Stanford Social Innovation Review: The Network Behind America’s Climate Momentum

The Winter 2026 edition of Stanford Social Innovation Review (SSIR) features a major case study, Building an Adaptive Metanetwork to Fight Climate Change, on how ecoAmerica engages existing institutions in America’s society to move the nation toward climate solutions. The feature arrives at a pivotal moment for climate action as clean energy dominates US and global new energy deployment and trusted messengers prove essential to overcoming disinformation and political division.

Authors Tim Staub and Aqeel Tirmizi provide an in-depth look at ecoAmerica’s social science-based strategy to activate a nationwide climate leadership network rooted in scale, learning, and trust. The study identifies five core elements of the approach: responsible leadership at scale, open learning architecture, responsive resource deployment, cross-level capacity building, and catalytic amplification. 

“Technology breakthroughs continue to accelerate, but the next phase of US climate progress depends on social leadership and civic participation,” said Bob Perkowitz, president of ecoAmerica. “By supporting trusted health, faith, and community leaders and organizations, we make climate action visible, meaningful, and hopeful for millions of Americans.”

ecoAmerica currently supports 113 partner institutions across sectors with strategic planning, training, campaigns, convenings, resources, and toolkits. This coordinated network strengthens the work of health professionals on climate impacts, faith leaders on justice and equity, and communities advancing local mitigation, resilience, and restoration of nature.

Public support for clean energy continues to grow, and more communities are choosing options that save money, improve health, and strengthen resilience. At the same time, sustained disinformation efforts are shaping perception and slowing progress. The SSIR case study underscores ecoAmerica’s role in coordinating trusted leaders who help Americans see climate action as practical, local, and achievable.

Read the Feature: Building an Adaptive Metanetwork to Fight Climate Change

Learn more about ecoAmerica’s work: ecoAmerica.org

Media Inquiries and Interview Requests: [email protected]

About ecoAmerica
ecoAmerica is a nonprofit organization that moves society toward climate solutions by engaging and supporting trusted national institutions to inspire and empower their millions of members in local communities across America to visibly act and advocate for ambitious, just, climate mitigation, resilience, and restoration.