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            <title>Weekly Briefing: Here’s why these CCLers donate monthly</title>
            <link>https://community.citizensclimate.org/bulletin/2101/587</link>
            <description><![CDATA[March 11, 2026


As climate advocates, our strength isn’t always in loud moments or one-time actions. There’s power in keeping the drumbeat persistent, staying in the fight when others pull back. It’s why we keep showing up, standing together, and lobbying for better climate laws. Together, all your advocacy efforts add up to undeniable effects. Your donations work the same way.

CCL relies on the generosity of monthly donors to ensure we can keep our efforts strong 365 days per year. This consistent, reliable, grassroots funding provides the backbone for our year-round education and advocacy. Your monthly gift, no matter the amount, joins thousands of others to build and grow our collective power. 

Recently, we asked some of our monthly donors why they choose to give regularly. “Climate change takes no breaks,” said one donor, Paul. “It simply feels right to donate on a monthly basis. I donate monthly to let CCL know that it has my support throughout the year.”

“Fixing our climate is going to take effective federal policies, and that’s what CCL is really good at,” said Linda, another monthly donor. “CCL’s strength is our grassroots army, and if we all make regular small donations, together we can keep CCL on a strong financial footing.”

Another donor, Rob, agreed, saying “I am happy to be a monthly donor to enable CCL to organize support for climate legislation. We all have to do whatever we can to preserve our planet's climate.”

There’s no better time to become a monthly donor or increase your current contribution. This March only, a group of Climate Guardian donors have pledged to match new and increased monthly donations throughout 2026. If you give $25 per month, CCL receives $50 dollars. If you increase your monthly gift by $10, that extra $10 is matched, too!

Additionally, every person who starts or increases their monthly donation in March will also be entered into a raffle, where ten lucky winners will get CCL Merch Bundles filled with swag like a tote bag, hat, stickers, notebooks and more. 

Will you start or increase your monthly donation today and help sustain climate advocacy year-round?

Sign up to give monthly here. To increase your existing monthly donation, please reach out at development@citizensclimate.org. 

One call to Congress isn’t enough. One action isn’t enough. Lasting change takes sustained pressure. That’s why monthly support matters. Double your impact through the year end by starting a monthly gift today.

Become a Monthly Donor

Take action this week

If you have a little time: Take our Carbon Pricing Survey. Over the years, CCL has put a ton of effort into advocacy and education on carbon pricing, and we’ve learned a lot in the process. Our Government Affairs staff has recently released a carbon pricing survey for volunteers to help us evaluate our past efforts and determine current and future needs, especially in regard to training and education. Your feedback is valuable! Please take 5-10 minutes to fill out this survey and help shape CCL’s advocacy efforts in 2026 and beyond. 

If you have more time: Attend CCL’s March Monthly Meeting. Tune in this Saturday, March 14, at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on Zoom for CCL’s Monthly Meeting. We’re excited to hear from our featured guest speaker Marija Verner, PhD, a Climate Change Communication Researcher and Educator at the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. The call will last approximately 60 minutes, and will feature national updates, a session with Marija and a group action. RSVP here and we’ll see you Saturday! 

Featured: Conservative Conference &amp; Lobby Day 2026

We are currently accepting applications for CCL’s Virtual Conservative Conference &amp; Lobby Day. This annual event provides a space for right-of-center climate advocates to link up with the broader eco-right movement, learn about climate and clean energy policy, and lobby Congress to pass it.

In addition to our featured keynote speakers, the conference agenda also includes a panel spotlighting volunteer-driven efforts to build relationships with Republican members of Congress and expand conservative and center-right engagement on climate and energy solutions. Their experiences will offer practical insights into building trust, expanding coalitions, and advancing climate conversations in politically diverse spaces. 

Both the conference and Lobby Day have gone virtual this year, meaning you can attend from anywhere in the country. Join forces with other right-of-center Americans and make your voice heard in D.C. without the time or expense of travel.

While this Lobby Day is reserved for right-of-center advocates, select portions of the conference program (including the volunteer panel) will be available via livestream to attendees of all political affiliations. This option may be especially relevant for CCL liaisons to Republican Members of Congress or CCLers in heavily Republican states. 

Interested in attending or supporting? Take one of these next steps: 


	Apply to attend the event before the March 31 deadline. Within one week of submitting your application, you will hear back from CCL staff and receive an access link to register for the conference via email. 
	Register for the livestream.
	Share the event details with right-of-center folks in your network on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.


Upcoming CCL Trainings

3/12: Tabling Outreach Review - Join us for a training gearing up for Earth Month this April, when members of your community are out and about attending fairs, festivals, art walks, and other climate-related events. Join CCL's Senior Director of Field Operations Elli Sparks for a training that will help you and your team identify, reserve, and schedule summer tabling and clipboarding, bring CCL materials and other engaging activities to the events, and educate, activate and recruit the people you meet about climate action. Join us!
 

3/19: Build Faster and Key Messages (CCL Permitting Reform Series) - Clean energy projects often encounter long, complex permitting steps that slow construction and raise costs. Practical permitting reforms can help ensure that good projects move forward faster while upholding environmental and community protections. Join CCL's VP of Government Affairs Jenn Tyler and Research Manager Dana Nuccitelli to learn about permitting reforms to build clean energy infrastructure faster, associated tensions and compromises, and key messages for congressional offices. Join us!

To see other events and CCL trainings, visit the Training Topics page of CCL Community.<br /><br />Posted by Elissa Tennant<br />Mar 11, 2026 12:48 pm<hr noshade />]]></description>
            <pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 19:48:57 +0100</pubDate>
            <guid>community.citizensclimate.org/bulletin/2101/587</guid>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Weekly Briefing: Take CCL’s new carbon pricing survey</title>
            <link>https://community.citizensclimate.org/bulletin/2101/586</link>
            <description><![CDATA[March 4, 2026


Long-time CCLers know we have a long and rich history of advocacy for carbon pricing — one of the most powerful climate policies to reduce emissions quickly and dramatically.

“When I talk to coalition partners and folks on the Hill, it's CCL who they think of when they think of carbon pricing,” said Jennifer Tyler, CCL VP of Government Affairs. “Our volunteers have done a phenomenal job of owning that space and getting us to be real leaders in the field that everyone, including Congress, is looking to.”

But the landscape has changed quite a bit in the past few years, and CCL is looking for new ways to engage in the conversation and effectively advocate for a carbon price. “The question is: how does CCL continue to own and lead in this space?” Jenn said.

