Citizens' Climate Lobby

In Citizens Climate Radio's newest installment of our  policy series, hosts Elissa Tennant and Dana Nuccitelli dive deep into the latest updates from Capitol Hill. With the Senate Finance Committee’s budget proposal now public, they unpack what it means for the clean energy tax credits created by the Inflation Reduction Act. How do the House and Senate versions compare? What would repealing these tax credits cost American households and jobs? What role does energy security—and even AI—play in the clean energy conversation? Elissa and Dana bring clarity to a complex policy moment and offer listeners tangible next steps for action. You’ll also hear about upcoming CCL leadership changes, summer conference plans, and two thoughtful listener voicemails—including one from someone who really wants to bring back Energy Star.

This month, Dana Nuccitelli, CCL’s Research Manager, breaks down why protecting the Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy tax credits is a huge opportunity for America. Losing these tax credits would have a serious impact on America's climate progress. Keeping these credits in place means lower energy bills, more clean power, greater energy security, and hundreds of thousands of good jobs across the country. We're telling Congress: Keep these tax credits intact!

The Senate is moving forward on their version of a budget reconciliation bill that could drastically cut clean energy tax credits. CCL wants to protect those tax credits. We have been emailing, calling, and meeting with members of Congress about this for months. Now it's time to take the conversation public in local media all around the country! Join this special workshop with Charlotte Ward, CCL's Communications and Media Manager, to learn everything you need to know to write an effective letter to the editor (LTE) or a full op-ed about the tax credits. After a quick overview and training, you'll spend 20 minutes of focused time writing your LTE or personalizing our op-ed template during the call. Please note that this event includes a short visual presentation and helpful links to access as you write. If you're a Citizens' Climate Lobby volunteer, you can log your training automatically when signed into CCL Community by clicking: https://community.citizensclimate.org/log_training?sf_id=a5yUP000000AHfVYAW Re

This training provides a detailed explanation of the Foreign Pollution Fee Act introduced by Senator Cassidy (R-LA). CCL Research Fellow Dr. Danny Richter outlines the bill's objectives, including creating a tariff on carbon emissions embedded in imported goods, promoting international coordination on climate policy, and establishing a carbon accounting infrastructure. Danny discusses the bill's specifics, such as the tiered tariff rates based on pollution intensity relative to the U.S. baseline, the inclusion of various greenhouse gases and emissions scopes, and the aggressive enforcement measures. He also places the bill within its political context, highlighting bipartisan interest, the different approaches of its sponsors, and the reasons behind CCL's support, emphasizing its potential to reduce emissions and build on previous advocacy.

This month, we’re excited to feature a group of standout CCL volunteers who represent a wide range of activities. They’ll be sharing their stories in a conversation with CCL’s Vice President of Communications, Flannery Winchester. In order of appearance, we'll hear from Beth Chajes, Delaware State Coordinator; Luke Clarke and Kyle Kalinich, Group Leaders for the Golden-Jefferson, CO Chapter; and Frankie Fachilla, Curtis Baysinger, and Group Leader Fred Lemay from the Middle Tennessee chapter.

In this session, we take a close look at the Senate version of this important bipartisan legislation and explore why it’s critical for the climate, for forest health, and for wildfire resilience. You’ll hear from Dana Nuccitelli, CCL’s Research Manager, who will walk us through the science and policy details, and from Jennifer Tyler, our Vice President of Government Affairs, who will explain what this means for Congress and how CCL volunteers can help move it forward.

In this episode of Citizens Climate Radio, we dive into the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)—the biggest climate legislation in U.S. history—and the urgent effort underway to protect its clean energy tax credits. CCL’s Content Marketing Manager Elissa Tennant joins CCL’s Research Manager Dana Nuccitelli to break it all down. You’ll learn what the IRA funds, how clean energy tax credits work for individuals and businesses, and why these programs are now under threat. Dana also explains the budget reconciliation process, the challenges in Congress, and the surprising level of bipartisan public support for clean energy investment. You'll leave this episode knowing exactly why the IRA matters—and what simple actions you can take to defend it. Featured Guests: Elissa Tennant is CCL’s Content Marketing Manager, leading strategy and creation for web, social media, and volunteer resources. Dana Nuccitelli is CCL’s Research Manager, an environmental scientist, and an award-winning climate journalist with a background

