In December 2008, ten people who were really concerned about global warming got together in a coffee shop on the Northside in Pittsburgh to discuss how citizens can have a bigger role in addressing climate change.

With the exception of writing letters to editors, commenting on already-written greenhouse gas reduction plans from government entities or contacting legislators to ask them to support climate policy, there was little opportunity for citizens to get directly involved in addressing climate change.

While experts in the field of renewable energy, energy efficiency, green buildings, policy, etc. are paramount in moving away from fossil fuels, citizens also offer a unique and important perspective. We decided that citizens have a ‘ground level’ view of the problems in our communities because we are the end-users of energy in our workplaces, businesses, restaurants, shops, libraries, places of worship, etc. We often identify places or ideas for making the world more energy-wise.

There are many educated and creative people in Southwestern Pennsylvania who are concerned about climate change. Unfortunately, the power of citizen engagement has not been fully tapped as a resource for change. The CCC has created an avenue for this energy and gives people an opportunity to use their unique talents to further advance the necessary change to build a better future.

The Citizens Climate Corps was born. We filed our articles of incorporation with the state and are in the process of filing our 501c3 papers to achieve non-profit status. We wrote and adopted bylaws, elected the first officers and board of the organization and are now organizing our first event to launch our ideas to the region.

We also felt strongly that the CCC should be formed on principles of participatory democracy, so after our first year the members will start electing the officers of the organization and all major decisions will require a vote by the membership. These ideas of openness and community are the reason we chose to have a wiki for our website. We want the organization to truly belong to its members.

We hope that you will join with us!!