org/election-engagement-slides 

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Intro & Agenda
(2:42) Why is CCL Engaging? 
(7:15) Public Voter Outreach
(16:55) Climate GOAT Campaign
(27:03) Getting CCLers to Vote
(32:45) Candidate Engagement

Climate change stands as the defining challenge of our era, a topic that can feel overwhelming in its scope and implications. As we grapple with this global crisis, many of us also face mounting anxiety about upcoming elections, whose outcomes could profoundly shape our response to climate change and impact the world we cherish. In this workshop, we'll explore the intersection of climate and election anxiety. We'll begin by defining these phenomena and examining their root causes and common manifestations. Most importantly, we'll introduce a practical five-step framework designed to help you navigate these complex emotions and concerns skillfully...

Join CCL Youth Action Team Coordinator Sharon Bagatell and CCL youth leaders for a training all about the School Electrification Challenge! As student teams, CCL youth are advocating for passage of an “Electrify Everything” Resolution by their school district’s Board of Education and advocating for implementation of a resolution if their district already has one in place. Earn points by taking actions that support school electrification and lead to passage of the Resolution! To learn more and get all the details, including what you can do AFTER a resolution is passed, check out the Great School Electrification Challenge Guide...

Join us for this training designed to introduce participants to a wide array of resources aimed at enhancing existing skills and exploring new opportunities in Energy Efficiency and Electrification. Discover career maps to help you access a variety of helpful and informative resources, including online courses, webinars, and certifications - even plan your future work options!

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Intro & Agenda
(2:13) Part 1: Previewing the San Diego LEARN website
(9:55) Part 2: Previewing Coursework

Webpage: https://www.sandiegolearn.com/ 
https://electrifynow.net/electrify-coalition-webinars 

Angry and Ready: Dana R. Fisher's Climate Call to Action

In this month's Citizens’ Climate Radio, host Peterson Toscano introduces listeners to the fiery and determined voice of Dana R. Fisher, a veteran in the climate change movement with nearly three decades of experience. Fisher, the author of “Saving Ourselves: From Climate Shocks to Climate Action,” delivers a searing critique of the fossil fuel industry and the ineffectiveness of incremental policy changes. This episode challenges listeners to consider the strategies needed to combat climate change and our roles in this fight.

Fish...

Have you wanted to install a heat pump or other clean energy appliances utilizing the Inflation Reduction Act and just didn't know where to get started? Join this Electrifying Your Home - Ask Me Anything to find out from homeowners from throughout the United States in a variety of climate zones and variety of backgrounds that have already done the work and want to answer your questions! CCL's Sr. Director of Communications Flannery Winchester will moderate a panel of CCL electrified homeowners who start by sharing their own experiences with each project they've installed and then open it up...

August's Speaker was Aimee Witteman, Rewiring America VP of Investment. Witteman is the former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy, former Energy Foundation Vice President for States & Regions, former Director of U.S. States Policy at the Climate Imperative Foundation, and spent a decade at the McKnight Foundation designing and leading their climate grantmaking program aimed at decarbonizing the Midwest economy and embedding democratic participation and racial equity into the Foundation’s climate portfolio. Earlier this year, Witteman led the launch of Invest in Our Future, with $180 million in philanthropic pledges over th...

In and around the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) this month of August, Rewiring America and Citizens’ Climate Lobby are teaming up to organize Front Porch Ribbon Cuttings! What’s a Front Porch Ribbon Cutting? It's a fun event designed to showcase the impact of the IRA by treating homeowners who've installed clean electric machines with the same pomp and circumstance as a big, new manufacturing facility might get upon opening. We want to cut a ribbon in front of heat pumps, EVs, induction stoves, and heat pump water heaters that have been installed across the...

