{"id":17282,"date":"2022-11-07T17:47:30","date_gmt":"2022-11-07T22:47:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=17282"},"modified":"2022-11-07T19:14:39","modified_gmt":"2022-11-08T00:14:39","slug":"november-climate-champions-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/november-climate-champions-update\/","title":{"rendered":"November Climate Champions Update"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.massaudubon.org\/our-conservation-work\/policy-advocacy\/climate-champions-program\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Climate Champions<\/a> is a Mass Audubon grassroots volunteer program to advocate for policies that advance nature-based climate solutions. With training from policy experts, Climate Champions advocate for local and state policies that help achieve the state\u2019s goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and\u202freverse negative health impacts of climate change for Environmental Justice communities.\u202f\u202f\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Climate Champion Spotlight: Diane Juhas\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/11\/Diane-Juhas750.jpg\" alt=\"Diane Juhas\u00a0\" class=\"wp-image-17285\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/11\/Diane-Juhas750.jpg 750w, https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/11\/Diane-Juhas750-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/11\/Diane-Juhas750-624x416.jpg 624w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I decided to become a Climate Champion volunteer because my entire life I\u2019ve been an environmentalist. I love hiking in the spring and fall, kayaking in the summer, and snow<s> <\/s>shoeing or cross-country skiing in the winter. My family became Mass Audubon members in 2013 and we have learned so much since joining. As a Climate Champion I am connecting with my community to learn how we can advance Massachusetts\u2019 <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/doc\/clean-energy-and-climate-plan-for-2025-and-2030\/download\" target=\"_blank\">Clean Energy and Climate Plan<\/a> and what my hometown is already planning. I met with my state representative at the Beacon Hill Lobby Day to advocate for investments in nature and climate.\u00a0I submitted my recommendations for the CECP to explore and deploy ocean-based carbon removal solutions since MA has a 1,500-mile coastline. Most recently, with other Climate Champions, I have signed up to phone bank to Get out the Vote with the Environmental Voter Project.&#8221;\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How It\u2019s Going\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This fall Climate Champions were invited to give input into the development of Mass Audubon\u2019s legislative and policy priorities for the 2023-2024 legislative session. Mass Audubon uses several inputs and criteria to develop and prioritize bills, including:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>a topic\u2019s connection to Mass Audubon\u2019s <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.massaudubon.org\/about-us\/action-agenda\" target=\"_blank\">Action Agenda<\/a>\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>an effort\u2019s viability and potential impact\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>our organizational capacity&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>whether Mass Audubon\u2019s support or opposition can make a difference in outcomes&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These comprise what we call our \u201ctheory of change.\u201d The Climate Champions program is an important element of our theory of change, as it is central to thinking about organizational capacity and impact.\u00a0Our vision is for Climate Champions to represent a dramatic expansion of Mass Audubon\u2019s ability to affect change.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Last month Climate Champions were briefed on the legislative process and the basics of a few priority issues, then asked to discuss them and offer suggestions. We are now reviewing all the fabulous feedback as we develop a Legislative Agenda for next year.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to these roundtable discussions, champions have had the opportunity to:\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Submit comments on the state\u2019s drafted outline for the MA Clean Energy and Climate Plan.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sign up with the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.environmentalvoter.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Environmental Voter Project<\/a> to make get out the vote phone calls\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Recruit Climate Champions in their own communities.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s Next\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Mass Audubon\u2019s Policy and Advocacy staff will be weighing the shifting landscape of climate advocacy after the election on November 8. We hope to celebrate the passage of the Community Preservation Act in the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.communitypreservation.org\/elections\" target=\"_blank\">six towns<\/a> where it\u2019s on the ballot.\u00a0We look forward to the Governor signing the long-stalled state <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/newsletters\/massachusetts-playbook\/2022\/10\/27\/an-october-surprise-on-beacon-hill-00063719\" target=\"_blank\">economic development bill<\/a>, which passed the Senate and House last week with investments in open space, recreation, ecological restoration, and climate adaptation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Climate Champions will have an opportunity to discuss with Mass Audubon\u2019s policy experts the impacts of the mid-term election on Massachusetts climate advocacy. In addition, champions will be participating in trainings and workshops on recruiting Climate Champions in their own communities.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Learn More\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Everyone can be a Climate Champion, no matter your time constraints or experience level!\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.massaudubon.org\/our-conservation-work\/policy-advocacy\/climate-champions-program\" target=\"_blank\">Find out more and sign up ><\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Climate Champions is a Mass Audubon grassroots volunteer program to advocate for policies that advance nature-based climate solutions. With training from policy experts, Climate Champions advocate for local and state policies that help achieve the state\u2019s goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and\u202freverse negative health impacts of climate change for Environmental Justice communities.\u202f\u202f\u202f&nbsp; [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17285,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2,178],"tags":[468],"class_list":["post-17282","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advocacy-2","category-climate","tag-climate-champions"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/11\/Diane-Juhas750.