Weekly Briefing: We reached our year-end fundraising goal!

Jan. 7, 2026

Citizens’ Climate officially reached our goal of $1.25 million in fundraising donations on December 31, right before the start of the new year. That means we’re entering 2026 set up for success! This year we’ll be able to equip volunteers like you with even better training and coordinate more strategic mobilizations than ever before. All of that helps us advance good climate policy in Congress.

And we’re already seeing challenges where we can step up this year. Just before the holidays, the Trump administration canceled a number of offshore wind projects — which had already been approved — showing the need for certainty measures in a permitting reform package. And this month, Congress is in the midst of a funding process that could affect climate research. CCL staff are hard at work preparing guidance and action tools you can use to make a difference on these important issues.

We’re deeply grateful to everyone who made our year-end success possible. If you haven’t yet had a chance to give, we invite you to start the year with a gift that ensures Earth’s lobbying team has the resources to respond quickly, mobilize effectively, and push climate solutions forward in Congress throughout 2026

Donate Today

In other news:

• The Clean Competition Act: On Dec. 17, 2025, several Democrats in the Senate and House re-introduced the Clean Competition Act. This bill would enact a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) and also include a domestic carbon price. We have endorsed the bill and appreciate the ways it helps to advance the conversation on CBAMs. You can share news of the bill on Bluesky or X, and for more on the topic of CBAMs, catch up on Dr. Danny Richter’s Fall Conference presentation, “More Carbon Pricing Around the World.”

Take action this week

If you have a little time: Build momentum for a Fix Our Forests floor vote. There’s just one day left to hit our goal of 5,000 contacts to senators in support of the Fix Our Forests Act. Remember, the bill has already passed in the House and passed the Senate Agriculture Committee last fall with a strong bipartisan vote. Next, it will be up for consideration by the full Senate. Send your Senator a message to let them know about the bill’s progress and voice your support!

If you have more time: Attend this Saturday’s Monthly Meeting. Kick off the year with a State of the Organization message from CCL leaders, celebrating our recent fundraising milestones, sharing leadership updates, and previewing where things stand as we begin 2026. CCL Vice President of Field Operations Brett Cease will also debut BRIDGE —Building Relationships in Dialogue, Growth, and Engagement — our robust new relational advocacy training program designed to strengthen your communication skills and deepen your relationships with congressional offices in the year ahead. Plan to tune in this Saturday at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT.

Featured chapter: CCL Kalamazoo

Mary Ann Renz, who co-leads CCL Kalamazoo with Deb Freiman, rallied the CCL Kalamazoo chapter to create a group fundraiser in support of CCL's Year-End Fundraiser last month. They set a goal to raise $1,000, and they succeeded, finishing December with $1,135 raised! Fundraising can be tough, but Mary Ann and her chapter stayed committed because of all the ways they "get their money's worth" from CCL — from tools and scripts to easily contact Congress, to national events and calls that offer education and empowerment.

As they head into 2026, CCL Kalamazoo is planning for lots of outreach through tabling, film screenings, and midterm campaign season activities. "We plan to organize get-togethers with candidates for Congress in our district, viewing the events as opportunities to talk about our shared concerns about climate change and our support for effective bipartisan climate solutions," Mary Ann says. 

The chapter will also work alongside two other CCL groups in their congressional district. After a successful roundtable event last spring and a social event at a winery in the fall (pictured above), they're excited to keep collaborating and amplifying their voices to Congress.

Keep up the great work, CCL Kalamazoo!

CCL has over 350 chapters across the country. Find your local chapter today and get plugged in.

Upcoming trainings

1/8: Introduction to Permitting Reform Basics - What are “permitting” and “permitting reform,” and why does CCL consider it such an important climate solution? Join CCL's VP of Government Affairs Jenn Tyler and Research Manager Dana Nuccitelli to learn the answers to these questions and why CCL is leaning into permitting reform as the key climate policy solution of 2026. Join us!

1/15: Understanding the Permitting Reform Landscape - Permitting reform is a complex topic that touches on many politically sensitive topics including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), judicial reforms, and federal involvement in interstate project permitting processes. Join Jenn Tyler and Dana Nuccitelli to learn about the permitting players, politics, problems, and how and why CCL is engaging in this challenging landscape. Join us!

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