Join CCL's Research Coordinator Dana Nuccitelli for a training that reviews why building electrification is important, updates on the incentives available to homeowners through the Inflation Reduction Act, the benefits of each technology, and details regarding the applicable tax credits and rebates.  Electrifying our homes and other buildings is a win-win-win.  We can reduce our monthly energy bills by switching to more efficient electric technologies.  We can improve our families’ health by reducing the amount of fossil fuels we’re burning in our homes and the associated air pollution they create.  And of course doing so will also reduce climate...

Join CCL's VP of Programs Brett Cease for an overview of CCL's Electrification Campaign we're gearing up for the whole month of August. Brett will overview the campaign goals, support resources, and materials CCL has created to help facilitate thousands of conversations. Throughout August CCL is talking to people in communities across the country about electrifying their homes. Why? Because we want everyone to know there are cutting edge clean energy options available right now — and there are ways to save money on them, too.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Intro & Agenda
(2:09) Background Duration: 00:33:33

In this month’s Citizens’ Climate Radio episode, host Peterson Toscano and the CCR teams introduce a fresh approach to climate change storytelling by exploring personal stories as metaphors. While these stories are not explicitly about climate change, they reveal truths and perspectives that resonate with our climate work. Join us to discover how personal narratives can enhance and diversify our stories about climate change. You will also learn expert storytelling tips to apply when telling stories about climate change. 

For a full transcript and more, visit www.cclusa.org/radio

Using Personal Storie...

In CCL, we transform what people think possible for Congress to do on climate, and in the process transform what people think possible for themselves to accomplish. Regardless of the motivation or skills a person brings when they join CCL, we succeed when we help them take the next step as part of our movement: Because empowered volunteers help us reach our big organizational goals. CCL's VP of Programs Brett Cease and Alabama group leader Debbie Chang will host a training that walks volunteers through the Transformational Organizing guide and describe its five pillars to help us strengthen our...

Ben Pendergrass, CCL's Vice President of Government Affairs, celebrates our national summer conference and our 442 June 11th lobby meetings, gives us a legislative update, and reviews the impact of your June phone calls about the PROVE IT Act.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Intro & Highlights
(6:32) Conversation with CCL Alum Hill Staffers Morgan and Kesten
(18:53) Q&A Discussion
(36:10) CCL's July Actions Review

July Action Sheet: https://cclusa.org/actionsheet 
Pre-Call Video:  https://vimeo.com/983273670?share=copy 

CCL wants all candidates to move climate to the top of their policy agenda so (1) plan for lots of folks to attend campaign events this summer, (2) prepare for the events by crafting effective questions to ask, and (3) get to know and educate candidates on CCL, whether they are doing campaign events or not.  Join this training to walk through CCL's main goals heading into the election season picking up steam and how we can engage with candidates and members of Congress ahead of the election.

Presentation Slides: https://cclusa.org/candidate-event-slides 
Training Page: https://community.citizensclimate.or...

Get to know Rachel Kerestes, CCL's incoming Executive Director! More information about Rachel here: https://citizensclimatelobby.org/blog/news/ccl-new-executive-director/ 

In this episode of Citizens Climate Radio, hosts Horace Mo and Erica Valdez bring together diverse voices to discuss current efforts to address climate change. Horace Mo speaks with Ann E Burg, a celebrated author known for compelling historical novels for young readers, about her newly published novel “Force of Nature–A Novel of Rachel Carson” which opens a new door for readers to experience the life of Carson, a well-known environmental pioneer in the US, by reading her field notes and Ann’s innovative writing. Erica Valdez discusses the American fossil fuel divestment movement, highlighting the work of younger...

Join us live from D.C. as over a thousand CCLers converge to work together on climate solutions and meet with Congress! Flannery Winchester, CCL’s Senior Director of Communications, will host this call and will be joined by former CCLers who now work in Congress. Our old friends will talk about what life is like on “the other side” and give invaluable perspectives on CCL and lobby meetings. We’ll also give you a fly-on-the-wall experience of conference life as we walk the halls of the Omni Shoreham chatting to CCL staff and interns along the way. 

Skip ah...

