Tacoma Chapter
Our solution to climate change? Democracy.
Citizens' Climate Lobby is a non-profit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization focused on government policies to address climate change.
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Oct. 13, 2023--The White House announced "seven regional clean hydrogen hubs that were selected to receive $7 billion in Bipartisan Infrastructure law and Inflation Reduction Act funding to accelerate the domestic market for low-cost, clean hydrogen." This includes up to $1 billion for the Pacific Northwest Hub, which will focus on the exclusive use of renewable energy sources for electrolysis (using electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen) producing clean hydrogen for hard-to-decarbonize sectors and industrial processes, and creating more than 10K jobs.
IT'S BACK!
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Was reintroduced in the U.S. House Sept. 27 by Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) as H.R. 5744. The Energy Innovation Act, CCL's preferred climate legislation, is a carbon fee and dividend bill, charging corporate polluters a fee for the carbon pollution they put into our air. The money collected goes to Americans in the form of a monthly “carbon cashback” payment to keep things affordable. This is great news! Now let's work together to get it passed.
Go to citizensclimatelobby.org for excellent talking points and ideas for how you can build support for it in your community and in Congress.
The IRA, which is now a year old, represents a historic step forward in cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030. It is full of incentives to help us all go electric, but very few people seem to be aware of it. See links below! Talk about it with family and friends!
Learn how the new US tax credits and rebates will work for clean energy home upgrades. Link
How much money will you get with the Inflation Reduction Act? Find out at Rewiring America
Upcoming CCL, Chapter and Community Events
If you want to attend or get more information, just email us​​
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Sunday, Dec 3--DEADLINE to sign TUFF petition to the City Council urging them to protect the city's mature tree canopy. (see poster below)
Monday-Friday, Dec 4-8--WCA (Washington Conservation Action) Advocacy Days, (meetings with state legislators, times to be announced). Check WCA website for more information.
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Tuesday-Thursday, Dec 5-7 various times-- WA Dept. of Ecology listening sessions on Climate Resilience Strategy.
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Wednesday, Dec 6, noon on Zoom--CCL Tacoma Study Group. Discussing articles that we email ahead of time. Attend/Send an article
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Thursday, Dec 7, 6-8pm--Tacoma Green Drinks, (environmental networking group), location TBD.
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Sunday, Dec 10, 4-7pm
CCL Tacoma December Potluck Open House
(a social gathering---families welcome---door prizes!)
Central Co-op, 4502 N. Pearl St.
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Wednesday, Jan 17, 7pm--CCL Tacoma Monthly Chapter Meeting on Zoom.
Program: How to advocate for climate bills in the 2024 WA state legislative session
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CCL Tacoma is now on Twitter (@CCLTacoma) and Instagram (ccl_tacoma) Visit us soon!
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Did you know that all Pierce County cities have to update their Comprehensive Plans by 2024? Comprehensive Plans are roadmaps to the future on how the city wishes to develop through the next 20 years. They’re updated every 5 years. Many cities and Pierce County actively seek public input. On the Climate Pierce County Resource page Pierce County Comprehensive Plans, you will find links to the existing city’s comp plan, links to their update pages, and links or information to where they have climate actions. Browse and learn, then…Make yourself heard, participate and advocate for climate solutions!
By 2029 all Comp Plans will be required to include a climate element because of the Growth Management Act update. To see what that means check out the Department of Commerce’s page. We can help words become action!
Advocate for Local Climate Solutions! Pierce County Comprehensive Plans
"Building resilience helps avoid burnout. It keeps us on course through the highs and the lows. The Resilience Hub on CCL Community provides opportunities for building personal and chapter resilience that supports purposeful action on climate."
Check out the Hub, a new tool on the CCL National website's Community section!
Branching Out
Planting and protecting trees supports climate resilience and environmental justice. The Tacoma Tree Foundation has a great newsletter and website and many fun, educational and helpful activities all over town: check out their calendar!
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TUFF, Tacoma Urban Forest Friends, is petitioning the city council to protect and increase the city's existing mature tree canopy. Link to sign petition
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Try Tabling at our CCL Booth
CCL tablers pass out information, attract kids with activities, listen to climate concerns, suggest ways to take action and find community. We are excited about our recently updated banners, interactive visual aids and flyers! It’s a great way to get started as a CCL volunteer. To join the fun, contact Linda Cohan.
Past events and photos
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Drive Electric Steilacoom Festival took place on Sept 16 Photos
Hilltop Street Fair took place on August 26. Photos
Green Transportation Summit & Expo took place on August 24.
Fircrest National Night Out took place on August 2. Photos
Informal tabling at Owen Beach took place on July 2 and August 12. Photos
Tacoma Ocean Fest took place on June 4. Photos
South Sound Sustainability Expo took place on April 22. Photos
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Looking for inspiration?
Visit our Climate ARTivism page and explore the lively scene from murals to poetry to music!
UPDATED 10/6/23
Monthly CO2 Average at Mauna Loa (Details)
October 2023: 418.82 ppm
October 2022: 415.74 ppm
Last updated: Nov 5, 2023
New Climate Resources
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"Hope and Despair on a Boiling Planet," David Gelles, New York Times, Sept. 20, 2023.
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"Don't get Stuck in a Vortex of Doom. There are Plenty of Reasons for Climate Optimism" Marcy Franck, Cognoscenti, August 21, 2023.
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"A Year after the IRA, Industrial Policy has Gone Global. Now What?," David L. Goldwyn and Andrea Clabough, Atlantic Council, Aug. 7, 2023.
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"A Grim Climate Lesson from the Canadian Wildfires," David Wallace Wells, New York Times, July 26, 2023.
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(Previous study group articles here)
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Websites
rmi.org (Rocky Mountain institute)
map.climatevulnerabilityindex.org
Visit our Climate Resources page
Legislative Update
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Federal
The Inflation Reduction Act, the biggest step toward combating the climate crisis in U.S history, was signed into law on 8/16/22.
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State
The long session passed several good climate bills and a budget with generous climate components, with the help of advocates like us! Read a good recap here.
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"Washington state last month launched its complex carbon-pricing scheme, in which most of the state’s biggest emitters of climate-warming greenhouse gases can buy and sell carbon allowances — permits to pollute. On Tuesday, the allowances for the first time will go up for sale in an online auction.
This new market is only the second of its kind in the United States (to CA) and is a major test of state lawmakers’ grand ambitions to rein in climate pollution. If everything goes as planned, the state will be mostly carbon-free by 2050." (Seattle Times, 2/26/23)