Weekly Briefing: Wildfire smoke underscores the need for climate action

July 22, 2026

Image source: Washington Post

Millions of Americans based in the Midwest, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic experienced extremely unhealthy air quality over the past week as smoke from Canadian wildfires drifted across the U.S. 

Eighteen cities issued air quality alerts, including major metropolitan areas like Chicago, Detroit, New York and Philadelphia. An estimated 115 million people were affected by hazardous conditions. 

The impacts of climate change don’t stop at international borders. The wildfire smoke drifted down from Canada, and at the same time, our own firefighters are working to contain more than 70 large fires in the United States. Extreme heat and dry conditions from climate change are creating conditions for continually increasing wildfires and air quality alerts. 

In response to these dangerous conditions, more than 1,000 CCLers used our online action tool to express their concerns and urge their members of Congress to support meaningful climate solutions that can reduce the risks of worsening wildfires and smoke.

That momentum comes at the perfect time. Next week, more than 800 CCL volunteers will gather in Washington, D.C., for our Summer Conference and Lobby Day, where we'll meet directly with more than 350 congressional offices to advocate for bipartisan climate and clean energy policies. 

When headlines remind us what's at stake, our grassroots advocacy reminds Congress that constituents are paying attention and expecting action. If you were one of the millions affected by wildfire smoke in recent days, write your representatives today. 

Write Congress

Take action this week 

If you have a little time: Call Congress on Monday, July 27. Call Congress Day is fast approaching! The day before our annual Lobby Day, you can help strengthen our conversations from wherever you are. This Monday, July 27, we want to generate thousands of phone calls sending one clear message: People nationwide support the policies that CCL is lobbying for. A swell of calls will help underscore our message and make our members of Congress more receptive to our policy asks. Don’t forget to mark your calendar and invite others in your network to save the date as well. 

If you have more time: Tune into the Summer Conference livestream. Even if you can’t make it to D.C. this year, you can still be part of the conference! Livestream ticket holders receive virtual access to all main stage sessions Monday, July 27, including the opening keynote session from Jigar Shah and Carbon Pricing Plenary featuring Marc Hafstead of Resources for the Future. Livestream access is $20 and will take place on Zoom, hosted by Elli Sparks, CCL Sr. Director of Field Operations. Tune in beginning this Monday at 9 a.m. ET/ 6 a.m. PT.

Featured: CCL North Tahoe Youth 

The youth group within the CCL North Tahoe chapter has wrapped up another busy school year full of accomplishments. “Founded in 2020, this group of Truckee High School climate activists meets every week during a lunch period,” shares chapter co-leader Deirdre Henderson in a write-up on CCL Community. 

She details how the youth team lobbied the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District to reduce its fossil fuel use in buildings and transportation, using the CCL skills they learned in lobbying Congress. “They regularly made public comments at school board meetings, urged specific decarbonization actions in a proposed school board resolution, had scores of meetings with school board members and administrators to promote more robust climate action,” and much more, Deirdre shares. 

Their efforts ultimately moved the school board to take several concrete climate actions, adopted at a school board meeting held on Earth Day this year. One board member said, “I am profoundly moved by the youth […] who haven’t given up on us. […] I just want to praise you all for your effort and for continually coming to us and reminding us that we need to change our behavior.”

The youth team also conducted a voter registration drive for students at their high school, organized a “Snowman Protest” in downtown Truckee that garnered media attention, and met virtually with Rep. Kevin Kiley (CA-03).

Incredible work, North Tahoe youth! Keep it up!

Read their full story here.

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