Climate Communities Network Frequently Asked Questions
Browse the topics below to find answers to commonly asked questions about the Climate Communities Network (CCN) and the CCN Member application and selection process.
Impact
Member Application and Selection Process
The Special Publication explores the effects of systems on the following population groups:
Who is eligible to apply?
- Applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
- Applicants must work for a community-based organization in a U.S. state or territory.
- The organization must be physically located within the community it serves.
- The organization must serve a community that is disproportionately impacted by climate change and climate-related health inequities.
Please note that individuals working for national-, regional-, or state-level organizations, or chapters of such organizations, are not eligible for this opportunity.
What qualifications are helpful for applicants to have?
In addition to the required eligibility qualifications which must be met, the following qualifications are helpful for applicants to have and highly preferred:
- Applicant lives in the same community their organization serves.
- Applicant and their organization have experience planning and implementing community-led solutions.
- Applicant and their organization have experience working with diverse community partners.
- Applicant and their organization have the capacity to effectively communicate with community members.
Can more than one person from an organization apply?
Only one person per organization may apply.
Does an applicant’s organization have to be focused on climate change and health equity to be eligible?
The organization must be engaged in, or planning to engage in, work in the community that is related to climate change and that promotes health equity. Climate change and health equity must be relevant to the organization’s mission and portfolio, but they do not need to be its main focus.
Is assistance available for completing the application?
If completing the online application is not accessible or feasible, applicants may request additional assistance (e.g., Spanish translation). Please email [email protected] or call 202-334-2543 to share what kind of support you will need to complete the application.
How will Members be selected?
We are striving to bring together a diverse group of up to 15 Members. Applications will be evaluated against the following criteria:
- Relevance to CCN Goals: How relevant the organization’s mission and vision are to the goals of the CCN. The CCN has two initial main goals:
- Inform the strategic direction and outcomes of the NAM Climate Grand Challenge.
- Work collaboratively to identify and develop solutions to climate-related health inequities.
- Alignment with CCN Scope: How well the organization’s strengths, needs, and interests align with the scope of the CCN, which includes advancing work related to policy, funding, research and data, and capacity building.
- Organizational Commitment: To what degree the organization has demonstrated a commitment to advancing health equity in the community it serves, particularly at the intersection of community engagement and climate change.
The review process will prioritize applicants whose organizations serve communities that are disproportionately impacted by climate change and climate-related health inequities, guided by preliminary research findings from a regional assessment on U.S. areas.
Impact
About the Climate Communities Network
The Special Publication explores the effects of systems on the following population groups:
What will the CCN accomplish?
The CCN will bring together a network of community leaders (CCN Members) who work for community-based organizations in U.S. communities that are disproportionately impacted by climate change and climate-related health inequities because of ongoing disinvestment and disregard. The CCN will elevate community expertise, experience, and efforts to address the structural drivers of climate-related health inequities in Member communities. Alongside CCN Strategic Partners—invited representatives from government, philanthropy, academia, and industry—CCN Members will influence and work across the Climate Grand Challenge to catalyze innovation, inform policy, drive funding, and co-design solutions.
The CCN will have two initial main goals:
- Inform the strategic direction and outcomes of the Climate Grand Challenge.
- Work collaboratively to identify and develop solutions to climate-related health inequities.
What will CCN Members do?
Members will represent their organization and serve as liaisons to the community their organization serves. Members will be expected to:
- Participate in at least six virtual CCN meetings over one year.
- Participate in one in-person convening in Washington, DC, each year (sponsored by the NAM).
- Serve as liaisons between their organizations/communities, the CCN, and the Climate Grand Challenge to facilitate multi-directional communication and learning.
- Co-develop and implement a work plan to advance community and CCN goals.
- Participate in evaluation activities to assess the CCN’s impact.
What are the benefits of joining the CCN?
Members will:
- Build a community of practice with fellow CCN Members and CCN Strategic Partners, Climate Grand Challenge colleagues, NAM staff, and other experts/peers.
- Amplify their community’s/organization’s expertise and efforts to address climate-related health inequities.
- Access partnerships and tools to advance or scale community-driven solutions to address climate-related health inequities.
- Inform climate-related policy, funding, research, capacity building, and other interventions aligned with community priorities, including the efforts of national initiatives.
- Influence the direction and outcomes of the Climate Grand Challenge as equal partners.
- Receive an honorarium for their work.
How does the CCN define “community-based organization”?
The CCN defines community-based organization as an organization that is located within the community it serves and is focused on partnering with and making an impact within the local community. Examples include community-oriented 501(c)(3) nonprofits, community-focused direct service providers, federally qualified health centers, local community health centers, tribal health organizations, local faith-based organizations, or locally focused college or university center/hubs. Individuals working for national-, regional-, or state-level organizations, or chapters of such organizations, are not eligible for this opportunity.
How does the CCN define “community”?
The CCN defines community as a group of people living within a specific, localized geography, such as a census tract, county, city, village, town, neighborhood, or tribal community.
How does the CCN determine if a community is “disproportionately impacted”?
The CCN will use data from a regional assessment highlighting disproportionately impacted communities across the United States. For more information, please visit this page.
Impact
About the Climate Grand Challenge
The Special Publication explores the effects of systems on the following population groups:
How is the NAM helping address climate change and its impacts on health?
In 2020, the NAM launched the Grand Challenge on Climate Change, Human Health, and Equity, a multi-year global initiative to improve and protect human health, well-being, and equity by working to transform systems that both contribute to and are impacted by climate change. The Climate Grand Challenge has four strategic objectives: 1) communicate the climate crisis as a public health and equity crisis; 2) develop a roadmap for systems transformation; 3) catalyze the health sector to reduce its climate footprint and ensure its resilience; and 4) accelerate research and innovation at the intersection of climate, health, and equity. The CCN is part of the Climate Grand Challenge. Learn more about the Climate Grand Challenge’s other launched workstream, the Action Collaborative on Decarbonizing the U.S. Health Sector, including its aims, participants, and products.
How can I stay updated on the work of the CCN and the Climate Grand Challenge?
Sign up for our email list for updates about climate change and health, the CCN, and the Climate Grand Challenge.
