From crisis to connection: CCL’s resilience trainings By Amber Powell I found Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) during the week of COP28, the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference. At the time, I was in the second year of my M.S. program, knee-deep in journal articles and assignments on the ecology of natural resources and the politics of managing them. My days were spent sifting through terrifying trend lines and grim projections for my generation’s future.  In my off time, I watched policy leaders at the UN Climate Conference struggle to establish meaningful steps forward in the cl ..read more

CCL volunteers award local meteorologists for outstanding climate coverage By Gram Brownlee Local TV meteorologists are uniquely positioned to help the public understand the connection between extreme weather and climate change.  As well as being good communicators, they are scientists and trusted messengers to viewers across the political spectrum — which is why CCL volunteers have set out to award local meteorologists in their states for outstanding climate communication.  Throughout this year, CCL’s Meteorologist Outreach Action Team has been accepting nominations for the new Cli ..read more

Statement on recent political violence July 15, 2024, Washington, D.C. – Rachel Kerestes, Executive Director of Citizens’ Climate Education and Citizens’ Climate Lobby, released the following statement in response to recent acts of political violence: Violence is never the answer. In politics we can disagree and even argue, but we must do so in good faith, with peace and respect for others.  We mourn the loss of life at this weekend’s political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, we send our wishes for care and recovery to those who were injured and we are grateful that former President ..read more

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Citizens’ Climate Lobby statement on the Supreme Court’s overturning of Chevron deference July 5, 2024, Washington, D.C. – Rachel Kerestes, Executive Director of Citizens’ Climate Lobby, issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court overturning the precedent set in the 1984 Chevron case:  This ruling puts important climate and environmental regulations at risk. That’s a harsh and disappointing reality, but it’s a reality CCL has always been aware of. Courts can strike down regulations and rewrite agency rules at any time — and that’s even more true ..read more

Local chapter of Fossil Free Movement at Northern Arizona University Episode 96: Exploring Rachel Carson’s Life and The Divestment Movement 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 ..read more

Rachel Kerestes FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE New director Rachel Kerestes takes the helm at Citizens’ Climate June 26, 2024 – Today, Citizens’ Climate Lobby and Citizens’ Climate Education officially welcome their new head executive, Rachel Kerestes. Kerestes was hired in the spring by the CCL and CCE governing boards after a search process spanning several months and hundreds of candidates.  “We are thrilled about the expertise Rachel brings to the Citizens’ Climate team,” board chairs Zaurie Zimmerman and Sandra Kirtland Turner wrote in a letter last month. “Rachel has impressed us as an ent ..read more

Every year, humans produce more than 450 million tons of new plastic, half of which is single-use. Think plastic water bottles, disposable cutlery, or the wrapping in the millions of packages delivered every day. With all this consumption, plastic waste is definitely a concern for the Earth. But is there really a link between plastics and climate change? Why is plastic bad for the environment? Most plastics are made artificially using materials called hydrocarbons that come from fossil fuels, including natural gas and crude oil. Hydrocarbons must be derived through extraction and refining of ..read more

CCL volunteers on the Capitol steps at the beginning of last year’s lobby day (June 12, 2023) 1,000+ volunteers to hold ‘Climate Conversations’ on National Mall; attend hundreds of meetings on Capitol Hill June 2024 – In the coming week, Citizens’ Climate Lobby will hold its 15th annual conference and lobby day, “Making Moves and Moving Congress,” in Washington, D.C.  CCL will welcome more than 1,000 registrants from all 50 states, who will attend conference activities Saturday, June 8 through Monday, June 10.  On Tuesday, June 11, conference attendees will head to Capitol Hill for ..read more

Madalyn Friedman and Jenn Bulka co-chaired this impressive and exciting effort for their CCL chapter. Silicon Valley CCLers host 10-candidate climate forum By Flannery Winchester In an election year, CCL chapters can play a critical role in showing candidates that local voters want climate action. Recently, we saw this in action in California’s 16th congressional district. Climate champion Rep. Anna Eshoo, who is a longtime member of the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus and an original cosponsor of the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, is retiring from Congress. Ten candidates ju ..read more

Rob Hopkins, a founder of the Transition Town Movement Episode 95: Rob Hopkins on the Role of Imagination in Climate Change Solutions 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 ..read more