Weekly Briefing: Our 2026 Strategic Plan

Nov. 26, 2025

As 2025 begins to wind down, we’re taking time to look back, reflect on our progress, and celebrate CCL’s wins. But we’re also gearing up for 2026 in a big way.

During his Fall Conference opening remarks earlier this month, CCL Interim Executive Director Ricky Bradley outlined the next chapter of CCL’s work — one that is firmly rooted in our values, but guided by a sharper strategy.

Over the past few months, Ricky and the CCL leadership team have been hard at work developing this strategy. This team has worked to achieve clarity about CCL’s contributions to the overall goal of solving climate change, and the training and programs necessary to get us there.

Throughout this exploration, CCL identified three elements that we think are crucial to advancing climate solutions in Congress. For members of Congress to pass climate policy, they need to see climate as a salient issue. Action needs to be feasible. And it needs to be politically safe for them to step up. Ricky explained that satisfying these conditions is what makes up the core of CCL’s theory of change — how we’re going to succeed.

This theory, along with CCL’s objectives for the new year, is outlined in our brand new 2026 Strategic Plan overview. Catch up on the recording of Ricky’s remarks or dive into the strategic plan to learn more about CCL’s objectives for the new year. We can’t wait to enter this next chapter with you!

In other news this week:

• Permitting progress on Capitol Hill: You may have seen headlines about the House Natural Resources Committee recently voting on several permitting reform bills, including the SPEED Act. Though we have not endorsed any standalone permitting bills, we appreciate the positive momentum. These steps bring us closer to a comprehensive permitting package that will lead to more clean energy development across America. Get more details and join the discussion on CCL Community.
  
• Save the date for our Year-End Fundraiser: CCL’s annual year-end fundraiser kicks off Giving Tuesday, December 2. If we can reach our milestone goal of $250,000 on Giving Tuesday, we’ll unlock an additional $250,000 bonus gift from generous donors! Make a plan to donate that day so we can take advantage of this incredible opportunity to fund our grassroots climate advocacy and keep citizens’ voices strong in Congress.
  
• Record your reflections after lobbying: If you participated in a CCL lobby meeting this fall, we want to hear about your experience! Send a short video to marketing@citizensclimate.org with the subject line "Lobby Meeting Reflection." We may share your clip during a future CCL meeting.

Take action this week

If you have a little time: Plan to attend CCL’s Town Hall. On December 3 at 8 p.m. ET, plan to join a CCL Town Hall-style event with CCL's Interim Executive Director, Ricky Bradley. All are welcome, especially CCL supporters just starting their CCL journey or finding their role. Hear organizational updates and come ready to ask questions during the call. Get ready by submitting your questions to conference.inbox@citizensclimate.org.

If you have more time: Plan or support a year-end Pledge It fundraiser. With our biggest annual fundraiser kicking off next week, CCLers have already begun to set up Pledge It campaigns for activities like walking their rescue dog, cross-country skiing, and jigsaw puzzling. You can contribute by pledging to an existing campaign or holding a pledge-a-thon of your own. Every dollar helps keep citizens’ voices strong in Congress!

Visit the Citizens' Climate Pledge It home page to find pledge-a-thons to support, or set up your own using the instructions in this fundraising tools training.

Featured chapter: CCL Bainbridge Island

Younger CCLers often struggle to participate in Fall Lobby Week as meetings are usually held during school hours. But younger voices can really stand out to our lawmakers. So CCLers in Seattle figured out a great way to make their voices heard.

The Washington State youth team put together a video compilation to be shown in their lobby meeting, explaining why climate change is a top priority for them and why they got involved with CCL.

“Climate change can feel very isolating, so it's important to find people who stick with you even when things feel hopeless," one young volunteer, Maryna, said in the video. "I want to be that person for other people and also have people to back me up.”

Another volunteer, Peter, said, "We have the technology to turn the tide on climate change — we just need to make that our nation’s top priority. CCL gives me the voice to make that happen.”

Great job to the Bainbridge Island chapter and Seattle Youth team for incorporating youth voices into your lobby meeting!

Watch the full video on CCL's YouTube channel.

Recent trainings

More Carbon Pricing Updates from Around the World - Carbon pricing is evolving fast—and the world isn’t waiting for the U.S. to catch up. In this informative update, CCL Policy Fellow Dr. Danny Richter gave a global tour of the latest carbon pricing developments, from the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to new initiatives in Canada, Mexico, and beyond. Watch the recording.

BRIDGE - How Understanding Values Can Transform Climate Conversations - Ever wonder why the same facts inspire some people, but fall flat with others? In this engaging Q&A with CCL’s VP of Field Operations, Brett Cease, and Dr. Sena Koleva, a social scientist studying moral psychology, attendees learned how our values shape our intuition, what we believe, and how we connect. The session previewed CCL’s new “BRIDGE” program - Building Relationships in Dialogue, Growth, and Engagement. Watch the recording.

Taking and Using Beautiful Photos for Climate Advocacy - Taking quality photos is an art that can help market your chapter and “sell” climate activism to others. In this session, CCL Director of Marketing, Elissa Tennant, detailed what takes chapter event photos from good to great, and how you can up your climate content creation game for both chapter marketing and personal social media posts. Watch the recording.

Fix Our Forests Act: From Skepticism to Support - James Campbell, J.D., Director of Federal Affairs & Strategic Counsel at Megafire Action, offered expert insights on how to address common Democratic concerns around the Fix Our Forests Act (FOFA). Join for an in-depth conversation moderated by Dana Nuccitelli, CCL’s Research Manager. Watch the recording.

To see other Fall Conference recordings, visit CCL’s YouTube channel.