To start, CCL has released a carbon pricing survey for volunteers to help us evaluate our past efforts and determine current and future needs, especially in regard to training and education. The survey launched at the first meeting of CCL’s new Carbon Pricing Action Team and is now open to all volunteers. 

“The survey is really our first step to reengaging on carbon pricing in a meaningful way,” said Mindy Ahler, CCL Congressional Liaison Manager. “We want to get as much volunteer input into our advocacy work so far, including what worked well, what didn't, and what are some of the key areas where we can learn more from experts.”

Your feedback is valuable! Please take 5-10 minutes to fill out CCL’s carbon pricing survey and help shape our advocacy efforts in 2026 and beyond.

Take the Survey 📝

In other news this week:


	March Gift Match: CCL’s annual March Fundraiser is live! This month, our goal is to raise $10,000 in new and increased monthly donations. And we’re excited to announce these donations will all be matched, dollar-for-dollar, every month through the end of 2026. Our climate advocacy is strongest when lots of people regularly pitch in. That’s how our funding works, too. When we all give a little, it means a lot. Support year-round climate advocacy and help us reach our funding goal by donating now.
	Conservative Conference: CCL’s annual Conservative Conference &amp; Lobby Day has gone virtual! This year attendees will meet online April 18 from 1-5 p.m. ET to learn from influential conservative voices shaping energy policy and advocacy. Speakers include former FERC chairman Neil Chatterjee, Executive Director of republicEN Bob Inglis, and more. The conference will be followed by a virtual lobby day on April 21st. Right-of-center attendees can apply to attend now. Attendees who are not right of center interested in attending can register for the live stream of select conference sessions (sessions taking place from 2:30-4 p.m. ET) on April 18th.


Take action this week

If you have a little time: Share this clip from Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. Earlier this year, Sen. Whitehouse delivered remarks to his colleagues in Congress in support of a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM). Calling the CBAM “our last lifeboat to climate safety,” he urged Congress to enact one in the U.S. to keep up with existing policies in the United Kingdom and European Union. Share Sen. Whitehouse’s remarks with your network on Instagram and Facebook to build support for this key climate policy.

If you have more time: Catch up on BRIDGE. In February, we took a deep dive into Unit 1, Section 2 of CCL’s BRIDGE advocacy training program: “The Six Moral Foundations: Understanding Others by Understanding Yourself.” This month, the latest section (and the final piece of Unit 1), “Applying Moral Foundations,” is available. Review all of the first unit at your own pace, then save the date for our next deep dive training March 26. 

Featured chapter: CCL Greater New Haven

By Mine Karatas, CCL Communications intern

CCL Greater New Haven stitched up something special for their Representative Rosa DeLauro (CT-03)—a personalized climate stripes scarf that told the story of climate change. It was presented to her during a lobby meeting on January 30, 2026.

The climate stripes are an idea that emerged from scientist Ed Hawkins, who started the artistic visualization of climate on textiles in 2018. They are widely recognized as a symbol of rising global temperatures over the years, with blues fading into reds.   

The scarf reflected global temperature increases throughout the 82-year-old Congresswoman’s life. The creation also had markings for the year she was born, her election to Congress, and other leadership milestones. 

Greater New Haven chapter volunteer Eunice Mahler’s idea began at CCL’s Northeast Regional Conference last year when volunteers took part in a Tempestry Project, which is a collaborative fiber arts piece that takes climate data and creates temperature tapestries. During the programming, they learned how to knit the hallmarks of climate change using different colors to represent temperature shifts.  

Eunice shared, “We gave it to her at the start of the meeting and pointed out the details sewn just for her. She was clearly very touched. She leaned in looking at all the years that were marked for her. She commented on the colors, the blues being colder than she ever knew. It was immediately clear to her that her birth year was around the time of the  average global temperature, yet the average global temperatures rise very fast after that.”

Eunice explained, “Our group thought about how to both connect with Rosa DeLauro on climate issues, plus thank her for what she has done for our district. We asked for a meeting with her when she was in district so we could present her the Global Climate Stripe Scarf in person.”

Great work, CCL Greater New Haven, you certainly made your lobby meeting memorable!

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

CCL Trainings
Our permitting reform educational series continues this month! ICYMI: Catch up on the first two trainings in this blog recap from CCL Research Manager Dana Nuccitelli.


3/5: Transmission Reform and Key Messages (CCL Permitting Reform Series) - America's old and outdated power grid has become a critical bottleneck preventing the country from adding the needed new clean energy sources that will reduce climate pollution while improving energy affordability and security. Join CCL's VP of Government Affairs Jenn Tyler and Research Manager Dana Nuccitelli to learn about why transmission reforms are a crucial climate solution, the details of potential transmission permitting reform provisions, and key messages for congressional offices. Join us!

3/19: Build Faster and Key Messages (CCL Permitting Reform Series) - Clean energy projects often encounter long, complex permitting steps that slow construction and raise costs. Practical permitting reforms can help ensure that good projects move forward faster while upholding environmental and community protections. Join CCL's VP of Government Affairs Jenn Tyler and Research Manager Dana Nuccitelli to learn about permitting reforms to build clean energy infrastructure faster, associated tensions and compromises, and key messages for congressional offices. Join us!

To see other events and CCL trainings, visit the Training Topics page of CCL Community.<br /><br />Posted by Elissa Tennant<br />Mar 5, 2026 12:00 am<hr noshade />]]></description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
            <guid>community.citizensclimate.org/bulletin/2101/586</guid>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Weekly Briefing: U.S. set to deploy record-breaking clean energy in 2026</title>
            <link>https://community.citizensclimate.org/bulletin/2101/585</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Feb. 25, 2026

Source: EIA.gov

A new report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects a record-shattering 86 gigawatts (GW) of new power generation will be added to the grid in 2026. 

That’s a lot of growth, but here’s the most exciting part: Half of that is expected to be solar, and nearly 80% solar and storage. In fact, solar and storage alone will add 28% more capacity than all U.S. grid additions in 2025. 

“I suspect a lot of this [additional solar power] is from solar projects rushing to qualify for the tax credits before they're eliminated,” said CCL Research Manager Dana Nuccitelli in a recent post analyzing the news on CCL Community. “That should carry over through the next couple of years since they have to ‘begin construction’ by the Fourth of July 2026 to qualify, but then it can take a couple of years to complete construction.”

