Re: Nov. 10 article, “World has strayed from Paris Agreement”
Nations of the world have been meeting every year for 30 years to address global warming. In 2015, the Paris Agreement was a major milestone by almost all countries to slow down the warming.
Institutions and governments at all levels have made a difference by investing in renewable energy to replace polluting fossil fuels, but it is not enough.
Each year since 2015 has been hotter than the year of the Paris Agreement; and since then, the U.S. has been hit by 193 disasters that cost at least $1billion for a total cost of $1.5 trillion. Adding human suffering to that, the impact is immeasurable.
Innovative research is happening everywhere to lower global warming pollutants and reduce loss of lives and livelihoods.
What we need is a political will to stay on the path and not dismantle what was started. Our leaders need to listen to us.
Austin American-Statesman
Kalpana Sutaria, Member, Austin Metro Chapter, Citizens’ Climate Lobby
Generation of clean energy is a no-brainer for anyone who is worried about the warming world, extended summer seasons, rising electric bills for cooling and harmful pollution from burning fossil fuels. It allows many countries to reach clean energy goals, including the United Kingdom, which recently announced a policy for all new homes to be fitted with solar panels.
About 2.3 million Texans live within half a mile of active oil and gas operations and are directly affected by the toxic emissions, which can bring a higher risk of cancer, respiratory diseases and other health problems.
We urge lawmakers to approve bills this session to strengthen grid reliability and energy efficiency; improve solar panel review and installation; and expand energy resources and local energy independence. Those bills include House Bill 3069, SB 1915, HB 4374, HB 3826, SB 1202/HB 2304 and HB 3346.
Kalpana Sutaria, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Austin Chapter and
First and foremost, we wish to thank those who took the time to meet with our Citizens’ Climate Lobby volunteers on April 1. We know how busy you are, and we deeply appreciate your listening to our concerns and suggestions.
Many Austin chapter members of Citizens’ Climate Lobby participated in this year’s Texas Lobby Day at the Texas State Capitol. Our volunteers were prepped in a detailed and enjoyable training session at St. David’s Episcopal in downtown Austin, with Lobby Day following on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
Training session at St. David’s Episcopal. Photo collage by Carolyn M. Appleton.
Volunteers traveled from across Texas to participate. Did you know? There are more than 11,000 Citizens’ Climate Lobby advocates in the State of Texas!
The information we shared with our elected officials and their staff members on April 1 was wide ranging, but focused.
Expand Transmission: We support HB 3069 which upgrades the planning process for ERCOT’s economic evaluation of transmission projects, including evaluating the cost/benefit relationship over 10 years versus the current 3-year period.
The Texas grid isn’t keeping pace with the state’s growth. This mismatch is leading to increased energy costs, reliability issues, and potential barriers to future economic development.
CCL Volunteers gathering for a group photo on the grounds of the Capitol prior to going through security and visiting with elected officials. Photo collage by Carolyn M. Appleton.
Increase Energy Efficiency:We support SB 1915 that requires utilities to meet new annual energy savings goals and HB 3826 which would establish the Texas Energy Efficiency Council.
Energy efficiency is an important element of grid resilience because it reduces peak demand in both summer and winter; it lowers energy bills due to reduced consumption; and energy efficiency measures can relieve pressure on the grid in the short term while we’re working on expanding long-term supply. That’s important because it will be a few years before new natural gas generation is up and running.
Expand Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Deployment: Distributed Energy Resources (DER) are things like rooftop solar, and solar and batteries on homes and businesses, electric vehicles and smart thermostats. These are technologies that can be deployed quickly to increase grid capacity.
We support SB 1202, and its companion HB 2304, which would streamline approval processes for home distributed energy resources. It allows homeowners to use third parties for inspections rather than depending on city inspectors.
We also support HB 3346, which would allow small customers to receive fair compensation for excess energy that they’re able to generate and/or store in batteries and sell to the grid when supplies are tight. We had a pilot program that provided proof of concept, now it’s time to write it into law.
Last but not least, we urged those who are not already members of the nonpartisan Texas Energy and Climate Caucus to join. The world is decarbonizing to reduce climate pollution, and we need to have constructive conversations on policies that will best position Texans to participate in the huge economic opportunities of this decades-long global trend.
CCL volunteers are shown here in the office of John H. Bucy, III. Photo by Carolyn M. Appleton. Note to those at the State Capitol needing more technical information and advice: Rowen Kliethermes shown at right is highly trained and very knowledgeable. She would be an excellent resource onsite.
Our first attempt at taking video “shorts” is now available on YouTube @citizensclimatelobbyatx.
