Weekly Briefing: Lobby Day Makes Headlines 📣

June 19, 2024

Last week, CCL volunteers from every state traveled to Washington, D.C., for our 2024 Summer Conference and Lobby Day. Now that all of those volunteers are back home, the stories of their conference experience and lobby meeting successes are getting out in the local media. 

Three volunteers from Illinois State University were featured in a story by WGLT public radio, titled “ISU students feel optimistic after climate change lobby trip to Washington, D.C..”

“It was kind of nerve-wracking to be in such an official place, and it was my first time lobbying, but it was a very good experience,” ISU senior Rebecca Blood told WGLT. 

“We're not feeling as hopeless as we were before, because there's actually people out there, and we're not alone,” said ISU junior Shyia Whiting.

Another article, “Climate Crusader from Santa Barbara Goes to Washington,” features college senior Analee Josselyn from California. After a wildfire in 2020 reached her hometown, piquing her interest in climate advocacy, Analee eventually found CCL. Last week was her first time lobbying with us on Capitol Hill.

A piece in The Fulcrum, a democracy-focused newsletter, features CCLer Alan Leiserson from Nashville, who had five meetings on Capitol Hill. “The lobby day was fantastic!” he says.

Your chapter can add your own stories to the mix — use CCL’s press release template to tell local media about the members of your chapter who attended the 2024 Summer Conference and Lobby Day, and generate your own headlines!

I'll Send a Press Release

In other news this week:

• See Lobby Day photos: In case you missed it, our Instagram highlight and Spread the Word page will give you the inside look at photos from last week’s Lobby Day.

• Chart of the Week: CCL Research Coordinator Dana Nuccitelli regularly posts a Chart of the Week in our Nerd Corner. This week’s chart shows some good news from two new reports: faster clean energy transitions are also cheaper.

• Meet-and-greet call with new Director: Rachel Kerestes, CCL's incoming Executive Director, starts next week! Plan to join us for a meet-and-greet call with her on July 2 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. (And if you haven’t already, visit cclusa.org/HiRachel to ask Rachel questions and share your perspective on CCL and our work.)

Take action this week

If you have a little time: See what Congress is saying about us. Our 442 lobby meetings on Capitol Hill last week made a big impression — members of Congress themselves were posting on social media about us! Check out X posts from Sen. Chris Coons (DE), Rep. Sharice Davids (KS), Rep. Suzan DelBene (WA), Rep. Seth Magaziner (RI), Rep. Morgan McGarvey (KY), and Sen. Jack Reed (RI) to see what members of Congress are saying about our visit.  

If you have more time: Catch up on Drew and Karina’s must-see conference session. Last week’s conference was packed full of wonderful presentations — but the “From Comfort Zones to Connections” session from CCL staffers Drew Eyerly and Karina Ramirez is a must-see. They beautifully (and hilariously!) detail their unique perspectives and their close relationship, exemplifying the bridge-building work we do in CCL. Watch their session here.

Upcoming trainings

6/25: Carbon Pricing Research AMA (Ask Me Anything) - A new study shows that public support for carbon pricing can be further increased by a “climate premium.” One of the study’s co-authors, Davide Pace, PhD, will discuss his team’s findings with lots of time for Q&A. Join us!

To see other topics and past trainings, visit the Training Topics page of CCL Community. 

Nerd Corner Chart of the Week

Join the Discussion: IEA & RMI reports find faster clean energy transitions are cheaper.