July Newsletter

Addressing the United States Budget Bill

Our organization’s pillars are: climate justice and public health, protecting democracy, a just transition to clean energy, zero carbon transportation, and building green communities. The recently passed US budget-- so-called “big beautiful bill” is a blow to every single one of them, and will have economy-wide impacts as this Press Release from the IBEW union describes clearly.  

Chapter members joined thousands of others working to stop this bad bill and get a better version. This time we failed, but the only way forward is continued collective action for a better future. 

We welcome your ideas for helping each other through hard times and for advancing better policy in the future. 

June Recap

We had a beautiful and wide-ranging discussion on climate issues and actions at our June 18 Chapter meeting– thanks to all who participated! If you missed it, you can see the notes here. 

We also tabled at the Beaverton Volunteer fair, talking to folks about their climate and environmental concerns, and providing information and action opportunities. Twelve new members decided to join!  

Here’s Amanda in a quiet moment.

Members participated in No Kings demonstrations in their communities. Freedom of speech and expression is a key component of democracy enshrined in our Constitution’s first amendment. Let’s keep showing the world what we care about and taking action for a healthier future.  July 17, the anniversary of Congressman John Lewis’s passing, will be another nationwide, peaceful, nonviolent protest. 

Committee News

The climate education committee has wrapped up for the school year.  In 2025, we participated in four climate solutions fairs, serving over 2,000 students, and presented in many individual classrooms. We joined our collaborators, the SAGE Vision 2030 team, to celebrate the end of the year.  

The climate friendly foods committee is seeking collaborators from anywhere in Oregon! In June, committee lead Lynne Haroun gave a presentation to the City of Florence Environmental Management Advisory Committee summarizing Oregon’s strategic plan to reduce food impacts, and is now a part of that committee! The presentation summarized the newly released Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) report “Reducing Food Impacts, A Strategic Plan for Oregon” and identified opportunities for the City to work with the community to help reach DEQ’s goal of a 50 percent reduction in food waste by 2030. Lynne is now on the City agenda to develop a poster for the Farmer’s Market and other City-sponsored events.

In addition to joining the fight to get a better US budget bill, legislative committee members took action to support Climate Justice Plans in Multnomah County and Washington county, and collaborated with Move Oregon Forward, the Building Resilience Coalition, Zero Coalition and others to promote positive climate policy at the state level. The budget and the Transportation bill debacle are deeply troubling, but we did have a silver lining. 

Oregon legislative Climate wins

Our members advocated for the following bills and they have passed:

• HB 3365: ensures that any revisions to content standards for core subjects include instruction on climate change

• HB 3233: increases collaboration with WA state and Vancouver BC on passenger rail plans and requires reporting on rail transportation performance and plans

• HB 3336: lowers barriers and incentives the use of grid enhancing technologies

• HB 3546: creates a separate class of service for large energy use facilities so that they pay their fair share of the costs to the expand the electric infrastructure

• HB 3681: accelerates and simplifies transmission permitting

• SB 551: prohibits retailer and restaurants from providing reusable plastic bags at checkout (Note: they were already prohibited from providing “single use plastic bags. Now only paper bags can be provided)

• SB 685: requires natural gas utilities to inform customers if they plan to blend hydrogen with natural gas at a level greater than 2.5%

• SB 726: requires more extensive emissions monitoring for solid waste landfills in Benton County (which contains the Coffin Butte Landfill)

While some of these bills were weakened in the amendment process, they all make at least incremental improvements in our climate future. Please let us know if you have questions or concerns.

Oregon’s Recycling Modernization Act updates

Thanks to Climate Friendly Foods Committee Chair Lynne Haroun for alerting us to the updates to Oregon recycling that went into effect July 1. Here’s a summary of the updates from the City of Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability.

PNW Climate Week July 16 - 25

PNW Climate Week is coming up! There are events all over the Pacific Northwest and virtually, including 17 events in Portland.

Planning to attend? Let’s meet up! 

Chapter chair Helena plans to bicycle to the July 17 Urban Shade Equity and Pedalpalooza ride. 

And thank you to chapter member Audrey for highlighting two recycling-focused events– ♻️Where does your recycling really go? and 🗑️What really happens to your trash? Both are walking tours. 

For more information, see the events page

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 Lynn Merrick

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

Share Your Climate Story or Event

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.