Al Gore and The Climate Reality Project to Launch First-Ever Power Up Leadership Training in Houston, Texas

Washington, DC (August 29, 2022) — From October 27-28, The Climate Reality Project will launch its inaugural Power Up: A Climate Reality Training on Advocacy in Action in Houston, Texas, to activate and mobilize climate activists in the US Gulf South. Led by Climate Reality’s founder and chairman, former US Vice President Al Gore, this Power Up training will convene a powerful group of diverse community advocates and Climate Reality activists from five key Southern states – Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas – along with Puerto Rico and parts of the Ohio River Valley, including Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The convening will work to amplify the voices of frontline organizations, elevate community-centered climate solutions, build and deepen environmental and climate justice knowledge, and provide advanced skills and training to build the political will to take on the petrochemical industry in the Gulf South.

This unique training will assemble a diverse set of voices focused on stopping the petrochemical industry from treating the Gulf South as a national environmental sacrifice zone, elevating community-based solutions to the climate crisis and building toward a more sustainable future.

“The Gulf South is a critical battleground in the fight to stop the global climate crisis, and our first-ever Power Up training seeks to bolster the existing work of local activists and Climate Reality Leaders on the ground,” said Vice President Gore. “We rise ready to work with communities on the front lines to advance local solutions that create cleaner, healthier, and more resilient communities for all and stop petrochemical expansion in the region.”

From Florida to Texas, communities along the Gulf Coast have borne a significant brunt of our nation’s dependence on fossil fuel energy, with entire areas disrupted by disproportionate placement of polluting infrastructure. Home to the petrochemical industry corridors known as Cancer Alley in Louisiana and the Cancer Belt in Texas, the region endures exposure to legacy pollution and the devastating impacts of the climate crisis on their health, livelihoods, and well-being. These threats are only expected to worsen and continue to threaten public health and safety unless we take immediate action on climate change. 

This advanced training, focused on current Climate Reality Leaders and veteran regional activists, will give attendees an opportunity to hear directly from fellow organizations, academic institutions, and communities who are on the frontlines of efforts to address the climate crisis, advance a just and equitable transition, and build local power to advance climate solutions. The training will also highlight the work of committed local leaders from regional civil rights and environmental justice groups who are mobilizing their communities to fight against polluting industries and racial injustice. 

The application for Power Up: A Climate Reality Training on Advocacy in Action is now open to climate advocates based in the Gulf South at: https://www.climaterealityproject.org/training/houston

PLEASE NOTE: Climate Reality strongly recommends that all participants stay “up to date” with their COVID-19 vaccinations, as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”), to protect the health and safety of participants and the community from COVID-19 infection. Please review the latest CDC guidance on maintaining an “up to date” vaccination, as those requirements are subject to change from time to time by the CDC. Masks may be required throughout the event space for attendees and staff. Participants will be notified in advance of the training if masks will be required. Please note that these requirements are subject to change based on current conditions at the time. If you have any specific questions, please reach out to us at training@climatereality.com.

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ABOUT THE CLIMATE REALITY PROJECT
Founded by Nobel Laureate and former US Vice President Al Gore, The Climate Reality Project is working to catalyze a global solution to the climate crisis by making urgent action a necessity across every level of society. With a global movement more than 5 million strong and a grassroots network of trained Climate Reality Leader activists, we are spreading the truth about the climate crisis and building popular support for clean energy solutions. For more information, visit www.climaterealityproject.org or follow us on Twitter at @ClimateReality