Michelle Hamilton, a Local Activist Seeking Support for a Carbon Tax

As one of the leaders of the Reno-Sparks chapter of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a nationwide nonprofit which focuses on creating the political will for environmental progress, Michelle Hamilton brings energy, dedication, and innovation to addressing climate change. “It’s been around since 2010 as a national organization,” explained Hamilton, “and there are three chapters in the Nevada area.” Along with the chapter locally, there are chapters in Carson City and Las Vegas. The Reno chapter was established in 2015 and all three chapters focus on lobbying politicians, influencers and stakeholders to advocate for climate change legislation. “We do that through many vehicles, one is meeting directly with members of Congress,” said Hamilton “to help them understand the climate legislation that we’re advocating for.” The local chapters also focus on outreach to community leaders and business owners. Their goal is to start the conversation and amplify the discussion around climate change and a possible carbon tax. Our reporter for this episode is Richard Bednarski.