Additionally, despite wind energy project cancellations over the past year, wind is expected to rebound a bit in 2026 as a handful of major offshore wind projects are scheduled to come online this year.

“Overall, a record amount of new power generation, 93% of which will be clean,” concluded Dana.

With numbers like these, the importance of permitting reform becomes even clearer. To reap the benefits of clean energy and get emissions down, we need to get clean power online faster. Bipartisan permitting reform legislation can speed up the process for clean energy projects already waiting to be built and connected to the grid. 

Read Dana’s full analysis of the good news and add your thoughts over on CCL Community’s Nerd Corner 🤓

Join the Conversation

Take action this week
If you have a little time: Email Congress asking to keep any new EV and hybrid fees fair. Congress is crafting and debating the next Highway Bill reauthorization package, and it will likely include a federal fee for EV and hybrid drivers. We need EVs and hybrids to remain an affordable, clean transportation option. If you haven’t already, ask your members of Congress to keep any new EV and hybrid fee fair compared to the current gas tax. If you’ve already emailed, invite a concerned friend or family member to do the same.

If you have more time: Promote the Conservative Conference in your community. Registration is officially open for CCL’s Virtual Conservative Conference &amp; Lobby Day this April 18 and 21. This event for CCL’s right-of-center climate advocates provides a chance to link up with the broader eco-right movement, learn about climate and clean energy policy, and lobby Congress to pass it. There are few opportunities for right-of-center environmentalists to come together, which is what makes this annual conference so special. Think about groups or people in your wider network who may be a fit and pass on the registration link.

Featured chapter: CCL Chicago
By Mine Karatas, CCL Communications intern

CCL Chicago recently held a unique event bringing people together to sing climate karaoke!  

Around 15 members of the chapter bundled up and ventured out to Lincoln Karaoke in Chicago on January 22 to sing their hearts out and connect with one another. 

As they chose hits to belt out, their mission was to pick songs loosely linked to climate change for a fun sing-off. 

On the playlist were “All I Wanna Do (is have a livable climate)” by Sheryl Crow and Bruce Springsteen’s Thunder Road, envisaging the Boss driving an EV on an epic road trip.

CCL’s climate work can feel heavy, and that’s why it’s important to make time for lighter moments of connection. 

“Over the years, I have heard the opinion that activities that are not directly related to our work are a waste of time. But our chapter continues to grow by ensuring we are an enjoyable group to spend time with," says Illinois State Coordinator Alex Marianyi. “We've nearly doubled the number of people we've brought to D.C. to lobby each of the last two years. Planning these kinds of events is definitely worth our time.”

In addition to events like this, CCL Chicago members conduct outreach at community events and connect through activities like gardening and movie nights.

Where do we sign up?

Want to read more? See CCL’s Chicago's blog post about the event here.

Upcoming trainings
2/26: Geothermal Action Team event with Fervo Energy - CCL’s Geothermal Action team invites you to an exclusive conversation with Fervo Energy co-founder and CEO Tim Latimer. In the coming months, Fervo Energy will bring online the first 100 megawatts of its pathbreaking 500-megawatt project—the largest enhanced geothermal power plant in the world. Hear how the Fervo team built on decades of geothermal research and oil-and-gas expertise to achieve breakthroughs that put gigawatts of clean, firm power within immediate reach and accelerate the clean energy transition. Join us!

2/26: The Six Moral Foundations: Understanding Others by Understanding Yourself - This training will take a deeper dive into CCL's BRIDGE Training #2 and explore how Moral Foundations Theory helps us better understand the values that shape how people interpret climate solutions and public policy. We’ll cover why people can care deeply about the same world—but prioritize different values and practice noticing which moral values may be shaping a conversation and learn how to communicate in ways that resonate across political and cultural differences. Come ready to reflect, practice, and expand your toolkit for engaging across differences. Join us!

3/5: Transmission Reform and Key Messages (CCL Permitting Reform Series) - America's old and outdated power grid has become a critical bottleneck preventing the country from adding the needed new clean energy sources that will reduce climate pollution while improving energy affordability and security. Join CCL's VP of Government Affairs Jenn Tyler and Research Manager Dana Nuccitelli to learn about why transmission reforms are a crucial climate solution, the details of potential transmission permitting reform provisions, and key messages for congressional offices. Join us!

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

 <br /><br />Posted by Elissa Tennant<br />Feb 26, 2026 12:00 am<hr noshade />]]></description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
            <guid>community.citizensclimate.org/bulletin/2101/585</guid>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Weekly Briefing: Registration is open for CCL’s Virtual Conservative Conference &amp; Lobby Day</title>
            <link>https://community.citizensclimate.org/bulletin/2101/584</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Feb. 18, 2026


Registration is officially open for CCL’s Virtual Conservative Conference &amp; Lobby Day! This annual event for CCL’s right-of-center climate advocates provides a chance to link up with the broader eco-right movement, learn about climate and clean energy policy, and lobby Congress to pass it. And for the first time ever, it’s totally online, making it easy for you to attend from anywhere in the country.

The conference itself will take place Saturday, April 18 from 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT to 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT. Attendees will hear from influential conservative voices shaping energy policy and advocacy, including former FERC chairman Neil Chatterjee and Executive Director of republicEN Bob Inglis. 

A virtual lobby day is scheduled for the following Tuesday, April 21, where attendees will put the latest insights and guidance from CCL’s Government Affairs team into action as they meet with Republican Members of Congress.

While this Lobby Day is reserved for right-of-center advocates, select portions of the conference program will be available via livestream to attendees of all political affiliations. This option may be especially relevant for CCL liaisons to Republican Members of Congress or CCLers in heavily Republican states. 

Will we see you there?

 I’m ready to apply! 💪

In other news this week:

CCL’s statement on the EPA endangerment finding: The EPA has finalized its proposal to rescind its 2009 determination that climate pollution endangers public health and welfare, also known as the “endangerment finding.” The decision reveals that regulations alone are not a reliable path to enduring climate action. Ultimately, it’s action from Congress that “will drive the deep, long-term emissions reductions we need,” CCL VP of Government Affairs, Jenn Tyler, said in our official statement.

Take action this week
If you have a little time: Email Congress asking to keep any new EV and hybrid fees fair. Congress is crafting and debating the next Highway Bill reauthorization package, and it will likely include a federal fee for EV and hybrid drivers. We need EVs and hybrids to remain an affordable, clean transportation option. Tell your members of Congress: Keep any new EV and hybrid fee fair compared to the current gas tax.