Danny Richter, a policy fellow for CCL, led a discussion on CCL's strategic approach to engaging with the newly configured Congress. He highlighted the organization's priorities, including defending the clean energy provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act, advocating for the Fix Our Forest Act, supporting Foreign Pollution Fees and cautiously entering the permitting reform space. Danny emphasized the shift in CCL's approach from playing offense to playing defense, as we now focus on defending a bill that has already been passed. He also noted the change in the balance of power, with Republicans holding a majority in both the Senate and the House, and the importance of understanding this new context for effective Congressional engagement. This discussion stresses the importance of thinking ahead, preparing for multiple swings of the political pendulum, and maintaining positive relationships with both Democratic and Republican members of Congress. Danny also highlighted the need for volunteer empowerment, fo

In this episode of Citizens Climate Radio, Elise Silvestri explores how art can strengthen climate advocacy with Carrie Ziegler, an interdisciplinary Artist, Speaker, and Community Engagement Expert. Carrie talks about her process for creating and executing the Chrysalis Project: Transforming Together, an art and climate policy project that enacted powerful change over Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the participating students, Brisa Sabel, shares her experience of the successful campaign and the  joy and inspiration it gave her.  Peterson Toscano has a surprisingly good news story: like our responses to climate change, the format of CCR is adapting! [insert finalized details here] Listen to Carrie Ziegler discuss the power of art storytelling in making meaningful, local climate policy. Guest Bio: Carrie Ziegler Carrie Ziegler harnesses the collective power of art to drive social and environmental transformation. Through her Art in Action initiatives, she collaborates with diverse entities—local gov

Kari Hall is an Emmy Award-winning meteorologist for NBC Bay Area’s morning newscast, Today in The Bay. Kari holds a degree in Geoscience with an emphasis in Broadcast Meteorology. Her career has spanned the country, from covering Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Gustav with KATC in Louisiana; to covering tornadoes and snowstorms at WKYT in Kentucky; to serving as Chief Meteorologist at News 12 in Connecticut. She is a member of the American Meteorological Society and a leader with the Climate Reality Project. She has won two Emmy Awards for her weather and climate coverage.

CCL hosts a training session on tabling events for Earth Month 2025, highlighting this year's significance and providing actionable recommendations. Participants learn about the new CCL Tabling Toolkit, which aids in organizing these events. Creative strategies, like using origami frogs, are shared to engage families. The session emphasizes public engagement, conversation starters, and art projects to raise climate awareness, while encouraging community involvement in bipartisan climate advocacy.

Panel discussion featuring CCL Congressional Liaison Manager Mindy Ahler, Action Team Director Drew Eyerly, and Vice President of Government Affairs Jenn Tyler. Mindy, Drew, and Jenn reviewed the outcome of our annual Conservative Climate Leadership Conference and Lobby Day and answered questions about lobby meetings, asks, and the importance of sending right-of-center volunteers to meet with Republicans.

In this episode of Citizens Climate Radio, co-hosts Peterson Toscano and Elise Silvestri dive into the pressing issue of climate anxiety with Kate Shapira, creator of the Climate Anxiety Counseling Booth in Providence, Rhode Island. Kate shares her decade-long journey of listening to people’s climate worries, how she transformed these conversations into actionable climate engagement, and the insights she presents in her book, Lessons from the Climate Anxiety Counseling Booth: How to Live With Care and Purpose in an Endangered World. This episode also features an inspiring good news story: a group of students in Tucson, Arizona, successfully passed a climate action resolution for their school district, securing funding for sustainability initiatives and setting an example for youth-led climate action. Tune in to learn how listening, storytelling, and collective action can transform climate despair into meaningful change. Guest Bio: Kate Shapira Kate Shapira is a writer, educator, and climate listener based in

We highlight two powerful voices shaping the climate conversation—Elise Silvestri, a college student and musician passionate about climate justice, and Linda Sue Park, an award-winning author using storytelling to inspire young activists. Elise, who has worked on the Citizens Climate Radio team for six months, shares her journey through eco-anxiety, activism, and music production. She believes that addressing the climate crisis requires radical imagination—envisioning the world we want to create rather than just reacting to the crises around us. Elise also introduces us to Linda Sue Park, whose latest book, Gracie Under the Waves, follows a young snorkeling enthusiast as she discovers the urgent need for ocean conservation. Facing Eco Anxiety with Imagination and Action Elise Silvestri knows firsthand the overwhelming anxiety that can come from thinking about climate change. Like many young activists, she has struggled with fears about the future, moments of paralysis, and the emotional weight of the crisis.

