Weekly Briefing: What Next? Manchin Won’t Deter Climate Advocates
July 20, 2022
News broke late Thursday evening that Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) has rejected the climate elements in the budget reconciliation package the Senate is considering, citing concerns over economic inflation. He has since suggested that he may be open to climate action after seeing the July inflation numbers, but his colleagues in the Senate are signaling that the window of opportunity has closed. The White House is now considering administrative action to combat climate change.
This reconciliation news has many climate advocates wondering: what next?
It’s time to make climate a central issue in the upcoming midterm election. Anyone running to represent Americans — whether in a red or blue district or state — should understand the scale of the climate threat and have robust, committed plans to address it.
For this reason, Citizens’ Climate Lobby will continue to apply grassroots pressure on both Democrats and Republicans by spending the next few months elevating climate as a central midterm election issue. It is critical that we, as climate advocates, ensure a future where significant climate policy not only passes, but enjoys bipartisan support.
Here’s what you can do today to help make that happen:
• Get more environmental voters to the polls with Environmental Voter Project
• Attend candidate town halls and ask questions about climate change
• Write letters to the editor about climate change, using our Election Season Media Kit
Choose an action from the above list and get started. Have questions about these actions? Post your question in the CCL Community forums so staff and volunteers can support you.
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In other news this week: 
• Preventing burnout as a climate advocate: It can be a challenge to participate in climate advocacy and process a wide range of emotions. Check out this training on recognizing and preventing burnout as a climate advocate so you can bounce back stronger than before.
• Record heat waves across Europe: Climate change is hitting hard across the globe. Temperature records of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit are being smashed across Europe as an unprecedented summer heat wave sets in. Read more here.
• Volunteer Spotlight: Jim Hopf: For July’s volunteer spotlight, we hear from Jim Hopf, a retired nuclear engineer who is the founder and leader of CCL’s Nuclear Action Team. Read more here.
• June conference gives hope through action: CCL Utah sent several students to Washington, D.C., for CCL's conference and lobbying last month. Hear their firsthand experiences with lobbying, which one student called “heartwarming, to say the least.”
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Take action this week 
If you have a little time: Like this tweet about the GOP climate gap
A new study conducted by the Pew Research Center illustrates the growing concern for climate change among younger Republicans. As this concern continues to grow, Republicans in Congress will have to begin addressing climate change. Share that study here.
If you have more time: Follow up with your members of Congress
Despite the fact that major climate action looks unlikely in the budget reconciliation bill, you can write to Congress and let them know you still expect them to work hard to keep America's pledge to reduce emissions 50% by 2030. You can find default scripts and messages in our individual online action tool here.
Find your CCL chapter | Check out our Action Teams | Browse upcoming events
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Featured Lever This Week 
Express-News editorial on SCOTUS decision
The San Antonio Express-News recently published an editorial focused on the Supreme Court ruling regarding the EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gases. In this editorial, the San Antonio Express-News points out the work that Congress has put forward so far on addressing climate, before turning to address climate issues in San Antonio.
“San Antonio is warming — an obvious reality underscored by this particularly searing spring and summer.”
The Express-News emphasizes the effect that extreme heat has already played on electricity bills, as well as the droughts that threaten the high water supply. The publication gives a nod to CCL as well.
“And at the federal level, Congress should approve a fee-and-dividend program, as the Citizens’ Climate Lobby has proposed,” the editorial reads. CCL volunteers in the San Antonio area helped to generate this editorial by meeting with the editorial board.
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Upcoming Trainings 
7/21: Extended Q&A with Nathaniel Stinnett, Executive Director of Environmental Voter Project — Wanted more time with CCL's July 2022 National Meeting Speaker? Join us for an extended Q&A with Nathaniel Stinnett from Environmental Voter Project who will share how his organization is changing the voting behavior of environmentalists. Join us!
7/28: Big Tent Climate Talk — July’s BTCT will feature a conversation with Kyle Kammien, CCL Senior Business Relations Representative, on the Supreme Court's recent decision on West Virginia v. EPA. This Supreme Court decision impacted the EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gases. Join us.
Need training on the basics? Catch our next session of Core Volunteer Training, made for newer volunteers:
7/26: Communicating with Conservatives — Join Nate Abercrombie, CCL Conservative Outreach Coordinator, for a training on communicating with conservatives regarding carbon pricing policies. Nate reviews conservative messaging on climate change and highlights the conservative support aligning with key messages and underlying components. Join us!
To see other topics and past trainings, visit the Training Topics page of CCL Community.
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