Weekly Briefing: New Study Confirms  Real-World Carbon Pricing Works

August 28, 2024

Last week, researchers published a paper in the journal “Science” evaluating 1,500 climate policies for their effectiveness. The authors looked at policies that have been implemented in 41 countries over the past 25 years and identified the most successful ones.

The study was covered in the Associated Press under the headline: “What has worked to fight climate change? Policies where someone pays for polluting, study finds.”

That’s right! Carbon pricing was the only type of policy that achieved significant climate pollution cuts on its own, according to the paper. The other successful cases usually used a combination of policies like subsidies, regulations and — you guessed it — carbon pricing.

“The key ingredient if you want to reduce emissions is that you have pricing in the policy mix,” one of the study’s authors said in the AP story.

“This study strongly reinforces the importance of carbon pricing, including in the U.S. as a complement to the subsidies in the Inflation Reduction Act,” says CCL Research Coordinator Dana Nuccitelli. The study was also covered in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.

Read and share the Associated Press story to spread the word that America needs a nationwide carbon price!

In other news this week:

• CCL quoted in clean energy permitting reform story: CCL’s VP of Government Affairs, Ben Pendergrass, was recently quoted in this Associated Press story about clean energy permitting reform, calling it “vital to all of our climate goals.”

• Inclusion Conference speakers: On Sept. 20-21, join us online for this year’s Inclusion Conference, titled “Rising Above: Renewal and Resilience for Our Future.” The speakers include powerful voices from inside and outside of CCL, like Kentucky Poet Laureate Frank X. Walker and CCL New Orleans group leader Keely Lewis. Check out the full speaker list and register today.

• Legislative progress from 2024 Lobby Day: In case you missed it, there has been a lot of legislative progress since our Capitol Hill lobbying earlier this summer. Get the full rundown in this recent blog post.

Take action this week

If you have a little time: Squeeze in one more electrification conversation. We’ve just surpassed our goal of 3,000 conversations about home electrification — great work, everyone! But there are still a few days left in Electrification Month. Before August wraps up, see if you can squeeze in one or two more quick conversations with folks in your life, using these conversation starters and resources.

If you have more time: Get out the environmental vote. CCL is hosting weekly phone banks in partnership with the Environmental Voter Project (EVP) every Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT until the November election. You don’t need any experience — each session starts with a training for those who need it, and then you can start making calls to get environmentalists out to vote in key states. RSVP to phone bank with us on Sept. 4, Sept. 11, Sept. 18, or future dates.

Featured chapter: CCL Rapid City

CCL’s Rapid City chapter in South Dakota is a hard-working group committed to bringing about climate action. Co-led by Mary Deibert, Alan Anderson, and Karla Deuter, this chapter is “small but mighty,” as Mary says.

Recently, the chapter hosted a series of events that have energized the community and engaged potential new members. They have organized film screenings of “Purple Mountains” and “Common Ground,” two documentaries focused on the importance of bipartisan climate action. They plan to host two more events in September and December.

CCL Rapid City also knows the value of relationships. Along with lobbying members of Congress, Rapid City is well-connected with the elected officials’ staff members at the local and federal levels. The chapter has also been collaborating with other environmental organizations in the area, creating a coalition of like-minded individuals ready to push for climate action. The Black Hills Environmental Coalition has members from CCL and from many other organizations such as the Izaak Walton League, Norbeck Society, and the Nature Conservancy. About 15 volunteers get together in person each Monday morning to plan the next steps for their advocacy.

We’re cheering you on, CCL Rapid City!

Want to chat with the Rapid City volunteers about their outreach and relationship building? Join the conversation on CCL Community.

Today’s featured chapter story was written by CCL intern Shelby Negosian.

Upcoming trainings

8/29: CCL's School Electrification Challenge - Join CCL Youth Action Team Coordinator Sharon Bagatell and CCL youth leaders to learn how CCL youth are advocating for passage of “Electrify Everything” resolutions in school boards around the country. To learn more and get all the details, check out the Great School Electrification Challenge Guide or attend the training. Join us!

9/3: Navigating Climate and Election Anxiety - In this workshop, we'll explore the intersection of climate and election anxiety, and we'll introduce a practical five-step framework designed to help you navigate these complex emotions and concerns. By the end of our session, you'll have a deeper understanding of climate and election anxiety, as well as concrete tools to manage these feelings effectively. Join us!

9/5: Election 2024 - Helping Climate Voters Elect Climate Champions - In 2024, CCL wants more climate voters to vote, and we want climate to be a key issue for every candidate. We'll discuss options for CCLers to engage during the 2024 elections locally and nationally, including events and outreach opportunities with CCL's Election Engagement Action Team. Join us!

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

Nerd Corner Chart of the Week

China is poised to dominate the coming clean energy economy

Join the discussion about why our climate policies matter even though China and India have a lot of people and emissions