This training is designed for those who wish to learn more about leading a lobby meeting with a member of Congress or staff. In this training, we review the role of a lobby team leader, how they assign team roles, coordinate practice times and how to handle other special situations.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Intro & Agenda
(2:18) The Importance of Leads
(12:08) Advance Planning
(15:41) Meeting Planning Suggestions
(32:10) Practice Scenarios
(39:41) Final Considerations

Presentation Slides: http://cclusa.org/lobbylead  
Training on CCL Community: https://community.citizensclimate.org/topics/working-with-congress/lo...

Join CCL's Vice President of Government Affairs Ben Pendergrass and Senior Director Jenn Tyler for a training that will provide up to the moment insights on the dynamics in Congress and how we can most effectively use our time in meetings to support our agenda. This is a recommended training for any CCL volunteer planning on being a part of their group's Summer 2024 Lobby Meeting (as well as Lobby Training #1 - CCL's Summer 2024 Primary & Secondary Asks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqaxAhygXpo )

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Intro & Agenda
(2:51) Primary Asks Review<...

In this month’s Citizens’ Climate Radio episode, Rob Hopkins, one of the founders of the Transition Town movement, shows us how playful imagination can lead to real-world solutions, and you will discover how a life-sized whale made of plastic bags brought a community together to pass groundbreaking legislation. Artist Carrie Ziegler shares her extraordinary project that mobilized hundreds of schoolchildren to make a powerful statement about plastic pollution. In the Nerd Corner, Dana Nuccatelli tackles the big question: is a carbon price still effective in a post-Inflation Reduction Act world? 

Rob Hopkins, Time Traveler and Creative Clima...

Join CCL's Vice President of Government Affairs Ben Pendergrass and Senior Director of Government Affairs Jenn Tyler for a training that will review the updates and context for CCL's Summer 2024 Primary and Secondary Asks as well as guidance for lobby teams as they plan their in-person meetings. 

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Intro & Agenda
(3:38) Primary Ask: PROVE IT Act
(15:11) Primary Ask: Clean Energy Permitting Reform
(29:06) Secondary Asks
(37:07) Leaders Letter and Final Thoughts

Q&A Discussion ( https://vimeo.com/948787304/62252de422 )

Presentation Slides: https://cclusa.org/june-asks-slides 
CC...

Join CCL's State and Local Media Coordinator Charlotte Ward for a training that will provide a broad overview of the opportunities chapters have as we prepare for summer and our Summer Conference to engage with their local news media on climate solutions. 

Presentation Slides:  https://cclusa.org/2024-media-opportunities 

Sara Eyassu is CCL's Mountain West Fellow and is currently a sophomore at the University of Southern California majoring in environmental studies as a pre-law student. Last summer, she completed a teaching fellowship with Generation Teach where she taught environmental justice to rising sixth graders. This drive encouraged climate advocacy within higher education through membership on the Student Sustainability Committee of the Presidential Working Group on Sustainability in Education, Research, and Operations. She hopes to continue learning through collaborative efforts and equitable sustainability work. Sara will lead a "Youth Takeover" showcasing the work of CCL youth on our May...

Curve balls and objections cannot only stress us out but also potentially derail conversations. Equipping yourself with the skills to overcome these scenarios will lead to more informed discussions about the benefits of our policy and empower legislators and others to become partners in passing the climate solutions we need.   Skip ahead to the following section(s): Introductions and Agenda (from beginning)  Process For Overcoming Objections (4:19) What About China & India? (9:28) Concern for Low-Income Earners (13:29) Working Across The Aisle (18:38) Handling Challenging Questions Resource (22:36) Climate Skepticism (24:20) Difficult Situations (27:50) Final Review (33:54)

Training Page: https://community.citizensclimate.org/topics/working-with-congress/lobbying-301 

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This training is part of the “Working With Congress” training series, designed to empower you - an important member of our volunteer network - to be ready for lobby meetings, both in-district and in D.C. Learn about citizen advocacy, the advantages we hold as citizens in transforming our government and the policies we adopt, and hear stories from CCL volunteers around the country who demonstrate how citizens can build meaningful, long-term relationships with their congressional office. 