If you have more time: Start gathering Constituent Letter Forms ahead of the spring recess. There’s an active, bipartisan discussion happening in Congress around permitting reform. But Congress needs grassroots support and encouragement to turn this discussion into action. Now is the time to start gathering Constituent Letter Forms about permitting reform to drop off at Congressional offices during the March 30 - April 10 spring recess. At your chapter meetings, outreach events, or other activities this month, encourage people to fill out our updated form about permitting reform. The more forms we receive, the more local support we can show Congress for our climate policy priorities.

Featured chapter: CCL Lynchburg
CCL Lynchburg kicked off 2026 with an incredible strategic planning session. Co-group leaders Steve Selby and Robin Peeler wanted to start the year strong with an activity that would encourage members to engage in chapter planning and share their ideas.

Steve and Robin hung up five posters, each labeled with one of CCL’s five levers of political will: lobbying Congress, media outreach, grassroots outreach, grasstops engagement, and chapter development. Each member received a stack of Post-It notes where they could write their ideas for activities the chapter could support under each category. 

“We broke into five groups,” explained Steve. “Everybody was really working with another person and writing their ideas under each lever for what we’d like to do now, do in one year, and where we’d like to be in five years.”

“We got some repeat ideas,” added Robin. “Which we took as: If a lot of people came up with it, then that would be a really popular idea that the group would support.”

Steve and Robin collected all the posters at the end of the planning session to  consolidate ideas and present tentative plans to the group at their next chapter meeting. “We’re feeling very positive about it,” said Robin. “It’s really good that we got everybody’s input.” 

Way to set the bar high, CCL Lynchburg! We can’t wait to see what your chapter accomplishes this year and beyond.

CTA/closing: Steve and Robin shared these updates during CCL’s February Monthly meeting on Saturday. Watch their full update starting at the 39:38 mark.

Upcoming events

2/19: CCL’s Mission &amp; Policy Commitments - Join CCL Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Flannery Winchester, for a deep dive into CCL’s recently updated mission statement and new policy commitments. These were presented during CCL’s February meeting on Saturday and are available in an updated version of CCL’s 2026 Strategic Plan. This training will give you a chance to ask questions and practice using these ideas in outreach conversations. Join us!

2/25: Carbon Pricing Action Team kickoff: CCL has worked hard to advance carbon pricing since our earliest years. Now, we’ve formed a dedicated Carbon Pricing Action Team where volunteers can discuss the carbon pricing landscape, share carbon pricing news, and explore effective advocacy strategies. The Carbon Pricing Action Team will host its official kickoff meeting Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. Join us!

2/26: Geothermal Action Team event with Fervo Energy: CCL’s Geothermal Action team invites you to an exclusive conversation with Fervo Energy co-founder and CEO Tim Latimer. In the coming months, Fervo Energy will bring online the first 100 megawatts of its pathbreaking 500-megawatt project—the largest enhanced geothermal power plant in the world. Hear how the Fervo team built on decades of geothermal research and oil-and-gas expertise to achieve breakthroughs that put gigawatts of clean, firm power within immediate reach and accelerate the clean energy transition. Join us!

2/26: The Six Moral Foundations: Understanding Others by Understanding Yourself - This training will take a deeper dive into CCL's BRIDGE Training #2 and explore how Moral Foundations Theory helps us better understand the values that shape how people interpret climate solutions and public policy. We’ll cover why people can care deeply about the same world—but prioritize different values and practice noticing which moral values may be shaping a conversation and learn how to communicate in ways that resonate across political and cultural differences. Come ready to reflect, practice, and expand your toolkit for engaging across differences. Join us!

To see other events and CCL trainings, visit the Training Topics page of CCL Community.<br /><br />Posted by Elissa Tennant<br />Feb 19, 2026 12:00 am<hr noshade />]]></description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 19 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
            <guid>community.citizensclimate.org/bulletin/2101/584</guid>
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        <item>
            <title>Weekly Briefing: Feb. Monthly Meeting to feature Braver Angels co-founder</title>
            <link>https://community.citizensclimate.org/bulletin/2101/583</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Feb. 11, 2026


Feb. Monthly Meeting to feature Braver Angels co-founder
“The forces of polarization that brought us to this crisis moment are not going away soon. We have real work ahead.” That was the key message from William J. Doherty, Ph.D., in a recent newsletter from the organization Braver Angels.

As a therapist, Bill helps people work with powerful emotions. And right now, “Political stress is stirring up two main emotions—fear and outrage,” he explained in his newsletter. “It takes a special form of courage to keep engaging.”

We’re excited to welcome Bill as our guest speaker on CCL’s February meeting this Saturday, Feb. 14, at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT. His perspective as co-founder of Braver Angels will help us navigate the polarized political environment while staying true to our mission and values.  

For CCL volunteers committed to respectful, nonpartisan climate advocacy, this conversation goes to the core of who we are. We’re always willing to keep talking, and keep listening, in search of common ground — and volunteers are learning to do that better than ever in our new BRIDGE Advocacy Program. Bill’s reflections will remind us about the value of this uncommon approach and encourage us to keep at it.

Join us on Saturday for this timely and deeply relevant conversation. You won’t want to miss it.

RSVP for Saturday's call

In other news this week:


	Geothermal Action Team event: CCL’s Geothermal Action team invites you to an exclusive conversation with Fervo Energy co-founder and CEO Tim Latimer on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT. In the coming months, Fervo Energy will bring online the first 100 megawatts of its pathbreaking 500-megawatt project—the largest enhanced geothermal power plant in the world. Register now to hear how the Fervo team built on decades of geothermal research and oil-and-gas expertise to achieve breakthroughs that put gigawatts of clean, firm power within immediate reach and accelerate the clean energy transition.
	Carbon Pricing Action Team kickoff: CCL has worked hard to advance carbon pricing since our earliest years. Now, we’ve formed a dedicated Carbon Pricing Action Team where volunteers can discuss the carbon pricing landscape, share carbon pricing news, and explore effective advocacy strategies. The Carbon Pricing Action Team will host its official kickoff meeting Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. Visit the group’s page on CCL Community to learn more and RSVP.


Take action this week
If you have a little time: Drum up excitement for Saturday’s Monthly Meeting. We’re looking forward to an excellent and timely conversation with Bill Doherty, co-founder of Braver Angels. Let’s show up big time to show our appreciation! Invite a friend to Saturday’s call (kicking off at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT) or share CCL’s social media posts about the event on Facebook, X, Bluesky, or LinkedIn. 

