Blog - Colorado CCL actions and progress

Conservatives are stepping up to address climate change – CCL has their backs

Over 80 politically right-leaning CCL volunteers gathered in D.C. with Republican members of Congress and the best of the eco-right to discuss the opportunities provided by conservative climate action, share ideas, and learn how to be a better conservative climate leader.

House Conservative Climate Caucus: Should we be optimistic or skeptical?

This summer House Republicans formed a Conservative Climate Caucus. Will this caucus be a forum for education or will they work to enact meaningful legislation? Their website declares that climate is changing, reducing emissions is the goal, and fossil fuels can be part of the solution. Read on for more thoughts on this caucus and what action you can take.

Boost your outreach through Colorado’s rural advocacy organizations

At CCL, we build political will for bipartisan solutions to climate change. We believe in treating people with respect and appreciation, meeting people where they are, and appreciating the circumstances, beliefs and values that led them to their position on climate. Then we look for common ground and try to move forward, bit by bit. Kathy Fackler discovered that, in her conservative-leaning Western Slope congressional district, there’s no better place for outreach than Club20. Learn about her experience and opportunities for outreach in other Colorado rural districts.

Young Conservative Fellow making strides towards climate solution

Young CCL Conservative Fellow Nate Hochman shares his experience and advice to find a sustainable climate solution. He is both a conservative and an environmentalist and believes that they are not a contradiction. One of his motivations has been to engage with the communities he grew up with and help them see why climate change is an issue they should be concerned about.

Standing Firm In Troubled Times

By Grant Couch, CCL National Conservative Caucus

I joined CCL in 2013 because I believe Carbon Fee and Dividend (CF&D) is a necessary, meaningful and politically sustainable step in solving the existential risk of climate change. Over the years I have participated in over 70 lobby meetings in Washington, D.C., and in Colorado district offices. My lobbying experiences have confirmed the profound wisdom of CCL’s approach of being respectfully non-partisan — while insisting on a bipartisan solution. Our Core Values are an inspiring North Star for any organization. Equally important is the simple statement on the homepage of our website: "Together we’re building support for a national bipartisan solution to climate change.”

During the last seven years, our country's politics have become more polarized. I have experienced this first-hand, both as an engaged citizen as well as a CCL member presenting to many diverse audiences. I am now convinced that a bipartisan requirement is more important than the actual solution. Ultimately, a solution will come, and Congress will have to act. However, even if the solution addresses the climate challenge in a meaningful way, it will not be sustainable unless there is bipartisan support because resistance within the minority party will be intense and perpetual. America’s political divide is an existential threat to our democracy, and CCL’s bipartisan focus is helping bridge that divide. I am profoundly proud of CCL’s efforts in that regard, and that pride and goal have given me extra energy and determination in advancing our work.

Restoring Conservative Leadership on Climate

By Ian Harrison, State Leader, Colorado Conservative Caucus

Over the last 10 months, and from the sidelines, I have watched something truly inspirational.

The publication of an OpEd on climate leadership, co-authored by Charlie Winn, the Republican candidate for district 2, and Kelsey Grant, a CCL Conservative Fellow, is the culmination of their personal journeys and a remarkable achievement. While the article talks directly to the desire of young conservatives to have their party deliver on a national Republican-led climate strategy, the real inspiration is how they got there.

Conservative Colorado Springs Pivots to Renewables

By Susan Campbell, Colorado Springs Chapter Leader, and Ian Harrison, State Leader, Colorado Conservative Caucus

On June 26, the Colorado Springs City Council voted 7-2 to adopt a new energy plan for the City’s electrical utility. Called “unbelievably historic” by council member Richard Skorman, the new plan pivots from coal-fired generation much sooner than previously planned and relies heavily on renewable sources (including wind, solar, and battery storage) to replace coal, instead of using natural gas.

Leadership Does Not Have to Mean Sacrifice

“Why should the United States reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions if other countries won’t do their part?” is a question reasonably asked by Republican lawmakers and Conservatives. We CCL volunteers often point to the border adjustment as the way to make it fair, but this Conservative also sees a comparative and competitive advantage for America.

All Politics is Local!

Colorado has an estimated 230,000 direct and indirect oil and gas jobs, the vast majority of which reside in our rural Republican districts. The combination of severance, property and other taxes can contribute as much as 80% of a county's income. Like many other conservatives I believe that a revenue-neutral carbon fee and dividend (CF&D) is the right way to address the risks posed by climate change at a national level, but a Representative of any party would struggle to endorse a policy that impacts the economic welfare of their constituents so dramatically.