Resource Type: Evaluation & Measuring Progress

“The push and pull of progress and catastrophe made 2023 one of the most discordant—and consequential—years for the world’s climate,” as our friends at Inside Climate News phrased it. Indeed, 2023 was not only a roller coaster year for climate, but also for the climate movement. 
On the one hand, we saw:
Dramatic increases in renewable energy investments and installations as well as progress toward electrification, from heat pumps to EVs;
Big wins at the state and local level – including landmark climate laws passed in Minnesota and Michigan;
A Montana judge rule that young people have a “fundamental right” to a safe and stable climate, underscoring the important role of legal action within our strategic toolkit; and 
The number of folks (56%) who are “Alarmed” or “Concerned” about climate rise to the highest that it’s ever been.
And on the other: 
2023 was the hottest year on record;
Intensifying climate disasters wrecked havoc across the US and the globally, claiming thousands of lives; 
The US is not currently on track to meet its goal of cutting emissions in half by 2030;
Domestic oil and methane gas production both hit record-high levels last year; and
Our movement suffered significant setbacks around high-profile oil and gas fights, including the Willow Project and Line 5 pipeline.  
Last January, we shared thoughts on 13 ideas & trends that will shape climate activism in 2023*. Looking ahead to 2024, we will check back on some of those trends as well as what else may be coming down the pike this year.

We’ve just wrapped up COP28 in Dubai. While there were a lot of great words about the need to decarbonize and reduce emissions (though pointedly not the words “phase-out”), it’s impossible to ignore the context of those grand statements: an international climate treaty conference located in a petrostate, presided over by an oil executive, overrun by fossil fuel lobbyists, and being used as the backdrop for still more oil and gas deals. Despite these structural barriers and some oddly patronizing attempts at pacification, climate advocates have made their voices heard at COP28, rejecting Dubai’s facade of decorum and business-as-usual.
It’s been a few years since we wrote a newsletter summarizing insights on fossil fuel fights* – so as we close out 2023 (and salute the hard-fought wins we’ve achieved this year!) let’s keep an eye on the fossil fuel front and explore some ways to respond.

My grandfather, Chester Barnett, grew up on a corn farm in southern Indiana in the early 1900s. He lived in rural communities for most of his life, including the tiny town of Yreka, CA where my Mom was raised. I thought about him (and my family’s “rural roots”) a lot when I was back in Indiana recently for a conference — which, in addition to lots of great discussions, included a tour of several “rural climate solutions” sites.

As we previewed a couple of weeks ago, Justin and I recently attended the 2023 Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association (APSA) in Los Angeles. APSA is (at least in my opinion) the top conference in political science and draws some of the brightest scholars and most insightful research from across the discipline. It’s also usually the only occasion I have each year to get updated on emerging research, catch up with some of our social scientist members, bring in new scholars to the Lab community, and generally try to stay relevant in the field. In this feature, I’ll give you a quick recap of our time in LA and share some thoughts on how the issue of climate change has grown in prominence in the study of politics.

Severe thunderstorms hit my hometown of Durham, NC last week, bringing 80 mph winds and flash flooding across our community. Around half the county was without power for more than 24 hours– presenting serious health risks for our most vulnerable neighbors, as temperatures (and humidity levels) climbed into the mid-90s. 
96% of people in the United States have faced extreme weather risks this summer (from flooding, storms, heat, or fire) according to the new “Danger Season” tool from the Union of Concerned Scientists that tracks county-level alerts. 

Black August, a month dedicated to honoring the resilience and struggles of Black activists and revolutionaries, holds a significant connection to the ongoing fight for climate justice. The intersection between Black August and climate justice underscores the historical ties between environmental injustice and racial discrimination. I want to take this month to explore the relationship between Black August and climate justice, highlighting the impact of environmental issues on marginalized communities and the role of collective activism in creating a more equitable and sustainable future.