If you have more time: Generate local media on permitting reform. In our Action Sheet this month, we’re encouraging volunteers to generate local media on the need for permitting reform. Write an LTE using these talking points or download, customize, and submit our latest permitting reform op-ed template. Reach out to local reporters and share how permitting reform would directly impact your community. Need more details on permitting reform? Watch our new Permitting Reform Training series for more points you could highlight in your local media pieces.



Featured chapter: CCL North Atlanta

The CCL North Atlanta chapter wrapped up the year with a joyful holiday potluck—and a meaningful surprise. At the party, the chapter presented longtime volunteer John Shackleton with a special award honoring nearly eight years of behind-the-scenes climate leadership.

“For about eight years, John sent out an email nearly every day identifying articles in the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC) that dealt with climate change and therefore could be the basis for an LTE,” said chapter leader Jerry Tokars. “ He did this even when on vacation or out of town.”

John’s work helped sustain one of the Georgia CCL chapters' most impactful advocacy tools. "Atlanta is the news hub of Georgia,” said state co-coordinator Henry Slack. “People around the state read the Atlanta papers to find out what's going on.”

In addition to the plaque presentation, the chapter’s celebration featured great potluck-style food, a basket of small gifts, and end-of-year reflections from chapter members and leadership.

Shout out to North Atlanta for taking the time to recognize such an impressive individual contribution. (And thank you to North Atlanta chapter leader Jerry Tokars for taking up the mantle and continuing to send out the LTE-inspiration email!)

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

Upcoming trainings

2/12: Election Season Activities - Since 2026 is a midterm election year, attend  this training to review CCL's advice on engaging candidates and members of Congress effectively during campaign season and public events.We’ll cover how to stay proudly nonpartisan while encouraging science-based climate ambition and documenting outreach to strengthen long-term advocacy. Join us!

2/19: CCL’s Mission &amp; Policy Commitments - Join CCL Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Flannery Winchester, for a deep dive into CCL’s recently updated mission statement and new policy commitments. These will be presented during CCL’s February meeting and are available in an updated version of CCL’s 2026 Strategic Plan. This training will give you a chance to ask questions and practice using these ideas in outreach conversations. Join us!

2/26: The Six Moral Foundations: Understanding Others by Understanding Yourself - This training will take a deeper dive into CCL's BRIDGE Training #2 and explore how Moral Foundations Theory helps us better understand the values that shape how people interpret climate solutions and public policy. We’ll cover why people can care deeply about the same world—but prioritize different values and practice noticing which moral values may be shaping a conversation and learn how to communicate in ways that resonate across political and cultural differences. Come ready to reflect, practice, and expand your toolkit for engaging across differences. Join us!

To see other events and CCL trainings, visit the Training Topics page of CCL Community.<br /><br />Posted by Elissa Tennant<br />Feb 12, 2026 12:00 am<hr noshade />]]></description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 12 Feb 2026 08:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
            <guid>community.citizensclimate.org/bulletin/2101/583</guid>
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        <item>
            <title>Weekly Briefing: Senate EPW committee holds promising permitting reform hearing</title>
            <link>https://community.citizensclimate.org/bulletin/2101/581</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Feb. 4, 2026


Permitting reform is an active conversation in Congress. This is exciting news for CCLers, who have been engaging on this topic with lawmakers since the 118th Congress (2023-2024).

Last Wednesday, Jan. 28, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, held a committee hearing, leading a high-profile discussion on “federal environmental review and permitting processes.”

Committee member Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) delivered opening remarks, saying, “I know we can expedite the permitting process with sound, bipartisan ideas.”

“We all know the United States needs more power,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, at the start of the hearing. “Data centers, domestic manufacturing, and AI are among the largest drivers of energy demand, and that power needs to be built now.”

The proceedings were encouraging, with attendees generally agreeing there is a path forward that can streamline new energy projects (95% of which are clean energy) to help the U.S. meet its growing demands.

Sen. John Curtis (R-UT) affirmed his intent for an energy permitting process that will “ensure sound decision-making, public input, and environmental stewardship all within a reasonable and transparent timeframe.” 

The hearing set the stage for Congress to take up future permitting reform legislation. We’re working hard to urge lawmakers to pass a comprehensive permitting reform package, and to support that effort,  CCL’s Research and Government Affairs teams have begun a series of trainings on the topic. The first two, Introduction to Permitting Reform Basics and Understanding the Permitting Reform Landscape, took place in January, with more scheduled for the coming months.

“Permitting reform is about making America a destination for greater investment, keeping us competitive, and strengthening manufacturing and other domestic industries, protecting the environment, and creating good jobs that support our communities,” said Brendan Bechtel, chair of Business Roundtable’s Smart Regulation Committee. “The key to achieving this is comprehensive, bipartisan, permitting reform legislation.”

We look forward to nerding out with you in upcoming permitting reform trainings. See what we have planned in Research Manager Dana Nuccitelli’s latest blog.

Read Dana's blog
 

In other news this week:


	Celebrating the launch of BRIDGE: In our 2026 Strategic Plan, we outlined a new advocacy program called BRIDGE — and now, that program has officially begun! The BRIDGE Advocacy Program will shape the way we approach our work in 2026 and beyond. Read more in this new blog post with insights from CCL VP of Field Operations, Brett Cease, about what trainees can expect. If you want to move Congress forward on climate change, and you understand it’s going to take something above and beyond the usual tactics, this is the program for you. 


Take action this week
If you have a little time: Share CCL’s social posts about the PROVE IT Act. As we shared in last week’s newsletter, language from the PROVE IT Act was included in a funding package that is now law! As CCL continues to advocate for trade policies that reduce emissions, this win is an important one, and we’re thrilled to see this policy idea make it across the finish line after all our advocacy for it in 2023 and 2024. Spread the word by sharing CCL’s posts about our PROVE IT Act advocacy on Facebook, LinkedIn, Bluesky, or X.

If you have more time: Start BRIDGE Unit 1. Since BRIDGE launched in January, almost 500 volunteers have completed the first training section, called “Understanding Ourselves to Better Understand Others.” These volunteers have awarded the program an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars. More than 200 volunteers joined in on the first live training to take a deeper dive into Unit 1, Section 1. Ready to join the party? Get started with BRIDGE today!

Featured chapter: CCL Las Vegas
As we've seen time and time again, CCL chapter members are experts in building community and fostering connection. The Las Vegas chapter proved this with a fabulous celebration to wrap up 2025 and look ahead to 2026.

