2026 has been a busy year for 350 Illinois/Chicago. We fought hard to advance our Fossil Fuel Divestment and Utility Lobbying Reform campaigns in Illinois. To continue our work, we need your help. Your gift on #GivingTuesday will help us continue the fight. As a friend of 350 Illinois/Chicago, you can make a difference. You can contribute to the fight by giving here!
Our work to fight the climate crisis in Illinois has proven more vital and critical than ever. We have always been a key leader in fighting the climate crisis in Chicago and Illinois and we have a history of strategically picking campaigns and winning those campaigns!
Now, our goal is to make sure both the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act and the Utility Transparency Act become the law of the land in Illinois. Keep us in the fight by donating here!
Illinois pension funds hold billions in fossil fuel assets and must be divested. Winning our campaign will save Illinois taxpayers and pensioners from losses as we move through the clean energy transition while depriving the fossil fuel industry of a critical source of funding.
Utilities block the clean energy transition by lobbying the Illinois State House and Senate to pass legislation to fatten their profits. These same utilities use bill payer money to lobby the Illinois Commerce Commission to raise utility rates. We are fighting with our coalition partners to stop these unethical practices and save Illinoisans $40 million a year.
In this last year, 350 Illinois/Chicago…
Strengthened our Fossil Fuel Divestment Campaign with Climate Safe Pensions Illinois (CSPI) coalition by expanding it to 44 members.
Expanded our Climate Safe Pensions Illinois Coordinating and Labor and Annuitants committees with our partners at Third Act Illinois and Climate Reality Project Chicago.
Enhanced the coalition’s capacity by adding more volunteers to speak with legislators and help with the work of winning fossil fuel divestment in the state.
Collected nearly 2,000 more postcards to support the Fossi Fuel Divestment Act in 2026; we will be delivering them to Illinois state legislators in the fall of 2026 and into 2027.
Held a productive retreat in October, determining the strategy for the 2027 Fossil Fuel Divestment Campaign.
Negotiated, along with our partners, language to better facilitate divestment with the Teachers Retirement System fund managers.
Introduced the Utility Transparency Act (UTA) in Springfield, with our partners at Citizens Utility Board and AARP Illinois to support utility lobbying reform.
Collected 2,000 signed postcards to hand deliver to legislators in support of the UTA.
Conducted a press conference during the bill’s introduction at the capitol in Springfield.
Educated the public about clean energy with our Climate Solution Series, including webinars about adopting EV’s, adopting solar, and reducing methane leaks by capping abandoned oil wells.
Advocated for the Hazel M Johnson Cumulative Impact Ordinance in Chicago.
Launched our name change to 350 Illinois to reflect our broader work in Illinois.
We are truly at a critical moment in time, because the decisions we make today will have outsized impacts on future generations. Scientists tell us that we can partially course correct through deep and fast cuts to emissions and they tell us that every fraction of a degree matters.
Given that the current administration is a major obstacle to climate solutions, the efforts of American cities and states in the next two years to reduce emissions is absolutely critical. Chicago and Illinois will have a very important role to play.
And YOU – as part of a local climate group – are already part of the solution.
If you’re looking for a way to get even more involved, please reach out! You can find more info and sign up to volunteer here.