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Intro & Agenda
(2:20) Marshall's Story of Empowerment
(5:40) Our Opportunity
(10:50) Stories Of Em...

Join CCL Research Coordinator Dana Nuccitelli for our quarterly AMA series on April 30th! Dana will be joined by Dr. Lisa Patel, Executive Director of the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health from the Stanford School of Medicine. A mom of two young children, Dr. Patel's climate advocacy is deeply rooted in a desire to create a healthier and more equitable future. To learn about Dr. Patel’s climate and health journey before the call here!

More information: https://medsocietiesforclimatehealth.org/members-in-action/patel/ 

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Intro & Agenda
(3:00) Dr...

Now that the Inflation Reduction Act has changed the climate policy and clean technology landscape in the United States, prior modeling about the effectiveness of policies like a carbon price has become outdated. Fortunately, a new report has been published to outline the emissions-reducing potential of several climate policies in a post-IRA world, including carbon pricing. Join CCL Research Coordinator Dana Nuccitelli for a training about this important new research.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Intro & Agenda
(2:01) Pre-Inflation Reduction Act Policies
(10:45) Hamilton-Brookings Research
(24:43) Climate Leadership Council Report
(30:57) Looking Ahead

In this episode of Citizens Climate Radio, co-hosts Peterson Toscano and Erica Valdez explore the theme of climate change and its impact on Antarctica. They interviewed Elizabeth Rush, author of “The Quickening, Creation, and Community at the Ends of the Earth,” who shares her experiences and insights from a research expedition to Thwaites Glacier. They also spoke with Brett Cease, Vice President of Programming for Citizens' Climate Lobby, who traveled to Antarctica and shared his observations. Additionally, they discuss sustainable fashion, resilience, and the Great School Electrification Challenge.

For full show notes, photos, and transcripts, visit www.cclu...

The CCL Government Affairs team is recommending that all chapters secure at least one letter from a trusted messenger to their member of Congress (MOC) and deliver the letter in a June lobby meeting. Folks in your chapter likely know local elected officials and these community leaders are very often trusted messengers to their MOCs. Or you can use our CCL Community training to identify and meet with CEOs and business owners who may be trusted messengers.  This training provides some ideas to start the process of identifying and recruiting allies in our communities. Some of the best tools f...

Join CCL for our April monthly meeting to hear more from our campaign partners Potential Energy about our focus for Earth Month on talking about climate change. For such a big challenge, we don’t talk much about climate change. All that silence means that climate change can feel less important to pay attention to than it really is. After all, if we’re not talking about it, how big can the problem be? For Earth Month, CCL volunteers are having climate conversations across the country with their friends, family, and communities. Our goal? 25,000 climate conversations that have a ripp...

Especially with big tabling events for Earth Day and our annual conference coming up, many chapters may be in need of support in figuring out how to manage their local funds. This training will walk through various ways to raise and manage money in your group for things like chapter activities and conference scholarships. 

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Intro & Agenda
(1:55) General Overview Considerations
(5:20) Ideas for Conference Scholarships 
(12:13) Managing Money At Group Level

CCL Training Page: https://community.citizensclimate.org/resources/item/19/139 

Find out more: https://cclusa.org/conversations 

For such a big challenge, we don’t talk much about climate change. All that silence means that climate change can feel less important to pay attention to than it really is. After all, if we’re not talking about it, how big can the problem be? For Earth Month, CCL volunteers are having climate conversations across the country with their friends, family, and communities. Our goal? 25,000 climate conversations that have a ripple effect, leading to more conversations in families, communities, and with elected leaders.  We'll hear from Dr. Katharine Hayhoe...