Members from the Las Vegas chapter, pictured above, met to watch CCL's National Monthly Meeting in December. After the call, they shared homemade snacks and discussed plans for the new year.

Chapter members also hand wrote notes that were hung on a mini holiday tree. Las Vegas Group Leader Joanne Leovy shared some of the gratitudes and hopes for 2026 written and hung on the branches:

	"I am grateful for the power of personal action and focused persistence. I dream of a return to focus on climate action from our government."
	"I hope to spend time volunteering and making a difference with CCL in 2026!"
	"Continued effort and persistence in 2026!"
	"Hope — people begin to realize that green energy is good for the economy."
	"I hope we can make more community connections."
	"Grateful to be part of a lobby meeting."
	"I am thankful that I have a place and community where I can actually do something about climate."
	"Gratitude for the fantastic beauty of our planet. Goals — continued climate advocacy."


What a wonderful way to celebrate the end of the year, build community, and look ahead to 2026. Great work, CCL Las Vegas!

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

Upcoming trainings

2/5: The Challenge of Energy Affordability and Security - Electrification is a key climate solution in the transition to clean energy sources. But electricity rates are rising fast and face surging demand from artificial intelligence data centers. Expensive electricity and an insufficient power supply could endanger electrification efforts. Fortunately, in an age of high costs of living, policymakers are very interested in finding solutions. Join CCL's Research Manager Dana Nuccitelli, supported by CCL's Electrification Action Team, to learn what's behind rising electricity rates and energy insecurity, and how we can solve these problems. Join us!

2/12: Election Season Activities - Since 2026 is a midterm election year, attend  this training to review CCL's advice on engaging candidates and members of Congress effectively during campaign season and public events.We’ll cover how to stay proudly nonpartisan while encouraging science-based climate ambition and documenting outreach to strengthen long-term advocacy. Join us!

To see other events and CCL trainings, visit the Training Topics page of CCL Community.<br /><br />Posted by Elissa Tennant<br />Feb 4, 2026 5:20 pm<hr noshade />]]></description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 01:20:19 +0100</pubDate>
            <guid>community.citizensclimate.org/bulletin/2101/581</guid>
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        <item>
            <title>Weekly Briefing: Snow, ice &amp; cold temps underscore the importance of energy permitting reform</title>
            <link>https://community.citizensclimate.org/bulletin/2101/580</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Jan. 28, 2026

Source: CNN Weather

Millions of Americans braced for extreme weather this past week, buying out grocery stores and stocking up on emergency preparedness supplies. Chances are, you experienced (or are actively experiencing) at least one of these in the last five days: 

	Ice and snow storms: More than 19 states saw over a foot of snow. Even states that have typically mild or warmer climates were impacted. The Dallas-Fort Worth Airport saw 0.5 inches of snow, breaking a record previously set in 1949. Southern states were also impacted by ice storms with accumulations in unexpected cities like Corpus Christi, TX, Myrtle Beach, SC, and Rayville, LA.
	Extreme cold: A surge of Arctic air has deposited frigid temperatures across much of the U.S. States from Texas to Maine are under extreme cold watches. More than half of Americans continue to face unusually cold and potentially dangerous temperatures.
	Power outages: Every time an extreme weather event hits, America’s aging power grid faces yet another test. Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses lost power over the weekend. On Monday, 800,000 people still did not have power, despite the freezing cold temperatures.


Per the New York Times, “Weather and climate are not the same thing, but they are related. In a broad sense, climate change encourages extreme weather events by altering the background conditions in the atmosphere.” A warming atmosphere can hold more moisture, for example, leading to intense precipitation.

As climate change advances, extreme weather is a growing threat to America’s infrastructure, health, and safety.  But comprehensive permitting reform — which CCL is working hard to make happen in Congress — can help in a few ways. 

First, expanding transmission allows us to connect geographically diverse regions. If one region is hit by a storm that knocks out some power generation, but a region outside the area impacted by the storm can share some of their extra power, it can reduce power outages. 

Second, permitting reform will help us build more available power generation, making us more resilient against outages. Batteries in particular are helpful because they can store energy in anticipation of potential outages from a storm. One study found that areas with more renewable energy already integrated into their power grid experienced fewer blackouts. 

Research from Potential Energy Coalition shows that “extreme weather events are pivotal moments for education and building support” around climate change. Share CCL’s social media posts to help your network connect the dots between the impacts of this winter storm and the policy action that can help.

Then, reach out to your representative and senators. The longer we delay permitting reform, the longer clean energy stays off the grid and the more vulnerable Americans become to extreme weather and blackouts. Ask Congress to enact bipartisan permitting reform legislation now.

Call Congress in Support of Permitting Reform ⚡

In other news


	
	PROVE IT Act language becomes law: In a quiet — but exciting! — development in D.C., language from the PROVE IT Act was recently included in an appropriations bill that has now been signed into law.

	The PROVE IT Act was a bill in the 118th Congress (2023-2024) that would have directed the Department of Energy to measure the carbon intensity of certain goods produced at home and abroad, helping America negotiate effectively with trading partners who have carbon tariffs in place, such as Europe. CCL advocated for it with hundreds of lobby meetings and other mobilization efforts throughout the 118th Congress.

	In the Energy and Water Appropriations bill that was just signed into law, Congress included language very similar to the PROVE IT Act, directing the Department of Energy to calculate the carbon intensity difference between American and foreign products that are covered by Europe's carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM). As CCL continues to advocate for trade policies that reduce emissions, this policy win is an important one.

	We're thrilled that this policy idea finally found the right legislative vehicle and the right moment to make it across the finish line, and we're proud of all our advocacy work that helped make this progress possible!
	
	Offshore wind projects resume: Late last year, the Trump administration announced it would pause five offshore wind leases for at least 90 days, effectively halting construction. As of Friday, three of the five projects have been restarted thanks to industry lawsuits. The final two are currently making their way through federal courts. We’re looking forward to seeing more renewable, affordable energy make its way to the East Coast via these critical infrastructure projects.


Take action this week
If you have a little time: Contact your Senator in support of FOFA. In 2025, the Fix Our Forests Act (FOFA) passed the House and the Senate Agriculture Committee with strong bipartisan votes. Next, it will be up for consideration by the full Senate. So far, we’ve sent 3,577 messages to Congress asking them to support the bill. Help us reach our goal of 5,000! Send your Senator a message to let them know about the bill’s progress and voice your support.

