Citizens Climate Lobby

Warnings from the IPCC; How a carbon tax can come back; Lobbying in June

	CCL Weekly Briefing, March 22, 2023

Table of Contents:
	WATCH: Legislative update
	Take action this week
	Featured Chapter: CCL Chadron
	Upcoming trainings

House Republicans focus on permitting reform in H.R. 1

Last Wednesday, House Republicans unveiled an energy and permitting reform package called the “Lower Energy Costs Act,” or H.R. 1. Permitting reform is one of the policy areas CCL is working on, so we wanted to bring you an update about this latest development and what you can do to help.

“As with any major policy, the first version is not what’s going to get across the finish line. Our legislative team and others in D.C. are thinking of this package as just the opening bid in the permitting discussion,” explains CCL’s Senior Director of Communications Flannery Winchester in a new video. “Ultimately, any permitting reform legislation will need to make it out of the Republican-controlled House, through the Democratic-controlled Senate, and to the president’s desk for a signature. So there’s going to have to be a bipartisan negotiation to make that happen.”

And that’s where you come in! CCL is uniquely positioned to encourage the bipartisan cooperation necessary to move the needle on permitting reform. Conservative CCLers will be meeting with Congress about this next week at the Conservative Climate Leadership Conference. All CCLers will have the opportunity to lobby Congress about this issue in person on Capitol Hill at the June conference.

“We need you there so you can help us take this message to Congress: Clean energy is ready to go. Now we need to deploy it. Updating these permitting processes could save the planet,” Flannery says.

WATCH THE UPDATE

In other news this week:

• Warnings from the IPCC: Last week, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released their AR6 synthesis report, warning that the impacts of climate change are fast approaching and that it’s “now or never” in the fight for our planet.

• How a carbon tax comes back: The Niskanen Center recently published a piece on the factors likely to revive efforts to support a carbon tax: a growing economic need, and pressure from young Republicans.

• Lobby on permitting reform in June: You heard what Flannery said — your presence in D.C. is crucial for getting the ball rolling on pivotal climate legislation. Register now to take advantage of the early bird conference rate this June.

Take action this week

If you have a little time: Donate to Citizens’ Climate today

Every dollar counts — especially when there’s a bonus gift on the line. Sign up to make a monthly donation to Citizens’ Climate today. If we reach our goal of $10,000 in new monthly donations by March 31, we’ll unlock a $100,000 bonus gift! Monthly donations give us the flexibility we need to strike when political opportunities emerge. This is how we’re able to get major climate legislation across the finish line. Thank you so much for considering a monthly donation at whatever amount you are able to give.

If you have more time: Start writing an op-ed for Earth Day

When you’re not busy lobbying or contacting your member of Congress, a great way to inform your community about environmental causes is by getting an opinion-editorial published. An even greater time to do this is when many people are thinking about the environment — Earth Day. Check out our op-ed templates on Community and get started today.

Featured Chapter: CCL Chadron

The Chadron, Nebraska chapter of CCL is working hard alongside other Nebraska chapters to build a relationship with their member of Congress under the guidance of group leaders Daniel Bowen, Roger Wess, Ann Buchmann, Steve Welch, and Cheryl Welch.

“This chapter invited their member of Congress, Rep. Adrian Smith, for a field visit to one of the leader's homes to tour his solar energy system. The representative did a lot of listening and asked a lot of good questions,” explained Nebraska state coordinator Jennifer Glazer. “Chadron CCL has done an amazing job keeping a relationship with a member of Congress who has been climate hesitant. CCL volunteers have used their training and relationship-building skills to find creative ways to meaningfully connect with this member of Congress on the issue of climate.”

The Chadron chapter has been working alongside the Omaha and Lincoln chapters (pictured above) to speak out against state-level bills that would be detrimental to clean energy projects and development.

“I am proud of all our Nebraska chapters for coming together as a state to strategize regarding issues such as harmful bills in the state legislature and issues such as the Farm Bill and IRA benefits to rural Nebraskans,” Glazer said. Great work, Chadron!

FIND YOUR NEAREST CHAPTER

Upcoming trainings

3/23: Tabling Outreach with CCL's New Materials — Join CCL Program Manager Elizabeth Dell and Mid-Atlantic Co-Coordinator Thaddeus Waterman for a training that will overview CCL's new tabling materials, where to find them, and how to best incorporate them into your spring grassroots outreach plans! Bring your questions and ideas and view the tabling materials ahead of time here. Join us!

3/30: Welcome New Volunteers to Your Chapter — Gearing up for a big Earth Month series of outreach events? This training will help walk you through tips and suggested strategies for how to bring new people aboard CCL so that they acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and behaviors to become empowered volunteers for your local CCL chapter. Join us!

Need training on the basics? Catch our next session of Core Volunteer Training, made for newer volunteers:

3/28: Grasstops Engagement Basics — One of the biggest impacts volunteers can make in building momentum for carbon pricing is gaining the support of local community leaders. Join Sabrina Butcher, CCL's Action and Endorsements Coordinator, for a webinar on how to best conduct outreach to grasstops leaders in your area and beyond. Join us!

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

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