In Conversation with Bill Barron, Citizens Climate Lobby’s Network Director | By Thomas Cain

The LDS Action Team hosted a talk with our friend Bill Barron on June 17. He is one of the original members of Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL), and was recruited by its founder, Mashall Saunders. Bill’s had a multi-storied career: including carpenter, not-for-profit advocate, and now climate care networker. Through Citizens Climate Lobby, his goal is to help the U.S become a leader in climate solutions.

Bill shared stories of his recent bicycle tour around the “big 5” Parks of Southern Utah (Zion, Bryce, Arches, Canyonlands, CapitolReef, not in that order) which he peppered with local appearances to talk about climate care, 15 events with the help of volunteers. Bill’s goal is to “pedal for a purpose” and turn advocacy into a life-time practice.

About CCL, Bill described his travel to Washington DC in 2010, meeting members of Congress, as “transformational… I had to go to D.C., to stand up for what I believe in.” Bill noted the strong economic message of clean energy: do you want to pay more or less for your energy? The good news is that “there is more acknowledgment now, more people seeing the climate issue. He has found ranchers and farmers who agree that the weather is changing, affecting crops and production. Despite the partisan politics that wear us down, we can “keep on keeping on—talk to everybody. Be the bridge on this issue. CCL has changed my life. It has helped me to listen, to understand, to be a better person.”