Persistently changing what's possible

2026 – Present

Sharper strategy to bridge today's divides

Remaining laser focused on the problem of climate change, our Executive Director Ricky Bradley has overseen a strategic shift in how we work to advance climate solutions. It's not enough just to talk to lawmakers all along the political spectrum — our grassroots volunteers need the skills to truly understand, connect, and persuade. With the launch of our BRIDGE Advocacy program and a new strategic plan, we are poised to bring sharper, more effective climate policy to every congressional district.

Our relationship with Sen. John Curtis is an example of the kind of relationship building our grassroots volunteers do day in and day out, and it's these relationships that lead to lasting policy change.

2022 – 2025

More climate policies, more climate wins

In these years, CCL began to understand that no single policy is as powerful as the goals themselves that we're committed to achieving through our advocacy: reducing emissions, removing climate pollution, and protecting people.

So, rather than continuing to advocate exclusively for carbon pricing as we had until this point, we also began to educate our volunteers and engage on topics like permitting reform, forestry legislation, building electrification, and other clean energy policy. This allowed us to help build more bipartisan consensus around climate action and secure policy wins that were within reach. Our work contributed to the passage of four new climate bills into law during this period.

2018 – 2022

Pushing a carbon fee to center stage

In late 2018 and early 2019, our advocacy succeeded in getting carbon fee and dividend legislation introduced in the House and Senate — and both bills had Republican and Democratic members as original cosponsors.

By the 117th Congress, our flagship policy idea reached new heights of support and was cosponsored by 95 Members of Congress. In 2021, The New York Times reported that Senate leadership was “craft[ing] legislation that would put a price on carbon emissions […] with some kind of rebate or ‘carbon dividend.’”

Ultimately, with the Inflation Reduction Act, Congress took a different policy approach to address the problem of climate change, using incentives and rebates to support clean energy and encourage climate-friendly consumer choices. Still, it was clear that CCL had a model for effective advocacy that we could build on.

2015 – 2019

Fostering bipartisan climate conversation in Congress

Understanding that bipartisan buy-in is vital for lasting, effective climate action, CCL has worked hard to create space in Congress for members of both parties to come to the table. It started small, with 11 House Republicans signing a resolution acknowledging the growing problem of climate change and encouraging their colleagues to work constructively toward solutions.

Then it grew, with CCL playing an integral role in the formation of the House Climate Solutions Caucus in 2016. CCL supported the growth of the House Climate Solutions Caucus by encouraging representatives to join in bipartisan pairs, celebrating and appreciating each new lawmaker for stepping up. The group reached its peak in 2018 with 84 members, split evenly between House Republicans and Democrats.

The caucus held educational briefings on climate impacts, spoke up and pushed back at critical moments during the first Trump Administration, and continued to build a vital space for bipartisan education and connection between colleagues on this shared issue. By 2019, the Senate Climate Solutions Caucus was formed to mirror this important work in the upper chamber of Congress, again with CCL's support and encouragement.

2009 – 2014

Champions of Carbon Fee and Dividend

We threw our weight behind a carbon pricing policy design known as Carbon Fee & Dividend. Our organization grew rapidly as we advocated for this idea and brought it to Congress. Each year our Capitol Hill lobby day grew remarkably, with attendance nearly doubling annually, supported by chapters numbering in the hundreds. Our advocacy during this time included generating hard data that Congress could work with, such as the REMI study, the Household Impact Study, and the Dividend Delivery Study.

2007 – 2009

Our voices are needed in D.C.

The founding idea behind CCL is that if people organize and push our lawmakers for action — in a relentless, unstoppable, yet respectful way — we can solve the problem of climate change.

The earliest years of CCL, led by our founder Marshall Saunders, included establishing the first chapters, learning about policy solutions, and bringing on board the first staff members.