My Giving Tuesday Story: CUB Board Member Christy Anderson Brekken
Posted on November 26, 2019 by Christy Anderson Brekken
Tags, General Interest
As a member of the Oregon CUB Board of Governors, and chair of the Program Committee, I have a front row seat to CUB’s essential work in advocating for Oregon’s utility customers. Learning more about how CUB transforms its mission and values into action in administrative, judicial, and legislative bodies has been valuable on a professional level because it gives me new insights into climate and energy policy that I can use in my teaching and research at Oregon State University, and on a personal level as I grapple with my role in climate action.
I teach courses in environmental law and economics at Oregon State University. As we have seen in our communities and around the world, young adults are deeply engaged in the push for climate action and climate justice. I think it is imperative to recognize that climate action and climate justice are separate, but intertwined, dimensions of climate advocacy. CUB has been a key voice in crafting utility sector policies to reduce Oregon’s dependence on fossil fuels. Simultaneously, CUB strives to be an environmental justice ally, participating in the Low-Income Utility Program Work Group and subsequent efforts to enact the Work Group’s recommendations.
The learning objectives in my environmental policy classes align with one of CUB’s core values: to “speak the language of policy and economics … to represent ratepayers and protect the environment.” CUB calls this “practical idealism,” one of my favorite mantras that I preach to my students alongside “relentless incrementalism.” Change almost never happens in one fell swoop. Even change that looks like a sudden shift is preceded by years of effort by committed and strategic thinkers. CUB’s historic efforts are wonderful classroom examples of how advocates can use the tools of economics and law to implement effective policies that protect the environment and our most vulnerable neighbors. Concrete examples from CUB’s work bring to life the process of making change, and highlight the steps we are currently taking on the path for climate action and climate justice. Many of my students are surprised to learn how much is in progress, and that they are suddenly interested in topics like energy efficiency and utility ratemaking!
As a board member representing Oregon Congressional District 4, I am also acutely aware that many of the people in this district live in rural and coastal areas that are vulnerable to climate change and changes in utility rates. I appreciate that CUB’s Board is structured by geographical representation – it informs and bolsters our ability to fight for communities throughout Oregon as they confront climate change impacts and other challenges, and thus is key to CUB’s environmental justice efforts.
Finally, I care deeply about our society’s response to climate change on a personal level. I am a mother of children who are coming of age in a time of climate anxiety, and a teacher of young adults who are skeptical of the system that got us here and our ability to make change. Informed by my connection to CUB, I am engaged in climate policy initiatives and educating our high school and college students to be effective advocates for climate policy.
When I was approached to be on CUB’s board, I was unfamiliar with the mechanics of how customers are represented in Oregon’s utility system. Now I am grateful that I took the leap and got involved. In a short time, it became abundantly clear that CUB’s policy work is essential to the future of all Oregonians as we face a climate crisis. Please join me in contributing to CUB this Giving Tuesday, one week from now on December 3. If you are not a CUB member yet, you can join for as little as $5. If you are already a CUB member, dig deep and see if you can contribute a little extra. Every dollar counts! Thanks on behalf of everyone at CUB for your support.
To keep up with CUB, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!
11/25/19 | 0 Comments | My Giving Tuesday Story: CUB Board Member Christy Anderson Brekken