Citizens' Climate Lobby

Fall 2024 Conference | Citizens' Climate Lobby | The Continuing Case for Permitting Reform

The urgency of the climate crisis demands bold action to cut net emissions as swiftly as possible. Clean Energy Permitting Reform offers a critical opportunity to make substantial progress with the U.S. currently off-track to meet Paris Agreement commitments. Rob Gramlich President, Grid Strategies LLC and Shane Londagin Senior Policy Advisor for Innovation, Third Way join CCL's Research Coordinator Dana Nuccitelli to discuss the need for more permitting reform and why CCL believes the Energy Permitting Reform Act can lead to meaningful emissions reductions.

Fall 2024 Conference | Citizens' Climate Lobby | Lowdown on our Legislative Landscape

An inside look at the upcoming legislative landscape and what we can expect moving forward. Our legislative team — Ben Pendergrass and Mindy Ahler — reviews our goals for the remainder of this Congressional session and what’s on the horizon as a new Congress moves into focus. Learn why Permitting Reform will continue to be a policy priority and what work we can do before this Congress ends in a few weeks. We’ll also review our upcoming Lobbying Asks.

Fall 2024 Conference | Citizens' Climate Lobby | Rachel Kerestes - A Look Ahead

CCL's Executive Director looks ahead to our work in the 119th Congress.

Fall 2024 Conference | Citizens' Climate Lobby | Flannery Winchester - CCL Roadmap

Throughout the year, CCL’s policy roadmap has steered us on our journey to influence America’s climate policy. CCL’s Vice President of Communications, Flannery Winchester, reviews our advancements this year and what’s on the road ahead as we travel into 2025.

Fall 2024 Conference | Citizens' Climate Lobby | Senator-elect John Curtis (R-UT)

Senator-elect John Curtis (R-UT) shares his story to becoming a climate champion and his appreciation for the work and methods of Citizens' Climate Lobby.

Fall 2024 Conference | Citizens' Climate Lobby | Rachel Kerestes Opening Remarks

CCL's Executive Director Rachel Kerestes sets the tone for a weekend of inspiration and transformational advocacy. Rachel reflects on our progress this year, outlines our path forward as a new Congress commences, and lays out our priorities and focus heading into 2025. Be sure to join us as Rachel reinforces CCL’s commitment to bipartisanship during polarized times and why this approach not only makes us uniquely effective but remains crucial to the incredible work our volunteers do.

CCL Training: Climate Science Basics

Join CCL Research Coordinator Dana Nuccitelli to learn about the scientific evidence for climate change and answers common questions. Citizens’ Climate’s mission is to create the political will for a livable world, and we won’t stop working until we have a healthy and stable climate.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):
(0:00) Intro & Agenda
(2:04) The Carbon Cycle
(5:51) How Do We Know Humans Are Responsible?
(14:56) How We Know CO2 Is The Cause
(20:48) Climate-Weather Connections
(26:32) Ocean Impacts & Tipping Points
(33:40) What Can We Do About It?

Presentation Slides:  https://cclusa.org/cvtclimatescience 
Training Page: https://community.citizensclimate.org/topics/climate-change-science/basics 

Hot Mess Part Four: The 1990s: When Climate Change Became a Partisan Issue

By the 1990s, momentum for climate action was growing, but so was opposition. In Episode 4 of Hot Mess: How Climate Consensus Turned Into Political Chaos, host Peterson Toscano examines how fossil fuel interests, economic priorities, and cultural shifts began to unravel bipartisan efforts. Featuring insights from Chelsea Henderson and Katie Zakrzewski, this episode dives into the psychological and cultural barriers that fueled climate skepticism, the emergence of echo chambers, and the rise of polarization. Despite these challenges, the episode highlights leaders like Senator John McCain, whose bipartisan efforts provided hope for climate solutions.

