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CDI at the Skoll World Forum • April 21 – 24, 2026 • Oxford

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:57:31 GMT

Climate Democracy Initiative (CDI) will join global leaders, innovators, and changemakers at the Skoll World Forum—one of the world’s most influential gatherings focused on advancing social impact. Held annually in Oxford, the Forum brings together a diverse community working at the intersection of climate, governance, equity, and systems change.

For CDI, this moment comes at a critical time. Across the United States, communities are navigating rapid environmental, political, and economic shifts, often without the institutional trust or civic infrastructure needed to respond effectively. The Skoll World Forum offers a unique opportunity to engage directly with organizations and leaders who are tackling these same challenges from different angles around the world.

Why This Forum Matters

The Skoll World Forum is more than a conference—it is a space for alignment. Leaders from across sectors come together to share ideas, test strategies, and build the relationships needed to drive long-term change. As conversations around climate increasingly intersect with questions of governance, representation, and public trust, CDI is eager to contribute to and learn from this global dialogue.

Our work is grounded in a simple belief: climate solutions are only as strong as the democratic systems that support them. Without inclusive decision-making, community trust, and local leadership, even the most well-funded climate initiatives can fall short. At the Forum, we will be engaging in discussions that explore how to strengthen these systems and ensure communities have a meaningful voice in shaping their futures.

What CDI Is Bringing

As we head into the Forum, CDI is focused on sharing insights from our work supporting community-driven climate action across the country. We will be highlighting:

How local leadership can transform climate outcomes
The role of civic engagement in building long-term resilience
Strategies for rebuilding trust between institutions and communities
The importance of centering those most affected in decision-making processes

We’re particularly interested in connecting with organizations that are experimenting with new models of participatory governance, youth engagement, and cross-sector collaboration.

Looking Ahead

While the conversations at the Skoll World Forum will span a wide range of topics, one theme is clear: the challenges we face are interconnected, and so must be the solutions. Climate change is not just an environmental issue—it is deeply tied to how decisions are made, who gets to participate, and whose voices are heard.

CDI is heading into the Forum with a focus on listening, learning, and building relationships that can accelerate this work. We’re excited to bring new ideas back to the communities we serve and to continue strengthening the link between climate action and democratic participation.

Stay tuned as we share updates and reflections from Oxford in the weeks ahead.

More info on Skoll here

Statement on EPA’s Rescission of the Endangerment Finding and Repeal of Motor-Vehicle Carbon Standards

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 14:42:10 GMT

For Immediate Release: February 13th, 2026

Denver, CO — In rescinding the Endangerment Finding and repealing motor-vehicle standards for carbon pollution, EPA has chosen to disregard Supreme Court precedent, and to ignore science and logic. The agency’s sweeping rationale that it lacks authority to regulate carbon pollution is contrary to the Supreme Court's 2007 decision explicitly confirming such authority. And EPA's rationale goes far beyond motor vehicles, such that these errors overlay a profoundly anti-democratic approach: EPA is seeking not only to forgo use of the Clean Air Act to address carbon pollution during this Administration, but also to foreclose such avenues for all future Administrations. EPA thus aims to eliminate all meaningful opportunities for national limits on U.S. carbon pollution – even though the U.S. is by far the world’s largest cumulative emitter of the carbon pollution that causes climate change.

EPA additionally claims that it lacks authority to regulate carbon pollution from new motor vehicles because their emissions are too small to matter – disregarding the fact that the U.S. is currently the second-biggest emitter of carbon pollution annually and even though transportation is the U.S.’s largest source of carbon pollution. By this logic, virtually no sources anywhere in the world would warrant regulation. EPA also falsely claims that repealing the passenger-car regulations will save money. In doing so, the agency disregards abundant evidence that the regulations would have avoided some $13 billion in annual health costs, as well as $46 billion in annual fuel costs and nearly $16 billion in annual maintenance costs for drivers.

The agency’s rationales are deeply flawed, and will not stand the test of time.

For questions, please contact:

Contact: Kara Lamb, Program Manager

‍Phone: (970) 215-9545

‍Email: kara@climatedemocracyinitiative.org

Climate Democracy Initiative Selected as a 2026 Regional Resilience Fellow by Open Future Coalition

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 14:50:39 GMT

For Immediate Release: November 26th, 2025

Denver, CO — The Climate Democracy Initiative (CDI) is proud to announce its selection as a Regional Resilience Fellow in the 2026 cohort of the Open Future Coalition, joining a global network of community-led organizations advancing social, ecological, and economic resilience.
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CDI is one of 14 organizations, networks, and locally driven projects chosen from around the world. Together, these groups operate across more than 50 countries, currently serving over 150,000 community members and projected to reach more than 800,000 people within the next three years through shared learning and collaborative practice.

This Fellowship recognizes CDI’s leadership in strengthening democratic participation in climate decision-making and its commitment to supporting communities in shaping equitable and resilient futures. The Open Future Coalition highlights organizations playing a crucial role in stewarding local resilience, fostering collaboration, and advancing community-led solutions.

“This Fellowship recognizes the power of community-led climate solutions and affirms the importance of strengthening democratic participation in this moment of compounding climate challenges. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn from peers around the world who are innovating in real time, and we look forward to applying those lessons to help frontline communities and local governments build more equitable, resilient systems.” said Natalie Montecino, Executive Director of the Climate Democracy Initiative.
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As part of the Fellowship, CDI will engage in a year-long global learning cohort focused on developing and sharing practical tools that expand meaningful community participation in climate policy and planning. CDI will contribute to and benefit from a living library of community-sourced solutions that includes tools, templates, curricula, and stories designed to help communities adapt, scale, and replicate effective approaches to resilience.
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Through the Fellowship, CDI will strengthen partnerships, deepen its technical assistance offerings, and bring new insights to the local governments, grassroots groups, and community leaders it supports across the United States.
To learn more about the 2026 Regional Resilience Fellows, visit: https://www.openfuturecoalition.org/fellows

For questions, please contact:

Contact: Kara Lamb, Program Manager
‍ Phone: (970) 215-9545
‍ Email: kara@climatedemocracyinitiative.org