Citizens Climate Lobby

Registration opening soon for online national conference; Congressman Hank Johnson joins Group Leader call

	CCL Weekly Briefing, April 29, 2020

Table of Contents:
	Message from Danny
	Take action this week
	Featured lever: Lobbying
	Training topics
	Blog roundup

Danny's message: Our

climate advocacy will

unfold in three phases

These are strange and stressful times for everyone, and CCL volunteers may be wondering about the appropriate way for climate advocates to engage members of Congress during this period of uncertainty.

At the moment, the House and Senate aren’t even sure how to conduct business in a safe manner. And the work they’re doing now is strictly focused on providing resources to get our nation through the health and economic crises brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a message to our volunteers, CCL VP for Government Affairs Danny Richter explains that returning to some semblance of normalcy with our lobbying efforts will happen in three phases. The timing of those phases, however, is hard to determine at this point.

Watch Danny’s message to learn about the three phases we anticipate along with guidance for engaging Congress in each of those phases.

WATCH DANNY'S MESSAGE

Other news this week:

Save the date for online national conference: CCL will hold a virtual conference online on Saturday, June 13. Lobby meetings will be held online over several days the following week. Look for registration to open soon.

CCL Canada online conference: To our north, CCL Canada will host an online conference and lobby training on May 11. Registration is open now. Even if you aren’t Canadian, this is a unique chance to learn from advocates in a country with an active carbon fee and dividend policy.

Rep. Hank Johnson joins CCL call: Last night’s Group Leader call featured a special guest: Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), one of the cosponsors of the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. Johnson told volunteers, "Your voice matters. We need you now more than ever." Check out our appreciative tweet and thank Johnson.

CCL a finalist for award: CCL was named as a finalist in the Keeling Curve Prize, which is dedicated to activating and accelerating global climate solutions. Ten winners will be announced in June to receive a $25,000 award.

Hang out with CCL’s Jim Tolbert: You know him as CCL’s Conservative Outreach Director, but this Friday — 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT — you can get to know Jim Tolbert and the work he does a little better during our weekly hang out with a CCL staffer. Grab a brown bag lunch or cup of coffee and spend some time with Jim. Details and upcoming hangouts here.

Climate Interactive holds workshop for CCL Africa: On a CCL national call last July, Drew Jones from Climate Interactive demonstrated a tool, En-ROADS, to simulate the effectiveness of various climate solutions. This week, he led a workshop on En-ROADS for CCL Africa that was held on WhatsApp. The purpose of the workshop was to empower volunteers to bring this tool to their own governments and NGOs to help them make more informed climate policy decisions.

Take action this week

If you have a little time: Check out the videos from CCL’s virtual “Uniting From Home” Earth Day event, which took place on Saturday. Around 2,600 people attended Dr. Katharine Hayhoe’s keynote address and the breakout sessions, covering basic climate advocacy skills, tips for organizing during the pandemic, and stories from CCL volunteers. If you weren’t watching live, we don’t want you to miss out. You can share these videos with your friends on social media, too.

If you have more time: Reach out to a local club, group, class, or faith organization that you belong to and ask if you or someone else from CCL could do an online presentation for them. Ask your group leader to suggest a presenter, or if you are not connected to a CCL chapter, submit your request on the CCL website.

You can also connect with your nearest CCL chapter to take action in your community, or join one of CCL’s national online Action Teams to take action on specific topics like agriculture, health, faith, and more.

Browse CCL Community’s Event Calendar to find upcoming events, trainings, and calls you can join.

Lobbying: Sending thanks & encouragement

Right now, Congress carries an enormous burden as they work to preserve the health and economic safety of their constituents through the COVID-19 crisis. Our volunteers in New York's 19th district wanted to share their appreciation and gratitude to their member of Congress for the work he's been doing, such as holding Zoom town halls to keep constituents informed. The CCLers sent their representative a heartfelt card, expressing sincere thanks for "the time and energy you and your staff devote to hearing what people need and helping those whose needs are unmet." The card also wished continued good health to the member, the staff, and their loved ones. It was signed with a page of names and Zoom screenshots, adding a personal touch, and it arrived on Earth Day. When we say CCL builds relationships with members of Congress, this is what we mean!

CCL volunteers are regularly activating the “five levers” of political will in their communities. If you’d like to reach out to your member of Congress, watch or read these trainings on “Contacting Congress.”

LEARN TO CONTACT CONGRESS

Training topics

CCL offers two ongoing learning series: Citizens' Climate University for existing volunteers, and Core Volunteer Training for new volunteers. Here are the next few sessions you can join:

4/30 Citizens' Climate University: Handling Challenging Questions About the Energy Innovation Act - When people start asking tough questions about the Energy Innovation Act, you need to be ready. CCL staffers Tony Sirna and Adeline DeYoung will prepare you with persuasive answers. Learn more.

5/5 Core Volunteer Training: Economics of Carbon Fee & Dividend Policies - There are three key components to the fee-and-dividend policy in the Energy Innovation Act. Understanding these components is essential for advocates. Learn more.

5/7 Citizens' Climate University: Transformative Power of Citizen Advocacy - By being an advocate, citizens discover the power they have to change their government while also changing themselves. CCL volunteers share their stories in this session. Learn more.

Bonus training: Katharine Hayhoe’s “Global Weirding” - Are you a teacher or parent looking for a good resource to teach young people about climate change? Dr. Hayhoe’s “Global Weirding” series can help them to understand this complicated topic. Learn more.

This week on the CCL blog

Eco-grief in a time of coronavirus mourning: Many people are processing sadness and grief during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the latest Citizens’ Climate Radio podcast, eight women share their experiences of working through the emotional impact of climate change and how it relates to the current health crisis. Read more.

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