Key Topics:

• The cultural and psychological roots of climate skepticism in the 1990s.
• How values of individualism and economic freedom clashed with environmental regulation.
• The role of cognitive dissonance and echo chambers in shaping public opinion.
• The rise of Senator John McCain as a climate advocate.
• Insights into the McCain-Lieberman Climate Change Bill of 2003.

Featured Guests:

• Chelsea Henderson: Host of Eco Right Speaks and author of Glacial: The Inside Story of Climate Politics.
• Katie Zakrzewski: Co-host of Green Tea Party Radio and climate advocate.

Standout Quotes:

1. Katie Zakrzewski: "This is where the polarization really begins...economic priorities took precedence, creating a divide between regulation and free-market values."
2. Chelsea Henderson: "John McCain made a promise to New Hampshire voters: I will learn about climate change, and he kept his word."

Episode Highlights:

• [00:02:15] How cultural values in the 1990s paved the way for climate skepticism.
• [00:06:30] The role of cognitive dissonance and confirmation bias in resisting climate science.
• [00:15:40] The bipartisan McCain-Lieberman Climate Change Bill and its challenges.
• [00:20:50] Katie Zakrzewski’s perspective on the importance of engaging conservatives in climate action.

Call to Action

Want to learn how you can get involved in bipartisan climate solutions? Visit cclusa.org/action. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with friends or on social media. Every share helps inspire more people to take meaningful action on climate change.

Join the Conversation

Engage with other listeners and share your thoughts on our social media channels. Follow and connect with us on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and TikTok.

Tune in next month for more inspiring stories, expert insights, and actionable climate solutions. Together, we can make a difference, one story at a time.

We Want to Hear from You

• Email: radio @ citizensclimate.org
• Text/Voicemail: 619-512-9646 (+1 if calling from outside the USA.)

Credits

• Research: Horace Mo Mo, Lily Rushen, Peterson Toscano
• Editorial Assistance: Flannery Winchester, Elise Silvestri, Brett Cease
• Production: Peterson Toscano, Elise Silvestri

Music: Our theme music is Chasing Stories by Elise Silvestri. Other music byEpidemic Sound.

CCL Fall 2024 Lobby Training: Primary Asks and Legislative Plan

Join CCL's Vice President for Government Affairs Ben Pendergrass and CCL Policy Fellow Danny Richter for a training that will review more details and the context for CCL's Fall 2024 Primary and Supporting Asks, as well as guidance for lobby teams as they plan their online meetings. Attendees will have the chance to start strategizing for the upcoming fall lobby meetings, get more information on the meeting asks, and have time to get questions answered by CCL's government affairs team. This is the recommended training for any CCL volunteer planning on being a part of their group's Fall 2024 Lobby Meeting.

Skip ahead to the following time(s):
(0:00) Intro & Agenda
(1:07) Review Of Congress Currently
(3:34) Primary Ask: The Energy Permitting Reform Act
(15:31 ) Secondary Ask
(18:32) Why IRA Repeal Attempt is Likely
(19:24) How The Repeal Could Happen
(24:27) The Co-Primary Ask for Republicans
(28:11) Why This Ask Now and Conclusion

Q&A Discussion is a separate video here: https://vimeo.com/1032393965 

Presentation Slides: https://cclusa.org/lobby-slides 
CCL Community Training Event: https://community.citizensclimate.org/events/item/24/16942 

CCL Training: 2024 Fall Online Conference & Lobby Days Q&A

Are you curious about what to expect about CCL's Conference and Lobby Days or have a question about any final details? Join Alison Kubicsko, National Events Director and Mindy Ahler CCL Liaison Coordinator Team and North Wind Regional Director for a final walk-through of the who, what, and where for the Summer 2024 Conference and Lobby Day to help you prepare for what to expect with the schedule, logistics, and details.

Skip ahead to the following section(s):

• (0:00) Intro & Agenda
• (3:08) CCL Lobby Days
• (13:57) CCL Conference Overview

Presentation slides: http://cclusa.org/lobby-conference-qa 

Training Page: https://community.citizensclimate.org/resources/item/19/272