Jeff Holzem
Jefferson City Citizens' Climate Lobby education group leader
Dear Editor:
As the local Citizens' Climate Lobby (CCL) group leader, I want to clear up some misconceptions about our organization published in a previous LTE. CCL's primary goal is to support the Energy Innovation Act, HR 763. This bill will significantly reduce carbon emissions by placing a fee on carbon and returning the net fees as dividends to U.S. citizens. We support HR 763 because we are convinced it is the most effective way to protect our world from further damage from climate change and provide a sustainable future for us and for our children.
Through our sister organization, Citizens' Climate Education, we provide training on effective solutions to climate issues. Both organizations share common core values. We act with integrity, doing research and providing accurate information. We treat everyone with respect. We establish relationships in order to understand the positions of other people, and so they will listen receptively to ours. We are non-partisan because climate change impacts everyone, and bipartisan solutions last.
Because we strongly believe the Energy Innovation Act will make the world better for all of us, we use the following approaches to generate support. Many grassroots organizations use similar advocacy methods. CCL is completely transparent, as you can see on our web site, CCLUSA.org.
1. Lobbying Congress: We train volunteers to lobby for our bill by building relationships with our federally elected representatives. Local volunteers have traveled to DC twice a year since 2014 to urge U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer and our senators to support climate legislation.
2. Media relations: Our volunteers write letters to the editor and op-eds informing the public about climate issues and how HR 763 will help solve them.
3. Grassroots outreach: We educate the public on advocating for climate action.
4. Grasstops engagement: We work to educate and to build partnerships with other organizations and businesses that are concerned about the future of our planet, from Trout Unlimited and the Missouri Conservation Federation to the Carnival Group and the New York State Brewers Association.
5. Group development and organizing: We are optimistic about the future, and believe by working together we can solve climate issues. Our Jefferson City chapter regularly sends emails to over 150 volunteers and our Columbia chapter to more than 340. We are encouraged that our numbers continue to grow.
Please visit our website and join us in keeping our planet safe.