Danielle Watson manages American Forests’ climate policy portfolio, focusing on programs, policies, and funding that empowers those who steward state, private, and Tribal lands. She also supports policy and government relations needs for American Forests' Tree Equity and Resilient Forests programs. Prior to joining American Forests, Watson worked for over a decade in the forest policy arena with the Society of American Foresters. On CCL's February call, she discussed American Forests' work and their support of the new bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act.

In the eighth and final episode of Hot Mess: How Climate Consensus Turned Into Political Chaos, we bring together a powerhouse panel of conservative leaders and thinkers to reflect on the series and chart a path forward. Former Republican Congressman Bob Inglis, Chelsea Henderson (host of EcoRight Speaks), and Katie Zakrzewski and Zach Torpie (hosts of Green Tea Party Radio) join host Peterson Toscano to explore cultural and political factors shaping the conservative climate movement. Later, Peterson speaks with Drew Eyerly, Citizens Climate Lobby’s Conservative Outreach Director, about how conservatives are creating solutions and opportunities for climate action. This episode provides insights, inspiration, and a roadmap for bipartisan collaboration on climate solutions. Featured Guests: Bob Inglis: Former Republican Congressman and Executive Director of republicEn.org. Bob is a recipient of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award and a prominent voice in conservative climate action. He appears in th

CCL Research Coordinator Dana Nuccitelli examines the data volunteers can use to advocate for preserving the Inflation Reduction Act. This includes a discussion about the various provisions included in the IRA and the relative importance of each, the political climate in which those provisions find themselves, and a new database of IRA-funded clean energy projects and manufacturing facilities by Congressional District and State that CCL volunteers can use for lobbying and grasstops outreach efforts.

In this penultimate episode of Hot Mess: How Climate Consensus Turned Into Political Chaos, we expand our focus beyond the United States to explore the global landscape of climate skepticism. Climate denial is not just an American phenomenon but takes on unique forms in different nations, influenced by cultural, political, and economic factors. We compare the deeply entrenched skepticism in the U.S. with the varied approaches seen in countries like China, Germany, Australia, and South Korea, shedding light on what drives climate attitudes worldwide. Featuring insights from four dynamic voices, this episode delves into how media, education, and policy influence public perception, and what lessons can be learned from global successes and failures in addressing climate change. Key Topics Covered: The roots of climate skepticism in the United States and its global parallels. How countries like Germany and South Korea have avoided widespread denial while the U.S. and Australia continue to struggle. The transforma

Lucero Marquez is the associate director for federal climate policy at American Progress. She previously worked as a research consultant for the Evans School Policy Analysis and Research Group investigating development policy through a climate change lens and as an air dispersion modeler for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. She earned her Bachelor of Science in meteorology from Texas A&M University and her Master of Public Administration in environmental policy from the University of Washington. The Inflation Reduction Act's investment in manufacturing and clean energy jobs is starting to pay off, and millions of individuals are benefiting from tax credits to help transition to clean energy. Lucero and CCL Research Coordinator Dana Nuccitelli for a discuss the importance of the Inflation Reduction Act and why we need to keep its climate provisions intact in 2025.

In Hot Mess Part Six: Snowballs, Skepticism, and Climate Lies, we uncover the deliberate tactics used to mislead the public about climate change, highlighting key players like the Koch brothers and Senator James Inhofe, alongside truth-tellers like former Representative Bob Inglis. The episode examines how misinformation campaigns, economic fearmongering, and symbolic stunts, such as Senator Inhofe’s infamous snowball moment, undermined climate science and bipartisan efforts for climate solutions. Featuring insights from guests Chelsea Henderson and Katie Zakrzewski, the episode delves into the emotional and cultural barriers to climate action and explores how understanding these dynamics can foster a path toward bipartisan collaboration and meaningful solutions.   Guest Profiles Chelsea Henderson Host of EcoRight Speaks Podcast and author of The Inside Story of Climate Politics. Chelsea provides in-depth analysis of how the Koch brothers funded a web of organizations to sow doubt about climate science an