DECEMBER NEWSLETTER

Upcoming Chapter elections– be a leader!

Have you been with the Chapter for a while and wonder how to get more involved? Would you like to help organize events and presentations, or connect with other chapter members and new folks who care about our climate? Consider joining our leadership team! Open positions include:

Chair and co-chair

Events

Outreach

Communications

We’re a collaborative group so if you are interested but can only commit to a portion of the role, still apply and we’ll work it out! Check out our elections doc  more information about what’s involved and how we work. Contact Helena at [email protected] with questions or to nominate yourself! Elections will take place at our Tuesday January 20 chapter meeting. 

Volunteers Needed

• Would you like to lead others in weekly hours of action? Climate Changemakers is a new part of the Climate Reality Project that leads hours of action where a trained volunteer leads new volunteers to take positive action during that hour on a planned climate topic. They are hosting a “learn to lead” training online on Jan. 13, 2026, 10:30 - noon.  Email [email protected] and we’ll get you connected to this nationwide training! 

• Are you concerned about climate change impacts? Would you support a Polluters Pay/Climate Superfund where  large fossil fuel companies pay into a Superfund Account for the damage they’ve caused already and the money used for adaptation and resilience? Make Polluters Pay/Climate Superfund bills have already passed in Vermont and New York, are proposed in 16 other states including Oregon, and are a national priority for the Climate Reality Project.  Our Chapter is joining a broad Oregon coalition to get this bill across the finish line in Oregon. Would you like to join our efforts to get pass this in Oregon? Whether you have 15 minutes or many hours, every action matters. Email Amanda and Helena at [email protected] to get involved!

• Are you concerned about climate change? Do you enjoy working with middle and high school students? Would you enjoy helping students engage in a hands-on learning project?  Whether you have a little time or a lot, join us as we share climate solutions with youth both at our climate fairs and classroom exhibits.   Contact Lynn Merrick, Climate Education Committee lead to learn about our many opportunities.  [email protected].  

November Recap/ News/ What We Have Been Up To

We had a wonderful November Chapter meeting with Bill Gorham, marine biologist and Climate Reality leader from southern Oregon, presenting on oceans and climate. Missed Bill’s insightful presentation?  Watch here. 

Chapter member Karen gave a presentation on The Impact of Climate Change on Public Health to Linfield University nursing students. As a member of Climate Reality Portland, you are most likely aware that every consequence of our climate’s warming has public health impacts, from extreme heat to flooding, drought, extreme weather, increased severity and number of wildfires, sea level rise and air pollution.The 2024 Lancet Report of the Countdown on Health and Climate Change, stated “Climate change is the biggest global health threat of the 21st century.”
Nurses are consistently the most trusted profession in the United States, giving them the ability to influence and educate the public on the critical importance of addressing this issue. Student feedback indicated that many students were unaware of the severity of climate change and their potential role in making a consequential difference in fighting it. Karen’s educational outreach could spread positive ripples for years to come.

Chapter leadership supported a pro-climate justice and public health letter asking the Oregon Public Utilities Commission to enact a moratorium on utility shutoffs this winter, and a letter showing statewide support for Bend’s proposed Climate Impact fee which would discourage building with gas and encourage building efficient all-electric buildings.

Take Action

• A call to everyday action from Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson– marine biologist, writer, and cofounder of Urban Ocean Lab– who recently won the TIME Earth Award. (Highly recommend watching her whole inspiring speech!)
  “What everyone definitely needs to do is speak up. Right now 2 out of 3 Americans rarely or never hear about climate on the news or on social media. And as long as that silence continues there’s no chance we’re going to solve this ... .My call to action for you this week is simply to talk about climate, about what getting it right looks like to you, about the solutions.”

• Warn Your Neighbor About Methane Community Event

  WHEN: Wednesday, December 10th from 5:00 - 6:00 pm PT
  WHERE: via Zoom RSVP here!

  Just because we call methane “natural” gas doesn’t mean it’s safe. It poses great impacts on our air quality, public health, environment, and cost of living. To keep our community safe from further harm from “natural” gas, we need to make the switch to clean energy sources, like solar and wind. 

  Your conversations with others can truly make all the difference. It starts with us — so RSVP to join us on Wednesday, December 10th!

• Mondays at 5 pm online: Climate Change-makers Hour of Action. Gather with a group to take action together on a pre-planned topic. No previous experience needed. This month’s focus is methane reduction. Climate Change-makers is part of Climate Reality Project. 
  

Committee News

The Legislative Committee has been gearing up for Oregon’s short 2026 legislative session which will officially kick off Feb. 2 and close March 9. Are you interested in helping Oregon pass a Polluters Pay Climate Superfund, Balcony Solar, CEI hub safety, affordable on-bill financing for efficiency upgrades, and/or transit fixes? Join us! Email [email protected] to get involved before the new year, or sign up for our next meeting January __ at 7 pm. 

The Climate Friendly Foods Committee has upped its messaging for the holidays. For Thanksgiving and the winter holidays, the committee prepared two articles – “Simplify the Holidays” and “Happy Thanksgiving”, which you can read on our website. Lynne also gave a presentation on food-waste reduction to a local homeowner’s association. Finally, the committee may have the opportunity to participate in a food-waste study funded by the US Department of Agriculture. Lynne will be talking with the study Principle Investigators in December about including Florence (representative of small coastal cities in the Pacific Northwest) in the next phase of the study.  

Join a Committee

Join the Climate Friendly Foods Committee: Email Lynne at [email protected] 

Join the Legislative Committee:   Email Amanda and Helena at [email protected]

Join the Education Committee:   Email Lynn at [email protected]

Heads Up For 2026

Starting on January 20, Chapter meetings will be regularly scheduled for 7 pm on the 3rd Tuesday

So many of us are working with multiple groups in different neighborhoods! If you’d like to share what you’re doing for climate action and climate justice, we’d love to highlight it in an upcoming newsletter! Email to [email protected] for inclusion.

Our Linktree!

Have limited time but want to keep up with quick actions and events in between newsletters? Bookmark our Linktree page: https://linktr.ee/climaterealitypdx