Join CCL's Diversity & Inclusion Director Karina Ramirez for a training that will provide an update on all of the Diversity and Inclusion initiatives CCL has been up to in the past year of our programming.   Skip ahead to the following section(s): (0:00) Intro & Agenda (4:05) Overview of Programs (10:01) Goals and Progress (19:28) Resources and Recommendations   Find out more: https://community.citizensclimate.org/diversity-inclusion-at-ccl  Presentation Slides: https://cclusa.org/di-updates-2024 

Join us for a half hour recap of some of the best parts of CCL's 2024 Conservative Conference presentations and keynotes. We'll plan on watching shorter segments that sample highlights from through the conference's line-up of speakers.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Intro & Agenda
(1:13) Neil Chatterjee
(8:59) Grace Stanke
(16:33) Catrina Rorke
(23:08) Farm Bill Panel

Watch more of the presentations and follow along with the slides at: https://cclusa.org/presentations 
More about the 2024 Conservative Climate Leadership Conference: https://citizensclimatelobby.org/climate-change-conferences/conservative/ 

In this month’s episode of Citizens Climate Radio, Eileen Flanagan, a writer, social change teacher, Quaker, and activist, dives deep with host Peterson Toscano into four different roles people have traditionally taken in change movements. In addition, Erica Valdez and Horace Mo join Peterson for a vibrant discussion about their personal experiences in taking one of these roles. 

See our complete show notes including links to guests, a full transcript, and possible action steps you can take. Visit www.cclusa.org/radio

Finding Your Role 

In Eileen Flanagan’s words, the four recurr...

The strength of CCL's chapters runs on volunteer leaders feeling empowered to make requests, especially requesting volunteers to participate.  This session, lead by Jean Ritok, former Group Co-Leader of the Raleigh Durham Chapter, takes you from your existing skill level in asking, to empowered asking.  It’s an avenue to partnership in your chapter, volunteers enjoying their participation and peace of mind that your chapter is humming. 

Your members of Congress (MOCs) will be working in their district/state offices during the last week of March and first week of April. Join this training to learn more recommendations to help your MOCs keep the policies in CCL’s policy agenda front and center by dropping off material that shows climate policy has strong support in your district/state. 

The ideal drop-off will help build your relationship with the office and demonstrate a steady drumbeat of climate activism and increased support for climate policy in the district.  Some ideas for your drop-off might include:
-A b...

Citizens' Climate Lobby's Karina Ramirez and Drew Eyerly will present on "Understanding What You Don't Understand," which outlines the importance of working together while embracing differences. Andrew (Drew) Eyerly serves as CCL’s Conservative Outreach Director, where he lends a conservative voice and perspective to the organization’s mission while working to recruit, engage, and retain right-of-center volunteers. Prior to joining CCL, Drew served in the United States Army for 12 years as a Preventive Medicine Specialist and as a Medic completing tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Karina Ramirez (She/Her/Ella) joined CCL as a volunteer in 2017 and has...

Researchers from MIT recently published a paper detailing all of the great benefits that would come from passing the BIG WIRES Act, and researchers from Vanderbilt published a study about the big role household electrification and efficiency will play in realizing the Inflation Reduction Act's climate pollution reductions potential. We also received an update about the status of the IRA's important home electrification and efficiency rebate programs that have been in development for the past year and a half. Join CCL Research Coordinator Dana Nuccitelli for a training that will summarize all of this new information that's critical to...

Learn how to get your conservative-friendly Op-Eds and LTEs in your local publications and how to craft impactful messages for conservative areas in this panel moderated by CCL’s State and Local Media Coordinator, Charlotte Ward!
Hear from our expert panelists: Mary Anna Mancuso, Contributor at The Hill & RepublicEN EcoRight Leadership Council Member Karly Matthews, VP of Communication at American Conservation Coalition Nathan Crabbe, Editor at The Invading Sea

Skip ahead to the following section(s):

(0:00) Intro & Agenda
(5:34) Panel's recommendations
(31:25) Q&A Discussion
(51:38) CCL Support Resources

Helpful resources: 
CCL Community: htt...