​The National Civic League has announced the 20 finalists for the 2025 All-America City Award, highlighting communities that are leading the way in tackling climate change through inclusive civic engagement. These finalists represent diverse regions across the U.S. and have been selected for their innovative, collaborative approaches to creating sustainable and resilient communities. The award emphasizes the transformative power of community dialogue and action, showcasing the impact of collective efforts in addressing environmental challenges. These communities provide valuable models for others seeking to engage residents in environmental sustainability. Read more in the blog post below.

The Spring School on Climate Citizens' Assemblies, taking place June 4–6, 2025, in Warsaw, offers a hands-on, three-day training for those passionate about participatory democracy and climate action. Organized by FIDE-Europe with Polish partners and supported by the City of Warsaw, the program covers every stage of designing and running a citizens' assembly—from recruitment and facilitation to governance and follow-up. A special "Deep Dive" day will spotlight inclusive strategies for engaging children and youth in climate deliberations. With expert-led sessions, interactive workshops, and a dynamic international faculty, this is a unique opportunity to build skills that translate directly to real-world impact. Read more in the blog post below.

NCDD Member, Craig Neal, co-founder of the Center for Purposeful Leadership, was recently honored with the "Good Ancestor" award by the Twin Cities chapter of Elders Climate Action for his lifelong dedication to community-building and climate leadership. From spearheading sustainable urban agriculture to fostering dialogue that leads to collaborative solutions, Neal exemplifies the power of purpose-driven leadership. His recognition underscores how NCDD members are helping communities tackle climate challenges through inclusive engagement and meaningful action. Read more in the blog post below.

​NCDD member organization, the National Civic League, is accepting applications for the 2025 All-America City Award until Thursday, March 6th. This year's theme, ‘Strengthening Environmental Sustainability through Inclusive Community Engagement,’ seeks to identify communities that are advancing environmental sustainability through collaborative efforts. Only one of the featured projects has to relate to the theme, so they welcome communities addressing other challenges as well. Learn more in the post below and on NCL's site linked here.

Boulder, Colorado, has made significant progress in combating climate change, achieving a 24% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2018 and aiming for a 70% reduction by 2030. Through collaborative efforts that began in the 1990s, the city has implemented a Climate Action Plan featuring initiatives like energy audits, community-led programs, and campaigns such as ClimateSmart and Cool Boulder to inspire individual and collective action. Boulder also emphasizes equity and resilience, recognizing the disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities. With ambitious goals, including 100% renewable energy by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2035, Boulder exemplifies how cities can lead in environmental sustainability while inspiring others to join the effort. Read more in the blog post below!

Many suburban developments built in the last century are now facing urgent repair needs. NCDD member, Miles Fidelman, an engineer with extensive experience, is addressing these challenges in his community of Nagog Woods, a 50-year-old condominium complex. He highlights the necessity of comprehensive measures and collaboration to avoid skyrocketing costs and catastrophic failures. Fidelman invites the community to follow his journey of organizing and financing major renovations, aiming to create sustainable, affordable, and well-maintained neighborhoods. Through this initiative, he seeks to provide a blueprint for other communities to follow. Thanks to Miles Fidelman for sharing this announcement with the NCDD network! Learn more in the blog post below and read the article here. 

Apply now for the People Powered Climate Democracy Accelerator (CDA), a program working to build equitable public participation in various important policymaking issues, such as health, education, climate, and more. Selected participants will undergo a six-month training program, receiving guidance and resources to develop and implement climate-focused participatory programs. Applications are open until June 27, 2024. Learn more in the blog post below and read more here.

The Knowledge Network on Climate Assemblies (KNOCA) is hosting a webinar "Climate Assemblies: Emerging Trends, Challenges and Opportunities", on May 2nd from 8:30 - 10:00am Eastern, 5:30 - 7:00am Pacific. While KNOCA is based in Europe, we know there is much to learn from climate assemblies and takeaways on how to further bring citizens' voices into climate governance.

Graham Smith will present insights from an upcoming report on climate assemblies. Erica Hope and Claudia Chwalisz will lead discussions on integrating citizen voices into climate governance. KNOCA aims to enhance climate assembly impact by fostering dialogue among stakeholders and shaping future trends in assembly practice to strengthen climate policy and governance. Learn more in the post below and on KNOCA's site here.