This “short” shows our volunteers departing St. David’s Episcopal for the State Capitol bright and early on April 1, 2025. CCL volunteers are of all ages and backgrounds! We hope you will join us.
Did you know, in-person meetings are the most powerful way to build relationships with legislators and to influence Texas’ climate policy. CCL’s Texas Lobby Day not only offers you the chance to meet and share your concerns with elected officials of the State of Texas, but you will also have a chance to meet with and be inspired by your fellow climate advocates from across the state. Our last Lobby Day at the Texas State Capitol was a tremendous success. Please consider joining us in Austin for 2025!
What will happen?
First, you will be trained to understand the top priorities of Citizens’ Climate Lobby during an afternoon meeting held on Monday, March 31 at Sumners Hall, St. David’s Episcopal Church in downtown Austin. The training occurs from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. You will be fully briefed by experts, so that your meetings with elected officials the following day are focused and productive.
Then, after breakfast on Tuesday, April 1 at Crail Hall, St. David’s Episcopal Church (a comfortable walking distance to the State Capitol), you will meet with State House and Senate representatives to advocate for strong, nonpartisan actions on climate. All meetings will have been re-arranged, so you know where to go, and to whom you will be speaking.
Make your voice heard and urge lawmakers to make smart investments in the clean energy future of Texas. We will also ask our legislators to come to the table on climate solutions by joining the bipartisan Texas Energy & Climate Caucus.
We need you to be present! To review the full agenda and to register, follow this link to Eventbrite. We look forward to seeing you then. Thank you.
You may be wondering, “How do you talk to friends and family about climate change in a way that brings you both hope? How do you get involved with your local chapter’s lobbying team, and what do you say to your members of Congress?” For an advance preview of what lobby meetings are like and what to expect, follow this link to Citizens’ Climate Lobby and its Climate Advocate Lobby Training page.
The fall has arrived and Citizens’ Climate Lobby could use your help.
As you may have read, this summer, Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV) and Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) introduced the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024 (S.4753). “Expert analysis from the most trusted climate and energy modelers finds this legislation could reduce America’s climate pollution up to 25% by 2050. That means Congress could notch a huge climate win by passing this bill!”
The bill has recently passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, so it has momentum. Now, it’s time for us to help push this bill across the finish line. We believe there’s a real opportunity for this to pass before the end of this Congress — but there are only a few months left to make it happen. Follow this link to email Congress! Thank you for taking the time.
In addition, the Higher Education and National Youth Action Teams of Citizens’ Climate are teaming up for a youth-driven campaign to get out the climate vote in 2024. The Climate GOAT Campaign is our way of channeling our superpower as authentic champions of the need for climate action to mobilize climate voters.
If you’re ready to use your voice to help the people you care about prioritize climate when they vote this year, sign up right now to join us on the Empower app. Follow the link!
Last but not least, please join us at these upcoming events:
If you are in the Greater Austin region, join Citizens’ Climate Lobby Austin for happy hour on Sunday, September 22 from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. at The ABGB, 1305 W. Oltorf, Austin 78704.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby “Third Coast” and its constituents across Texas hope to write 40,000 postcards to get out the vote. We have 40,000 names and addresses of registered voters who care about climate change, but who don’t often vote. And we need your help.
There will be two online trainings to share why postcards matter, and how you can help specifically. Follow the link(s) to register on Eventbrite. Each session should last approximately 45 minutes:
Writing postcards and mailing them to our fellow registered voters accomplishes several key goals of Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
Influence Climate Legislation: Our work to pass key climate legislation is easier when more elected officials are climate advocates.
Impact of Get Out the Vote Programs: Many elections hinge on voter turnout. GOTV programs are critical to winning elections.
Focus on Unlikely Voters: We target registered voters who care about climate action but are classified as unlikely voters, unlike typical campaign efforts that focus on likely voters.
Targeted Voter List: We have a list of Texans in competitive state or federal districts where Get Out the Vote can make a significant impact due to gerrymandering.
Importance of Local and State Elections: These elections matter. GOTV can make a difference in local and state elections. Postcards are a commonsense way to share your concernsand those of Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
Effective and Low-Cost: Research shows that hand-written postcards with the right message are one of the most effective and affordable ways to influence voters. We provide brief training and clear instructions.
Join 1,000+ people from across the country – including some of our own volunteers from Austin – to tell Congress that later is too late to stop the pollution overheating the planet.
Although registration for the in-person conference is now closed, you can watch most of the conference online by registering on Zoom, or by watching the CCL YouTube channel.
June 8-11, 2024
Conference speakers and sessions cover a broad range of topics. Among them are:
Near-term opportunities for climate policy in Congress.
