In This Issue
Chicago Climate Week Begins- July 18 - July 25!
July Events
7/15 - 350 Chicago at the Chicago Innovation Summit
7/19 - 350 Chicago at the Wild Mile Block Party
7/20 - 350 Chicago Presents: Adopting Solar Power in Illinois
7/22 - Protect Our Pensions, Protect Our Planet: Fossil Fuel Divestment in Illinois
7/26 - 350 Chicago at the Trashy Summer Market
Action Center
Support this Newsletter: Become a Paid Subscriber!
Speaker Series Highlight: Bill McKibben on ‘Solar Energy & Fighting Climate Change in the Second Age of Trump’
Online Petition: Climate Safe Pensions
Online Petition: Utility Transparency Act
Climate News
250 Years Later, America Is Feeling the Heat
350 News
350 Chicago at Welles Park Eco-Fest!
Dr. Rich Foss Climate Talk Recap
Main Article
350 Chicago to Participate in First Ever ‘Climate Week’
Chicago Climate Week Begins!
Chicago’s very first Climate Week begins on July 18th, going through July 25th. There are lots of events happening throughout the Chicago area, and 350 Chicago has multiple partnering events. See some of our events below, as well as more information about Climate Week in our main article below. The full event calendar is here.
July Events
350 Chicago at the Chicago Innovation Summit
Wednesday, July 15th from 1:00pm - 7:00pm
350 Chicago will be at a table from 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Ignite Glass Studios, 401 North Armour Street, Chicago, IL 60642
350 Chicago will have a table at the Chicago Innovation Summit, where we will be collecting signatures and postcards to support our Climate Safe Pensions and Utility Transparency Act campaigns. Come out and sign a postcard or talk to us more about what we do!
Via Chicago Innovation: “On July 15, Chicago Innovation will host its annual Climate Innovation Summit, the official kickoff to Chicago Climate Week, which includes Aspen Ideas: Climate.
This year’s event includes two parts:
PART 1 | 1pm–5pm: Panel discussions with climate leaders at Ignite Glass Studios.
PART 2 | 5pm–7pm: The official “Chicago Climate Week Opening Reception & Preview” to kick off Chicago Climate Week, co-hosted by Chicago Climate Week and Chicago Innovation with over 400 people next door at Moonlight Studios.
This year’s theme is “Nourishing Common Ground.” Our health, the health of our environment and our children’s health depend on us crossing ideological lines to work together to invest in climate solutions.”
350 Chicago at the Wild Mile Block Party
Sunday, July 19, 2026, 3:00pm - 8:00pm
350 Chicago will be at a table the entire time
Wild Mile, 905 W Eastman St, Chicago (next to the REI)
350 Chicago will be at a table at the Wild Mile, collecting postcards in support of our Climate Safe Pensions and Utility Transparence campaigns. Last year's version was a blast and busy, so there will never be a dull moment. We gathered the most postcards for our campaigns during this event more than any other.
via Urban Rivers: “Ready for a party? Join us on the Wild Mile for a celebration of our urban waterways and thriving park spaces. Enjoy local beer, cocktails, food trucks, music, and an outdoorsy prize drawing! Learn from Urban Rivers volunteers how YOU can make a difference for your local waterway, and connect with local nonprofits, artists, and small businesses. The Block Party is FREE, and fun for all ages!
We’ll party rain-or-shine, and only cancel in the case of hazardous weather!”
350 Chicago Presents: Adopting Solar Power in Illinois
Monday, July 20th from 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Via Zoom
REGISTER HERE via Chicago Climate week (or directly via Zoom here)
Make the switch: Save money and, yes, save lives! We now have the technical solutions needed to end the climate crisis. We just need people to implement them. Solar adoption is exploding across the world, and it now provides more global electricity than coal. Widespread solar adoption in Illinois will not only help slow global warming, but it will cut cancer rates and reduce respiratory diseases, saving lives in our communities and families.
In this webinar, our speakers will provide the latest information on solar energy, including technological advancements, financial costs, benefits and incentives and the many pathways to adoption in Illinois. Solar experts Jennifer Brown (IL Solar for All), Ola Tomaszewski (IL Shines), and Jake Edie (RenewComm) will show how solar adoption can save you money and empower all of us to slash rates of disease and slow the warming that threatens our future.
Protect Our Pensions, Protect Our Planet: Fossil Fuel Divestment in Illinois
Wednesday, July 22nd from 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Chicago Teachers Union Headquarters, 1901 W Carroll Ave #205, Chicago, IL 60612
350 Chicago and the Climate Safe Pensions Illinois Coalition (CSPI) is holding a town hall at the Chicago Teachers Union Center facility to discuss the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act. The event will include a presentation describing fossil fuel divestment, the parameters of the bill proposed to effectuate divestment, and the positive outcomes for the state of Illinois, pensioners, and taxpayers created by the passage of the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act. Join us to show support for this campaign and to learn why divestment from fossil fuel assets will be a win for state workers, a win for taxpayers, a win for Illinois and a win for the planet.
350 Chicago at the Trashy Summer Market
Sunday, July 26th, from 10:00am - 4:00pm
Hairpin Arts Center, 2810 N. Milwaukee Ave., 2nd Floor, Chicago, IL 60618
350 Chicago will be at the Trashy Market collecting postcards in support of our Climate Safe Pensions and Utility Transparence campaigns.
via Choose Chicago: “Soak up all the ☀️RE’s at the ultimate SUMMER event☀️. REuse, REpair, and REpurposing are in high style for the season of sun. Our junky jamboree features artisans who transform reclaimed materials into one-of-a-kind goods. Shop for home goods, art, garden accessories, fashion, body care, stuff you’ve never seen before… and more.” More info here.
