CLIMATE XCHANGE 2020 IMPACT REPORT

COVID, CHAOS & CLIMATE: LOOKING BACK ON 2020

This past year delivered unprecedented challenges and untold pain to millions of Americans. As our country underwent a global pandemic, a national mobilization for racial justice, and a tumultuous transition of federal power, the climate crisis continued taking a massive toll on our communities. Climate XChange responded by maximizing our resources, leveraging legislative relationships, doubling down on advocacy, and amplifying the voices of those working for a better future. 

Our State Climate Policy Network broke down barriers to inter-state collaboration across the country at a time when federal leadership was non-existent and climate champions searched for support. Our team put forth groundbreaking research that has created a climate-driven roadmap for states’ post-pandemic economic stimulus plans, and our content garnered a viewership exceeded in growth only by the urgency of our mission. 

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our dedicated donors, supporters, and partners! Our critical work would not be possible without your steadfast commitment to a clean, safe, and resilient future. 

With gratitude,

Peter Kirby

Chair, Board of Directors

MISSION & VISION

Our mission is to achieve a durable and just decarbonization of the U.S. economy by facilitating climate policy at the state level. As a leading voice on carbon pollution pricing and related market mechanisms, we are building a roadmap to achieve the emissions reductions necessary to avoid the worst effects of the climate crisis.

We empower state policy makers, business leaders, and advocates with the information and resources they need to make these policies a reality in a way that best serves local communities. We believe that we can, and must, address the overlapping challenges of environmental justice, health, and inequality to deliver a transformed economy that finally puts people first. 

CXC HELPS PASS STATE-LEVEL CLIMATE POLICY THROUGH FOUR AREAS OF IMPACT 

 

State Climate Policy Network (SCPN)

Connecting thousands and harnessing the power of shared resources

Research

Producing cutting-edge economic modeling and data 

Communications

Sharing science-based information and creative storytelling

Direct Advocacy

Building broad coalitions and championing climate legislation in Massachusetts and Maryland

BY THE NUMBERS

STATE CLIMATE POLICY NETWORK

600%

growth of the State Climate Policy Network in the past 2 years

    500+

    SCPN members joining monthly calls sharing campaign and policy strategies

    120+

    legislators directly connecting through quarterly calls

    30

    student fellows trained to become experts in state climate policy 

    RESEARCH

    16

    states’ key policy issues researched for

    8

    reports and technical memos

     

    8

    states utilized CXC research directly in policy, laws and regulations

    8

    citations of CXC’s research in peer-reviewed academic journals

    COMMUNICATIONS

    70%

    growth of social media following

    15,000+

    downloads of Cooler Earth podcast

    750

    Deep Dive participants per monthly webinar

    “The best, most thought-provoking webinar I have seen all year!”

    – Candace Wheeler, Gloucester Clean Energy Commission

    ADVOCACY

    STORIES FROM THE FRONTLINE 

    WASHINGTON

    In June 2020, CXC was the first organization in the U.S. to publish in-depth quantitative modeling on green recovery packages at the state level. Building Back Better: Investing in a Resilient Recovery for Washington State was cited in the Governor’s official 2021 State Energy Strategy, was leveraged by House and Senate environmental champions, and informed decisions made by policy makers in 12 other states.

    “As we explore a carbon pricing scheme here in Washington…the report has been mentioned as providing terrific evidence of why making these investments is not only the right thing to do, but the smart thing to do.”

    –Jordan Kronen, Staff of Washington State Senator Liz Lovelett

    Our research team published its first-ever peer-reviewed journal article in the Washington Journal of Environmental Law and Policy.

    TENNESSEE

    The State Climate Policy Network pushed bipartisan efforts for climate action forward in red states, like Tennessee, where the climate movement is just beginning to build momentum. 

    The SCPN is the “central point of reference for carbon initiatives” in bipartisan climate policy efforts in Tennessee.

    – Republican business leader Andres Carlos

    MID-ATLANTIC & NEVADA

    We provided private consultation on research to FEMA’s Mid-Atlantic team and a Nevada legislator.

    HAWAII

    Our Building Back Better report prompted Hawaii’s executive branch officials and legislators to reach out to our team of experts for research and guidance on their economic recovery plans.

    MASSACHUSETTS

    The Institute at Brown University for Environment and Society named CXC and its partner organization, the Climate Action Business Association, as #4 in the top 10 pro-climate testifiers in the state of Massachusetts. 

    Our advocacy team became the lead entity tasked with launching and expanding an inclusive and impactful Green Future Now! Coalition in Massachusetts.

    MONTANA & CONNECTICUT

    Montana and Connecticut’s climate task force committees utilized CXC’s research and expertise to draft their plans for reaching 2030 and 2050 emissions reductions targets

    “You lend such incredible credibility, and I thank you!“

    – Montana Representative Mary Ann Dunwell

    MARYLAND

    Maryland’s Climate Crisis and Education Act secured 67 co-sponsors and 28 coalition members under the leadership of CXC’s Maryland Regional Director.

    2021: A YEAR OF OPPORTUNITY & ACTION

    CXC has laid out ambitious plans for 2021 that will maximize opportunities for climate action at all levels and pass much-needed policies in key states. As our country refocuses on science-based policy, we are committed to enabling state-level stakeholders to advance solutions within their communities.

    SCPN: The rapid expansion of the State Climate Policy Network membership calls for increased staff capacity to manage its operations and content creation. We also plan to launch a new website designed to facilitate virtual gatherings, deliver remote technical support, exchange effective strategies, and provide a state policy tracking map.

    RESEARCH: Our newest research report, Build Back Better: Green Recovery in Massachusetts, is underway and preliminary findings have been shared privately with the Massachusetts House Green Recovery Task Force. This research will inform policymakers’ views on green investment, carbon pricing, and climate policy by providing a deep, accessible dataset of jobs, public health implications and economic projections.

    COMMUNICATIONS: We will continue providing our audience with the most engaging and up-to-date multimedia content on climate policy. We have also set out to secure high-level media partnerships in order to amplify the impact of our SCPN members on the ground and bring national attention to the critical issues of environmental justice, economic rebuilding, and a post-carbon economy — and the state-level policies needed to achieve them.

    DIRECT ADVOCACY: Our advocacy team is working alongside frontline communities, workers unions, teachers, students, executive branch and municipal officials, and industry leaders to strengthen coalitions in Maryland and Massachusetts. We are leveraging our network of media partners, legislators, and business leaders to push carbon pollution pricing bills across the finish line by 2022.

    MEANINGFUL CLIMATE ACTION STARTS HERE

    All of this work requires resources beyond our Annual Tesla Raffle proceeds. Please support us by making a donation today. Lasting change starts with our supporters, and we ask that you become a champion for climate by funding our vision for clean, safe, and resilient communities.  

    Climate XChange is a certified 501c3 tax exempt nonprofit organization. Our EIN number is 47-3976138.