The History of USCAN
In 1989, a pivotal moment unfolded as organizations from Europe and the United States came together to forge a loose yet official network, named the Climate Action Network, dedicated to tackling the pressing challenge of global climate change. This alliance set the stage for a collaborative effort that would shape climate negotiations and both international and domestic action.
From Left to Right: Unknown, Alden Meyer (Union of Concerned Scientist), Brooks Yeager (Audubon), Annie Roncerel (The European Environmental Bureau), Rafe Pomerance (World Resource Institute, Liz Cook (Friends of the Earth, Unknown, Stewart Boyle (Greenpeace UK) and Daniel Becker (Sierra Club)
1990's
As the 1990s rolled in, a dynamic coalition of state-based organizations emerged, united in their mission to sway national priorities and advocate for the Kyoto Protocol. Their collective determination led to a significant turning point for USCAN, which experienced a surge in membership and broadened its scope to include collaboration with state and local groups, enhancing its influence on both national and international stages.
During this transformative period, USCAN took a bold step by amending its bylaws to ensure that half of its Board of Directors would represent local organizations, while the other half would bring the perspectives of national and international entities. This strategic shift not only diversified the leadership but also strengthened the network's commitment to grassroots engagement, making it a formidable force in the fight against climate change.
2000's
In the late 2000s, a series of events prompted a shift in the climate movement. In 2009, the United Nations climate summit in Copenhagen failed to deliver a new global agreement on climate change. Seven months later, the legislative effort to cap carbon emissions failed in the U.S. Senate. At the same time, more people in the United States were aware of and experiencing adverse impacts of climate change, including the aftermath of major natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy. In response, there was recognition that more diverse and broader constituencies were needed to achieve significant climate change policy and outcomes. Some of the biggest environmental groups reshaped their missions during this time – supplementing international and national policy campaigns with grassroots and community organizing. USCAN began a strategic effort to grow a “Bigger, Better, Broader” network to expand and deepen its membership to achieve transformational change in climate policy.
2010 to 2015
Between 2010 and 2015, culminating at the international climate change conference in Paris in November 2015, USCAN rapidly expanded to represent a diverse range of stakeholders in the field. For instance, in 2013, USCAN had 80 member organizations, and by 2016, this number had doubled to 160. Given the pace of growth and change within USCAN’s membership, the organization, under the leadership of its new Executive Director, Keya Chatterjee, undertook a reassessment of its strategic direction. This involved conducting an organizational assessment and developing a new strategic plan informed by its members. With this updated plan, USCAN shifted its focus from building a larger network to deepening connections and alignments among its members to achieve greater outcomes.
2015 to 2020
During this period, the U.S. Climate Action Network (USCAN) began a transformative journey by adopting a new mission and collaborative framework, setting two key goals:
Goal 1: Democratic Participation
USCAN transitioned to a member-driven network model, empowering members to vote on collaborative topics and fostering engagement.
Goal 2: Trust
Recognizing trust as essential for collective action, USCAN organized peer learning activities and low-stakes events to encourage open communication and relationship-building.
2020 to Today
In 2020, USCAN faced unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and violence against peaceful protesters. These events highlighted systemic racism and inequities, particularly affecting Black Americans, who accounted for a quarter of COVID-19 deaths. The murders of George Floyd and others underscored the ongoing legacy of racial injustice and police violence.
In response to the pandemic, USCAN adapted operations to prioritize member safety, redirecting funds to support grassroots efforts and revising grant requirements for flexibility. Their resilience and commitment to collaboration have been crucial in overcoming these significant challenges.
In 2021, the U.S. faced a violent attack on democracy on January 6, alongside a rapid spread of a new COVID variant and ongoing vaccine apartheid. These events underscored the need for a coordinated response to both democratic threats and the pandemic. USCAN responded by offering anti-racism training to help members understand the systems of oppression affecting their efforts to tackle the climate crisis.
Voting and member-led governance remained priorities, with consistent engagement and input from the network. This approach influenced USCAN’s endorsement of initiatives like the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Clean Electricity Standard, fostering shared leadership and flexibility within Action Teams focused on advancing racial and economic justice.
In 2022, the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) marked a pivotal moment for USCAN, highlighting challenges within the government but also unity among members. Rather than fracturing, they collaborated to understand different perspectives and are now training each other to secure federal grants from the IRA for renewable energy and climate resilience.
USCAN made significant progress in implementing the Paris Agreement, contributing to CAN International's success on "Loss and Damage" at the UN Climate Meetings. They began developing a strategic plan to strengthen their achievements in Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI), focusing on member well-being, democratizing resources, and accountability in their initiatives.
In 2023, USCAN underwent significant changes, beginning with the departure of Executive Director Keya Chatterjee in February and the appointment of Dr. Ife Kilimanjaro in February 2024. The Annual Meeting in February approved a new strategic plan, guiding the network's focus for the next two years.
Despite challenges like funding shortfalls and staff layoffs, USCAN launched two major campaigns and awarded over $500,000 in grants. Gatherings at Climate Week in New York and Conference of the Parties (COP) in Dubai strengthened relationships and contributed to incorporating fossil fuel phase-down language into COP negotiations. USCAN introduced the "USCAN Regional Meetings" to enhance member collaboration and learning. In September, USCAN members and 75,000 activists protested in NYC, marking a significant climate mobilization. USCAN coordinated over 60 members at COP28, advocating for science-based, community-centered solutions. As fossil fuel companies increased their presence at UNFCCC, USCAN called for reforms and plans to participate in COP29 in Azerbaijan, continuing to amplify frontline voices.