Advancing Policy

Climate Change

Climate change is the greatest challenge of our generation, and it causes the most harm to communities that have been historically exploited by corporate polluters and harmful policies: low-income communities, indigenous communities and communities of color. There’s no time to wait – we must build a future that works well for all of us.

People walking through flooded streets in Puerto Rico.

Each year, climate disasters in the U.S. kill hundreds of people and cost over $100 billion in damages.

LCV and our state affiliates fight for just and equitable policies to combat climate change.
We led the charge to pass the biggest piece of climate legislation in U.S. history -- the Inflation Reduction Act.
And we're not stopping. Scientists say we have until the end of the decade to avoid climate catastrophe. So it's up to us to keep making progress.

Fighting the Climate Crisis with Clean Energy Solutions

The League of Conservation Voters is laser-focused on achieving meaningful and equitable reductions in pollution, and on building a clean energy economy that works for us all.

An economy that works well for all of us will: 

  • use clean renewable energy, not fossil fuels
  • cut our greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 while creating good U.S. jobs
  • be decarbonized by 2050 and provide appropriate training and job placements for displaced workers from the fossil fuel industry

And none of that can happen unless we have a robust, inclusive and anti-racist climate movement.

To get there, LCV and our network of 30+ state affiliates work jointly on government investments, policy, elections, and accountability at all levels of government.

  • What we've accomplished together
    • Led the fight to pass the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the most significant piece of climate legislation enacted in U.S. history, with over $369 billion in tax incentives and other investments to transition our country to a clean energy economy and advance environmental justice.
    • Collaborated with partners and environmental justice leaders to fight against potentially harmful provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act, and continued to fight against and remediate the effects of those that were included in the final bill.
    • Fought Sen. Manchin’s harmful permitting rollbacks and stopped their progress in the Senate – twice!
    • Secured policies committing to 100% clean energy in 15 states, ensuring that 40% of people in the U.S. now live in places committed to 100% clean energy.
    • Contributed to the formation of the Equitable and Just National Climate Platform, working to center the needs and leadership of communities of color and the communities most impacted by climate change.
    • Built a long-term grassroots infrastructure of hundreds of trained climate organizers and tens of thousands of volunteers across the country, one third of whom are under age 35.
    • Helped elevate the environmental leadership of Latinx communities and other communities of color through our multi-state program, Chispa, which fights for climate justice and is leading the campaign to transition dirty diesel school buses to electric fleets built and serviced with good union jobs.
    • Through our affiliated political organizations, helped to elect thousands of environmental champions up and down the ballot, including increasing the number of women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ candidates.
    • Launched a candidate recruitment and training program focused on racial justice and equity. We’ve trained over 50 new leaders to run for state legislative seats, city council positions, county commissions and school boards to shape state and local climate policies.

  • How we're continuing the fight
    • Encouraging the Biden-Harris administration to swiftly advance bold executive actions to slash climate and other health-harming pollution.
    • Elevating the benefits – environmental, financial, social, and moral – of climate investments to decisionmakers and the public.
    • Agitating for a green economy that works for workers, families and our whole nation.
    • Fighting to protect Indigenous communities and communities of color along our Gulf Coast, Alaska, and elsewhere who continue to be threatened by oil and gas drilling and fossil fuel development.
    • Building a more powerful, more active, more inclusive climate movement that seeks to prioritize anti-racism in all our work. We’re centering the needs of the most-impacted communities and demanding that “climate action” means “climate justice.”
    • Working with Congress to continue to advance climate policies and collaborating with our 30 state affiliates and dozens of partner organizations to give our voices even more power.
    • Building on the environmental justice priorities of the Equitable and Just National Climate Platform and fighting to ensure that any and all climate legislation passed in this country directs funds to Black, Indigenous, Latinx and other communities of color: that is, to those who bear the brunt of the climate crisis.
    • Demanding our leaders implement a swift transition to a clean energy economy that works for all of us, including underemployed groups and displaced workers, and cut greenhouse emissions by at least half by 2030.
    • Supporting, elevating and partnering with LCV affiliates in their state and local campaigns to move our country closer to 100 percent clean energy.

Program Highlights

A clean energy activist speaks on a boat in front of an ocean wind turbine.

Clean Energy for All

Clean Energy for All is a grassroots campaign to reject fossil fuels and embrace clean energy nationwide. Led by LCV and our 30+ state affiliates, this campaign works to enact change at the state and local levels to advance clean energy solutions that cut pollution and protect public health.

More about Clean Energy for All
A clean energy activist speaks on a boat in front of an ocean wind turbine.
Chispa staff pose in front of sign about voting.

Chispa

LCV’s Chispa (“spark” in Spanish) program builds the power of Latinx and other communities of color to achieve climate justice, community health, and environmental protections at the local and state level.

Visit the Chispa Site
Chispa staff pose in front of sign about voting.
Climate Action volunteers posing at a booth with signs reading "We Support Clean Energy Jobs"

Climate Action Volunteer Program

Fighting for urgent climate action requires massive grassroots support. Through our Climate Action program, volunteers lead meaningful change online and on the ground in their local communities.

More about our Climate Action Programs
Climate Action volunteers posing at a booth with signs reading "We Support Clean Energy Jobs"
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks at a podium during a Climate Action Now press event in front of fellow lawmakers and the Capitol building in DC
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer

“Few organizations are as ready for this fight as LCV — you are organized, you are strategic, and you are steeled. For that reason, few organizations have made a bigger difference.”

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer

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©2023 League of Conservation Voters

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©2023 League of Conservation Voters