Membership

Climate Action Evanston (CAE) exists to transform individual’s climate concerns into a powerful community force, driving local behavior change and policy action to enhance our future.

That track record was made possible not only by climate concerned residents, but also by community-driven advocacy. For twenty years, CAE has been the primary force organizing Evanston residents to successfully advocate for climate-wise actions. When you join CAE, your voice is amplified by decades of local expertise and a proven track record of influencing city leadership.

This has led to many Illinois city firsts. In recent years, Evanston was first to enact a climate action plan to reach net-zero emissions (2018); to gain certification as a National Wildlife Foundation Community Habitat (2019); to enact an environmental justice resolution (2020); and in 2025, to both enact a building performance standard for existing large buildings and a stretch code for new construction.

A like-minded community: Connect with fellow residents who are also sufficiently climate-concerned to join forces to take action

A wide range of involvement opportunities: Across the parent organization and six topic-focused programs, volunteering in a variety of part-time roles, and providing financial support

‍Personalized impact: Receive guidance on how to leverage your unique skills and interests for the greatest environmental benefit.

‍Public recognition: Be recognized on our website as a member of the force driving Evanston's climate leadership.

We are also exploring member gatherings, and interactive and informational events aimed toward building community with our members.

Active participation: While there is no mandatory time or financial commitment, we expect members to seek out ways to contribute to our shared mission.

Pro bono spirit: All volunteer work for CAE is performed on a pro bono basis to support our community goals.

Reliability: We ask that you honor the commitments you make, providing early notice if your circumstances change so we can adjust together.

Elected officials respond to the scale of voter support. By formalizing our membership, we can quantify the thousands of Evanstonians who back our initiatives, moving beyond just a few voices at a City Council meeting to a documented movement.

This data helps us measure our progress toward engaging every ward in Evanston and demonstrates to leaders that climate action is a top priority for their constituents.

Furthermore, a larger member base increases our volunteer hours and financial resources, directly expanding what we can achieve.