If you have more time: Attend CCL’s Liaison Training tomorrow. Interested in deepening your climate advocacy in 2026 by working more closely with your Members of Congress and their staff? Tomorrow, Jan. 29, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, attend CCL’s “Becoming a CCL Liaison” training. This event will provide an overview of the Congressional Liaisons Program, what the responsibilities are for the role, how to get involved if you are interested, and how to find out if there is a liaison need in your Congressional district. If you can’t attend in person, this event will be recorded and posted on CCL Community.

Featured chapter: CCL Minneapolis
CCL Minneapolis recently put together this wonderful year-in-review to celebrate their 2025 climate advocacy accomplishments, including holding 20 lobby meetings, making 698 contacts with their Members of Congress, and welcoming 99 new members.

"I’m so impressed with all our new volunteers who’ve stepped up this year in so many different ways for our chapter," says Group Leader Andy Willette, from tabling at the Monarch Festival, which celebrates the monarch's 2,300-mile migration from Minnesota to Mexico, to gathering and delivering 50+ constituent letters to their Senators' office this past fall, and much more.

But top of mind for the Minneapolis chapter right now is not climate change — it is their community. After multiple instances of deadly violence from federal agents in their city, claiming the lives of Renée Good on Jan. 7 and Alex Pretti on Saturday, CCL Minneapolis group leader Andy Willette says, "We are in pain."

Poet Amanda Gorman said in a new piece honoring Alex Pretti, "To care intensively, united, is to carry both pain-dark horror for today and a profound, daring hope for tomorrow." In that spirit, CCL Minneapolis chapter members will be tabling at another event this weekend, even as many of them continue to participate in vigils, mutual aid, speaking out, and finding other ways, big and small, to support and protect their neighbors.

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

CCL Trainings
2/5: The Challenge of Energy Affordability and Security - Electrification is a key climate solution in the transition to clean energy sources. But electricity rates are rising fast and face surging demand from artificial intelligence data centers. Expensive electricity and an insufficient power supply could endanger electrification efforts. Fortunately, in an age of high costs of living, policymakers are very interested in finding solutions. Join CCL's Research Manager Dana Nuccitelli, supported by CCL's Electrification Action Team to learn what's behind rising electricity rates and energy insecurity, and how we can solve these problems. Join us!

WATCH: From Intuition to Insight: Understanding How We All Make Meaning - This training, which took place Jan. 22, explores the first unit in CCL's BRIDGE Advocacy Program. Take a deeper look at how all of us arrive at decisions and form beliefs, using insights from behavioral science. Then, explore why intuition and emotion usually come first, and how reasoning often follows to justify those initial reactions, and why this matters for our climate advocacy. Watch Recording.

To see other events and CCL trainings, visit the Training Topics page of CCL Community.
 <br /><br />Posted by Elissa Tennant<br />Jan 29, 2026 12:00 am<hr noshade />]]></description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0100</pubDate>
            <guid>community.citizensclimate.org/bulletin/2101/580</guid>
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            <title>Weekly Briefing: Understand the ‘why’ behind how Members of Congress think</title>
            <link>https://community.citizensclimate.org/bulletin/2101/579</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Jan. 21, 2026


Does your Member of Congress take stances on climate policy that don’t totally make sense to you? Do you wonder why people in your community don’t jump on board when you tell them about climate solutions? You’re not alone — it’s complicated and difficult to understand how others think. But to be effective climate advocates, we need to do exactly that.

“We know that policy change doesn’t happen just because we have the best data or strongest arguments,” says CCL Vice President of Field Operations Dr. Brett Cease. “It happens when people feel understood, respected, and invited into solutions that connect to their values.”

That’s why one of CCL’s major initiatives for 2026 is the new Building Relationships in Dialogue, Growth, and Engagement program, or BRIDGE. BRIDGE is a volunteer training program designed to help trainees become even more effective climate advocates by deepening skills in communication, relationship-building, and strategic engagement.

Brett introduced the program live at CCL’s January meeting earlier this month. 

When we understand the “why” behind the way people think, it allows us to become more consistent, strategic, and aligned in how we work with our communities and Members of Congress across the political spectrum.

The program is grouped into three units with three training sessions each. Unit 1 is now live and covers the foundations of relational advocacy. Because BRIDGE is designed to be a comprehensive, step-by-step journey, Units 2 and 3 will be available later in the year after volunteers have had a chance to absorb Unit 1.

For anyone who wants to go deeper, CCL’s Field Operations team will host a monthly BRIDGE Deep Dive training on the third Thursday of the month. Those sessions will give space for discussion, examples, role-play, and reflection with other volunteers.

The first training deep dive, titled “From Intuition to Insight: Understanding How We All Make Meaning,” kicks off tomorrow, Jan. 22, at 8 ET/5 PT. Get the Zoom link and post your questions in advance to the Event Comments section. The recorded training will be available at this link after Thursday’s event.

I'll Be There

In other news


	NCAR funding update: In early January, CCLers sent over 7,000 messages to Congress urging sustained funding for NCAR. On Jan. 15, the Senate passed a bill fully funding the National Science Foundation’s research programs, which fund NCAR each year. This result from Congress is important for climate research and other vital scientific efforts, and as additional opportunities arise throughout the appropriations process, CCL will continue to push for sustained funding for climate research and programs. 


Take action this week
If you have a little time: Share a quote from CCL’s new Executive Director. On our January Monthly Meeting, CCL Executive Director Ricky Bradley gave a State of the Organization update, which you can watch on YouTube. Spread the word that CCLers are sticking to our values and committing to climate work in 2026 by sharing a quote from Ricky’s update on Instagram, Facebook, or Bluesky. 

If you have more time: Organize a snowman protest. You know who stands the most to lose with a warmer climate? Snow people. If it's safe to do so, you can take advantage of the snow to send a message in an eye-catching and fun way with a snowman protest! Help snowmen reach out to their elected officials. Head to our Snowman Protest Toolkit on CCL Community for everything you’ll need, including a how-to guide, media guide, and printable materials.

Featured chapter: CCL Berkshires
Did you know a sea anemone can live as long as 500 years? It's true! But climate change might affect that number. That's just one of the climate trivia questions folks answered at CCL Berkshires' holiday gathering last month at On a Roll Cafe.

"We had a climate trivia game — courtesy of CCL Washington State Coordinator Elli Gittelman — gave out sustainable prizes and ordered delicious food," says Pauline Banducci, who leads the Berkshires chapter with Judy Fox. "People loved it. Connection is so important!" 

