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In This Issue
Events
July 22: 350 Chicago Speaker Series: Save our Oceans, Save Ourselves
Action Center
Online Petition: Climate Safe Pensions
Online Petition: Utility Transparency Act
In Brief
350 Chicago Tabling in June
350 Chicago Happy Hour: Save the Date (August 28th)
Apply to be an Ambassador for Climate Resilience
Main Article
A Concerning Lack of Regulations in Illinois’ Comprehensive Action Plan
Events
Save our Oceans, Save Ourselves
Tuesday, July 22, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
via Zoom
REGISTER HERE [ [link removed] ]
Humanity is inextricably dependent on the ocean. While the ocean has changed dramatically in the past century, more change is expected. So far the ocean has absorbed most of the heat and about a third of the carbon dioxide generated by humanity. Will that continue? Fishery collapse, coral reefs dying off, increased dead zones, & more.
We’ll review key climate changes & look forward to consider what changes are likely in the coming decades. Given these changes, how can we develop new understanding to support model forecasts to help guide us as to the effects of warming acidification and deoxygenation? New approaches to ocean science built around a cooperative framework are needed.
Brad deYoung is an active researcher keen to explore new paths to apply the knowledge and skills developed over a long career as an oceanographer. We need better ways to study the ocean, to work with the data collected from the ocean and to manage the challenges facing the ocean and, by implication, the wider society.
Dr. Mona Behl serves as a senior public service associate and associate director of Georgia Sea Grant at the University of Georgia. In this role, she leads strategic initiatives that strengthen coastal communities through cutting-edge research, innovative education programs, and impactful public engagement. With a doctorate in physical oceanography from Florida State University, she brings deep expertise in marine sciences and policy. Her distinguished career includes leadership positions at premier scientific organizations, where she has pioneered programs that transform research into practical solutions.
Action Center
Online Petition: Climate Safe Pensions
Investments in fossil fuels are driving climate change, and they are becoming increasingly risky with significant financial liabilities. The state of Illinois can be both a climate leader and protect the health of its pension funds by divesting from fossil fuels. Climate Safe Pensions Illinois [ [link removed] ], a coalition whose members include 350 Chicago, Third Act Illinois, and The Climate Reality Project Chicago Metro Chapter, is, therefore, asking the State of Illinois to protect pension funds and provide more transparency to the holders.
Learn more and sign here: Climate Safe Pensions Petition [ [link removed] ]!
Online Petition: Utility Transparency Act
Over the years, utilities have made it acceptable to recover some of their costs from ratepayers that should be charged to their shareholders! They routinely charge ratepayers for the cost of a range of lobbying activities without the ratepayers knowledge.
Learn more and sign here: Utility Transparency Petition [ [link removed] ]!
In Brief
350 Chicago Tabling in June
In June 350 Chicago tabled at a number of events, collecting hundreds of signed signed postcards supporting our fossil fuel divestment and utility accountability campaigns. These will be hand-delivered to legislators in Illinois to support our coalitions pushing forward on these climate initiatives. Thank you so much to partners Adam Met, the City Winery, the Book Cellar, Eco.Logic, and Raven Theater for hosting us and helping us to push towards a brighter climate future in Illinois!
350 Chicago Happy Hour: Save the Date!
350 Chicago will be hosting a happy hour open to everyone on Thursday, August 28th at Adams Street Brewery. If you want to meet fellow climate activists, learn about what we do, or just get a few drinks with us, please sign up and come say hello! More information and registration here: 350 Chicago Summer Happy Hour [ [link removed] ].
Apply to be an Ambassador for Climate Resilience
via Together for Nature [ [link removed] ]: We are excited to share the call for applications for our second cohort of our Ambassadors for Climate Resilience Program open to three high school, college, and local community members (18 years and older). The application is found at bit.ly/tfnambassador, [ [link removed] ] and it is due July 21st, 2025.
In the summer, our ambassadors distributed over 300+ bilingual flyers in their communities about local climate resilience and programs.
The program is focused on involving our diverse and environmental justice community members to lead equitable engagement and education in their communities. Through the Ambassador program, we hope to increase access to leadership, solutions, resources, and knowledge related to climate resilience, environmental justice, and equitable sustainability. These efforts will contribute to and inform larger efforts to bring programs, solutions, and funding to advance our coastal and climate resilience through community-driven pathways.
For any questions, please reach out to [email protected] [ mailto:[email protected] ].
A Concerning Lack of Regulations in Illinois’ Comprehensive Action Plan
by Christine Skolnik
On July 1st, The State of Illinois held a stakeholder meeting at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The 1:00 PM meeting which I attended as a 350 Chicago representative was informative and lively. In addition to receiving important background information about the planning process, the meeting provided an important opportunity for allies to listen to one another. 350 Chicago has been asked to join a collation convened by the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition to comment on the plan. It was also a great chance to meet new people in sustainability and the environmental justice community.
JC Kibbey [ [link removed] ], a Climate Advisor for the State of Illinois, presented a brief summary of the existing 2024 Priority Climate Action Plan (PCAP) [ [link removed] ]. He described a wide array of programs and policies relating to five areas of greenhouse gas reduction: Buildings, Transportation, Industry, Agriculture, and Clean Power. (See slide deck here [ [link removed] ].) The PCAP, released in March of 2024, is the model for the comprehensive climate action plan expected to be published at the end of this year. As a direct result of the State’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants application and wildly successful award of over $450 million from the federal government, the PCAP is built entirely of incentive and local grant programs. When asked about regulations, which are conspicuously missing in the plan, Mr. Kibbey commented that “some people” prefer carrots to sticks.
Environmentalists interested in raising EV standards (including freight trucks) noted that this language of “carrots and “sticks” was recently used in the Illinois EPA's 70-page argument, addressed to the Illinois Pollution Control Board, against adopting new electric vehicle standards (“Post Hearing Comments of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency,” [ [link removed] ] page 9).
The issue of regulations was raised by several stakeholders during the Q&A period and after the breakout session. Mr. Kibbey explained that some regulations such as Renewable Portfolio Standards and Emission Reduction Plans for utilities are already in place, but also pointedly asked stakeholders to submit comments on regulations.
It seems clear that this mandate to avoid regulations is coming from the top. Is Governor Pritzker shying away from regulations for political reasons? If so, it seems that we are moving from an era where regulations were considered a form of justice- because they defended members of society and often the most vulnerable- to an era where common-sense regulations are framed as ideological. While carrots are a helpful piece of solving the climate puzzle, any climate action plan without enforceable regulations will lead to a slower transition from our fossil fuel based economy to a clean one.
If you support enforceable regulations to push for a clean energy future, you can submit comments to [email protected] [ [link removed] ].
Thank you for reading and subscribing. This newsletter is public, so feel free to share. Joshua Horwitz, 350 Chicago Newsletter Editor.

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