Bridging partisan divides that keep us from acknowledging the scope of the problem.
Making climate change a top priority in every 2024 election.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy climate change organization focused on national policies to address the national and global climate crisis.
Our consistently respectful, nonpartisan approach to climate education is designed to create a broad, sustainable foundation to drive climate action across all geographic regions and political inclinations. By building upon shared values rather than partisan divides, and empowering our supporters to work in keeping with the concerns of their local communities, we work towards the adoption of fair, effective, and sustainable climate change solutions.
You can join the Austin chapter by following this link. There are also other regional teams you might like to consider. If you sign up to join CCL (which is free of charge), then you can complete your profile and you will receive important notifications direct to your inbox.
Thank you for your interest in our work. We hope you will share our website and posts with family and friends. And if you have questions – including members of the media – please use the secure contact form provided on this website.
Thanks to Adobe for this beautiful photograph of Washington, D.C.
Thank you for following our website, Voices of Austin. If you like what you see, please share our pages and posts with family and friends. And if you have suggestions at any time, email us using the secure contact forms provided.
The PROVE IT Act would require the Department of Energy (DOE) to study and compare the carbon emissions of products that are produced in the United States vs. other countries. Within two years, the DOE will publish a study comparing the carbon output of U.S. goods, like aluminum, cement, crude oil, fertilizer, iron, steel and plastic, to goods made elsewhere.
Getting this information organized into a database is critical to enable America to negotiate effectively with trading partners who have carbon border adjustment mechanisms (CBAMs) in place.
It has been introduced by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) as S.1863 and passed by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in January 2024. We hope it will be introduced in the House soon. Let’s encourage more members of Congress to sign on as cosponsors to keep this bill moving forward!
New Members and Volunteers Welcome
Please join our Austin Metro Chapter by following the link. We welcome volunteers from all walks of life. Once you join, you will have easy access to local, statewide and national events and educational programs. You might also enjoy listening-in to our monthly national Citizens’ Climate Lobby meetings on YouTube. Here is the March recording.
One of the things our chapter likes to do, is to staff Citizen Climate Lobby information tables at events of all kinds during the year. Kindly email jessyeubanks@gmail.com for tabling opportunities. Coming up are the SFC Farmers Market on March 30, Earth Day Austin 2024 on April 20, and UT Earth Day on April 25. Thank you!
@CCLATX will be there! If you’d like to volunteer at our table display, we’d love to have you. Or, simply attend. We would love to see you there.
The Austin Metro Chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby appreciates your interest and support in 2023. We are sharing three action items we hope you will consider. Thank you!
I. BIG WIRES Act
Our BIG ask: Cosponsor the BIG WIRES Act | Action requested within 10 days of this posting.
Better energy transmission is key to successful permitting reform. The BIG WIRES Act (H.R.5551/S.2827) has been introduced in the Senate and the House. It has the potential to pass as part of a Congressional funding package this year.
We empower regular people across the country to build support for climate policies in their communities and in Congress. As a nonpartisan organization, we bring people from across the political spectrum together on climate action.
Our climate advocacy builds renewed hope for solving climate change – exactly what we need to push for a clean energy future.
Join the Austin Metro Chapter via the secure online platform of Citizens’ Climate Lobby. We meet (in-person and virtually) on the second Saturday of each month in conjunction with the national organization’s monthly call. By signing up on the platform, you can join different action teams that suit your interests and learn about upcoming meetings and conferences. Nationally and locally organized training programs are available year-round. Contact austin@citizensclimatelobby.org for more information.
If you have already signed up, will you kindly share this page with family and friends? Thank you.
The 87th Legislature of the State of Texas has a great opportunity to sponsor the proposed H.C.R. No. 22 – the Texas Environmental and Economic Stewardship Resolution. The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while diversifying the economy supported by technological innovation and bipartisan collaboration.
It is not unknown to the Legislature that climate is changing and is having adverse impacts on the health and wellbeing of Texans. But we can’t rely on oil and gas as energy sources alone especially when it is contributing negatively to the health of Texans. Texas leads the nation in wind energy but we need more zero emissions sources like solar, geothermal, and nuclear.
The State of Texas has innovators, scientists, engineers and environmentalists who can provide expertise on energy sources and its impact on the changing climate. Texas House has already formed a Caucus on Climate and Environment and the Energy Industry, a perfect place to start thoughtful discussions on energy sources and transition opportunities to the 21st century low-carbon economy. The Legislature has a choice to grab this opportunity for the people they serve.
Voices of Austin @CCLATX 