Bolstered by that end-of-year connection, CCL Berkshires is now swinging into action for 2026. Several chapter members are preparing to give climate presentations in area schools. One local CCLer is joining with others across Massachusetts to boost the climate action conversation on social media. Another is working to secure sponsorships for the multi-state CCL conference coming up in April in nearby Schenectady, New York.

Great work, CCL Berkshires!

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

Upcoming trainings
1/22: From Intuition to Insight: Understanding How We All Make Meaning - As detailed at the top of this newsletter, this training will begin to explore the first lesson in CCL's BRIDGE Advocacy Program. We’ll take a deeper look at how all of us form beliefs, using Moral Foundations Theory and insights from behavioral science. We’ll explore why intuition and emotion usually come first, and how reasoning often follows to justify those initial reactions. The focus is on self-awareness as a foundation for stronger, more respectful advocacy across differences. Join us!

1/26: CCL Health January: Framing the Conversation Around Health - Climate impacts often feel as if theyʼre a long way in the future. But the health impacts of climate change can get peopleʼs attention. This joint session from CCL’s Health and Electrification Action Teams will summarize the many impacts of indoor air quality and energy burden and will share insights into the state of the clean energy transition. Join us!

To see other events and CCL trainings, visit the Training Topics page of CCL Community.<br /><br />Posted by Elissa Tennant<br />Jan 22, 2026 1:12 pm<hr noshade />]]></description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 22 Jan 2026 21:12:59 +0100</pubDate>
            <guid>community.citizensclimate.org/bulletin/2101/579</guid>
        </item>
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            <title>Weekly Briefing: Appropriations bills reject most White House cuts to climate and clean energy ...</title>
            <link>https://community.citizensclimate.org/bulletin/2101/578</link>
            <description><![CDATA[Jan. 14, 2026



CCL’s first Monthly Meeting of the year, which took place this past Saturday, set the tone for our 2026 advocacy. Executive Director Ricky Bradley said, “Steady, values-driven work still matters — even when the political winds are rough and the outcomes are far from guaranteed.” The call featured updates on fundraising, leadership, our new BRIDGE program, and a new appropriations action — and those are just January’s major updates! 

We encourage you to watch the call recording if you weren’t able to attend. But if you’re short on time, we’ll share one of our favorite segments from the call: an update on our appropriations asks.

When we first asked Congress to fully fund climate and clean energy programs last year, it was a new kind of ask for CCLers. While we usually channel our grassroots advocacy into specific policies and bills, this was the first time we asked Congress to channel funding to existing climate programs — and it’s paying off. 

Congress is now using its “power of the purse” to push back against major cuts proposed by the executive branch. After we reached out to Congress asking them to fund NOAA, NASA and Department of Energy programs, we’re now seeing the following results:

	Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E): Senate funded $350M, limiting cuts to $110M—far less than the $200M cut proposed by the Trump Administration, preserving a core engine of breakthrough clean-energy innovation.
	Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE): Senate funded $3.1B, rejecting the Trump Administration’s proposal to slash funding to $888M and the Administration's suggestion that the office could be eliminated entirely—protecting efficiency and renewable deployment nationwide.
	NASA Science: Senate funded science missions at $7.25B, a modest 1.1% reduction, compared to the 47% cut proposed by the Trump Administration, safeguarding critical Earth and climate science.
	NOAA: Senate maintained overall funding at $6.2B, rejecting the Administration’s proposed $2.2B cut to research and grants, and preserving the Office of Atmospheric Research at near-level funding despite proposals to eliminate it entirely.


Congress has yet to pass the final appropriations bills, but both the House and Senate have proposed bills rejecting these cuts. We can confidently say the final bills will look similar to these funding levels. Though this is a new avenue of advocacy for us, it is definitely proving to be successful. Great work, CCLers!

Get the full appropriations update and learn more about CCL’s efforts by watching the Monthly Meeting recording.

Watch Now

Take action this week
If you have a little time: Spread the word about the EU CBAM. In major carbon pricing news, the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) went into effect January 1. In order to trade certain goods with Europe, importers must now pay for the greenhouse gas emissions of their products. CCLers are hard at work encouraging the U.S. to follow the EU’s example! Spread the word by sharing CCL’s social media posts about the CBAM on X and Bluesky.

If you have more time: Kick off the year with a Letter to the Editor. This month is full of timely messages for LTEs. Consider writing about NCAR funding, the Fix Our Forests Act or the importance of addressing climate change in 2026. If you need a little support, join our monthly LTE party tonight! CCL Communications &amp; Media Manager Charlotte Ward hosts a 5-minute training to get you started, followed by a 20-minute period of focused time off-camera to start writing your letter, and then a chance to discuss your draft or ask questions. Register here for tonight’s workshop, which starts at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET, or an LTE party in an upcoming month.

Upcoming trainings
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!

1/22: From Intuition to Insight: Understanding How We All Make Meaning - This training will begin to explore the first lesson in CCL's BRIDGE Advocacy Program. We’ll take a deeper look at how all of us form beliefs, using Moral Foundations Theory and insights from behavioral science. We’ll explore why intuition and emotion usually come first, and how reasoning often follows to justify those initial reactions. The focus is on self-awareness as a foundation for stronger, more respectful advocacy across differences.  Join us!

1/26: CCL Health January: Framing the Conversation Around Health - Climate impacts often feel as if theyʼre a long way in the future. But the health impacts of climate change can get peopleʼs attention. This joint session from CCL’s Health and Electrification Action Teams will summarize the many impacts of indoor air quality and energy burden and will share insights into the state of the clean energy transition. Join us!

To see other events and CCL trainings, visit the Training Topics page of CCL Community.<br /><br />Posted by Elissa Tennant<br />Jan 22, 2026 12:40 pm<hr noshade />]]></description>
            <pubDate>Thu, 22 Jan 2026 20:40:21 +0100</pubDate>
            <guid>community.citizensclimate.org/bulletin/2101/578</guid>
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            <title>Weekly Briefing: We reached our year-end fundraising goal!</title>
            <link>https://community.citizensclimate.org/bulletin/2101/577</link>
            <description><![CDATA[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.<br /><br />Posted by Elissa Tennant<br />Jan 7, 2026 2:06 pm<hr noshade />]]></description>
            <pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2026 22:06:01 +0100</pubDate>
            <guid>community.citizensclimate.org/bulletin/2101/577</guid>
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