2023 American Climate Leadership Awards Semifinalists Announced
A Remarkable Fourth Year Where Climate Action is Reaching New Audiences, as Impacts and Action Become More Significant Nationwide
Climate change is no longer in the realm of future scenarios and political banter, it’s a frontline community challenge now being addressed with pragmatic activities to confront and multisolve for 2025 and 2030 realities. From the deep south of Jackson, Mississippi to Illinois to the Hawaiian islands, this year’s American Climate Leadership Awards (ACLA) semifinalists represent a broad and more bold spectrum of replicable and motivating climate action initiatives, inspiring audiences across the country and across perspectives while prioritizing justice. The 2023 American Climate Leadership Awards’ semifinalists represent extraordinary, effective, and replicable models of climate engagement and action. Semifinalists include local, state, and national efforts and represent health, faith, youth, and community efforts.
We are pleased to announce the 30 ACLA 2023 Semifinalists:
(in alphabetical order)
- Amazon Employees for Climate Justice
- American Security Project: National Climate Security Tour
- Chesapeake Climate Action Network: Electrify MoCo Campaign
- City of Salem: El Punto Resiliency
- Climate Generation: Improving Nationwide Climate Change Education, Our Teach Climate Network
- Climate Resolve: Building Resilience in Boyle Heights
- Cooperation Jackson: Jackson Just Transition Plan
- Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Justice
- Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice (DWEJ): Awareness and Advocacy Through Art
- Fossil Free Presbyterian Church USA
- Green America: Consumer & Corporate Engagement Campaigns
- Green The Church Community Renewal: Expanding Environmental Equity in Low-Income Communities of Color
- Growing Climate Solutions: Path to Positive Southwest Florida
- Hawaii Green Growth: United Nations Local2030 Hub
- Hazon: Jewish Youth Climate Movement
- Migrant Clinicians Network: Meeting the Needs of Vulnerable Population Impacted by Climate Change
- Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate: Montana Air Quality Flag/Rural Outreach Program
- Mothers Out Front: Organizing For a Livable Climate for All
- My Green Doctor Foundation: Teaching Climate Change in Medical Office Waiting Rooms
- New York Sun Works: Discovering Sustainability Science K-12 Education Program
- Presbyterians for Earth Care and Educational Programs
- Project ECHO: Climate Change and Human Health ECHO Program
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta: Atlanta Laudato Si’ Initiative
- Sustaining Earth Our Island Home in New Hampshire
- The Cool Boulder Campaign
- The Wild Center (Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks): The Youth Climate Program
- Unitarian Universalist Association: Climate Justice programming
- University of Washington: ClimateRx
- Weber State University: Campus electrification strategic plan
- Zumwalt Acres: A Regenerative Agriculture Community
Each of the 30 semifinalists receives recognition, a $1,000 award, and advance to the next stage. Ten finalists, including a runner-up and winner, will be announced during the online ACLA event in March 2023. Finalists will each receive $10,000, with the runner-up receiving $25,000 and the winner $50,000. The 2023 selection committee includes Actor and Environmental Activist and Author Ed Begley; 35th Mayor of Salt Lake City Jackie Biskupski; Youth climate activist Daphne Frias; Mothers Out Front Fresno Community Organizer LaTisha Harris; International environmental advocate and eco-living expert Laura Turner Seydel; Earth Uprising Founder Alexandria Villaseñor; and Hip Hop Caucus President and CEO Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr. Author, environmentalist, and Third Act founder Bill McKibben will chair the Committee for the second year. The ACLA broadcast will feature American actress and climate activist Jane Fonda.
To watch the American Climate Leadership Awards 2023, please register today.
On behalf of ecoAmerica and our benefactors, we thank all of our applicants and judges for another outstanding American Climate Leadership Awards process and for all their efforts.
If you have questions, you can contact us at acla@ecoamerica.org.
The purpose of the American Climate Leadership Awards, hosted by ecoAmerica, is to recognize, reward, and share best practices on climate change advocacy and action nationwide. The Awards provide money, support, and recognition for real climate leadership. Individuals and organizations selected as semifinalists have achieved success in building some meaningful political resolve for climate action at local, regional, and national levels, in ways that are replicable, while demonstrating diversity, inclusion, and justice.
About ecoAmerica
ecoAmerica builds institutional leadership, public support, and political resolve for climate solutions in the United States. We help national mainstream organizations elevate their climate leadership, providing them strategy, tools, and resources to: demonstrate visible climate leadership, empower climate literacy, engage all constituents, and build collective action and advocacy. We help our partners transform into national climate leaders who inspire others on solutions. ecoAmerica.org