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-4uK","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":17354,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/december-climate-champions-update\/","url_meta":{"origin":17282,"position":0},"title":"December Climate Champions Update","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"December 6, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Climate Champions is a Mass Audubon grassroots volunteer program to advocate for policies that advance nature-based climate solutions. With training from policy experts, Climate Champions advocate for local and state policies that help achieve the state\u2019s goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and\u202freverse negative health impacts of climate\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Advocacy&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Advocacy","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/advocacy-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Kevin Izzo Selfie","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/12\/Kevin-Izzo-750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/12\/Kevin-Izzo-750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/12\/Kevin-Izzo-750.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/12\/Kevin-Izzo-750.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17459,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/february-climate-champions-update\/","url_meta":{"origin":17282,"position":1},"title":"February Climate Champions Update\u00a0","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"February 8, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Climate Champions\u202fis a Mass Audubon grassroots volunteer program to advocate for policies that advance nature-based climate solutions. With training from policy experts, Climate Champions advocate for local and state policies that help achieve the state\u2019s goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and\u202freverse negative health impacts of climate change\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Advocacy&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Advocacy","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/advocacy-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/02\/Ipswich-River-750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/02\/Ipswich-River-750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/02\/Ipswich-River-750.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/02\/Ipswich-River-750.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17221,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/climate-champions-fall-update\/","url_meta":{"origin":17282,"position":2},"title":"Climate Champions Fall Update","author":"Hillary T.","date":"October 10, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"This spring, we launched Climate Champions, a grassroots network of volunteers working together to speak with one collective, powerful voice. With training from policy experts, Climate Champions help advocate for town and state policies that help achieve the state\u2019s goal to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and\u00a0reverse negative\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Climate&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Climate","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/climate\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Climate Champions","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/10\/lobbyday.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/10\/lobbyday.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/10\/lobbyday.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/10\/lobbyday.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17387,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/in-your-words-stephanie-kane\/","url_meta":{"origin":17282,"position":3},"title":"In Your Words: Stephanie Kane","author":"Kaylin D.","date":"December 16, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"I was first introduced to Mass Audubon when I attended the Field Naturalist Certificate Program in 2021 at Drumlin Farm in Lincoln. Then, my connections strengthened through the yearlong Birding Certificate Program. With my growing knowledge about the natural world from these two programs, and countless others, my understanding, experience,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;In Your Words&quot;","block_context":{"text":"In Your Words","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/in-your-words\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Stephanie standing in a forest, smiling with a green shirt and blue Mass Audubon hat.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/12\/Stephanie-Kane.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/12\/Stephanie-Kane.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/12\/Stephanie-Kane.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/12\/Stephanie-Kane.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14077,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/climate-storytelling\/","url_meta":{"origin":17282,"position":4},"title":"The Impact of Storytelling","author":"Rishya N.","date":"May 27, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Our words hold immense power.\u00a0 We all learn this pretty early on. Think of your first favorite book or movie that whisked you off into a wonderful, magical world and how that made you feel. Think about the last time you sat down with a loved one to vent your\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Climate&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Climate","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/climate\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/05\/YOUTH-Phil-Doyle.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/05\/YOUTH-Phil-Doyle.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/05\/YOUTH-Phil-Doyle.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/05\/YOUTH-Phil-Doyle.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17104,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/a-momentous-week-in-climate-history\/","url_meta":{"origin":17282,"position":5},"title":"A Momentous Week in Climate History","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"August 19, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"It\u2019s mid-August, which means the formal legislative session on Beacon Hill is over. Here\u2019s what happened on the federal and state level and what this means for our efforts to meet our advocacy campaign goal of securing $1 billion in new public funding for nature and climate.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In just the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Advocacy&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Advocacy","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/advocacy-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"pic of the state house and a sign in front that says change","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/08\/statehouse.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/08\/statehouse.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/08\/statehouse.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/08\/statehouse.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17282","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17282"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17282\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17287,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17282\/revisions\/17287"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17285"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17282"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17282"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17282"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}