Action Center
Support this Newsletter: Become a Paid Subscriber!
Do you read this newsletter and wish you could do more to help Chicago’s climate movement? One way is to become a paid subscriber. It’s not required, but it’s a great way to show your support and help us take effective climate action. Subscriber funds help us maintain a constant presence in Chicago and Springfield pushing for climate-focused policies. Thank you to everyone who has already subscribed, and thanks to everyone who follows this newsletter, paid or not!
Speaker Series Highlight: Bill McKibben on Solar Energy
In honor of Chicago’s first ‘Climate Week,’ we wanted to highlight one of our most popular Speaker Series events: Bill McKibben’s talk on Solar Energy & Fighting Climate Change in the Second Age of Trump.
Online Petition: Climate Safe Pensions
Investments in fossil fuels are driving climate change, and they are becoming increasingly risky financial liabilities as well. On behalf of the Climate Safe Pensions Illinois coalition, we are asking Illinois legislators to sign the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act and protect our pensions! Lean more and sign: Climate Safe Pensions Petition!
Online Petition: Utility Transparency Act
Over the years, utilities have made it acceptable to recover some of their costs from ratepayers that we believe should never be passed onto ratepayers, such as their political lobbying efforts. We are asking our legislators to support the Utility Transparency Act and protect Illinois ratepayers. Learn more and sign: Utility Transparency Petition!
Climate News
250 Years Later, America Is Feeling the Heat
This July 4th weekend was hot. Across the East Coast, celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary were moved indoors or postponed because of extreme heat. In Colorado, the skies were quiet as firework shows were canceled due to heightened wildfire risk. Here in Chicago, cooling centers worked overtime as dangerous temperatures blanketed the city.
Unfortunately, weekends like this are becoming increasingly common. As global temperatures rise, a 2°C increase is projected to bring an additional 15 to 30 days each year above 95°F across much of the United States. Extreme heat is already one of the deadliest weather hazards, posing the greatest risk to older adults, outdoor workers, and many low-income communities. It also strains our agriculture, energy systems, and infrastructure.
Building resilience to extreme heat is no longer a future challenge. It’s a necessity for protecting our communities, economy, and environment.
via Center for Climate and Energy Solutions: “Extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States, resulting in an average of 238 fatalities a year between 1995 and 2024.”
350 News
350 Chicago at Welles Park Eco-Fest!
350 Chicago was out in force at the Welles Park Eco-Fest. Throughout the day, we collected postcards in support of the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act, Utility Lobbying Reform, and - together with Oak Park Climate Action Network - the No Immunity for Big Oil campaign.
The response was incredible. In fact, the No Immunity for Big Oil postcards were so popular that we completely ran out before the event ended!
A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by, signed a postcard, and added their voice to these important campaigns. Every signature helps build momentum for climate action.
Dr. Rich Foss Climate Talk Recap
350 Chicago Board Vice President and Speaker Series Coordinator Dr. Richard Foss recently gave an engaging presentation on the science, history, and economics of climate change, while exploring the actions we can take to slow global warming and build a more sustainable future.
Dr. Foss holds a PhD in English from Western Michigan University and has spent the past five years teaching a college course focused on the climate crisis. As Board Vice President of 350 Chicago, he combines his passion for education with a commitment to empowering communities to take meaningful climate action.
350 Chicago to participate in Chicago’s first ever ‘Climate Week’
by Abby Schwartz
From July 18th-25th Chicago will host its first Climate Week. The goal of Chicago Climate Week is to amplify climate action across Chicago and the Midwest. Dozens of climate organizations will be hosting events across the Chicagoland area. You can sign up to attend events at https://www.chicagoclimateweek.org/. The majority of events are free to attend!
In addition to more traditional talks and presentations, Climate Week will include social events, tours, markets, and even rock climbing and a climate-themed horror movie night! Events will cover a wide variety of climate-related topics, from clean energy and green finance to native plants gardening and creative reuse. While some events are targeted at climate professionals, many are geared towards the general public, and quite a few are designed for kids and families. So regardless of who you are and what aspects of climate you are interested in, you should be able to find an event (or several) for you!
350 Chicago will be hosting two events during Chicago Climate Week:
On July 20th at 6:00pm, we will be hosting a webinar about solar adoption in Illinois. Our speakers will provide the latest information on solar energy, including technological advancements, financial costs, benefits and incentives, and the many pathways to adoption in Illinois. Solar experts Jennifer Brown from IL Solar for All, Ola Tomaszewski from IL Shines, and Jake Edie from RenewComm will show how solar adoption in our homes and on a wider scale can save you money and empower all of us to slash rates of disease and slow the warming that threatens our future.
On the 22nd at 6:00pm, 350 Chicago and the wider Climate Safe Pensions Illinois Coalition (CSPI) are hosting a town hall about Fossil Fuel Divestment in Illinois at the CTU Headquarters. This is a great opportunity to learn about the Fossil Fuel Divestment act and how you can get involved. There will also be opportunities to ask questions about how fossil fuel divestment works and how it would affect our state. Come out and learn why divestment from fossil fuel assets will be a win for state workers, a win for taxpayers, a win for Illinois and a win for the planet.
We will also be participating in a variety of events throughout the week to collect postcards for our fossil fuel divestment and utility accountability campaigns. These events are a great way to meet us and learn more about what we do, so stop by and say hello!