Climate Action Pathfinders

We believe that climate solutions work best when they’re shaped by communities and for communities. We envision a country where every community harnesses the power of decarbonization to build a future that is healthy, equitable, prosperous, and affordable for all.

Climate Action Pathfinders: A learning and scaling system for community climate action

Climate Action Pathfinders (CAP) is an initiative of the Higher Ambition Leadership Alliance. We convene and catalyze exceptional local climate leaders to accelerate measurable progress and spread what works. Our vision: a country where every community harnesses decarbonization to build a future that is healthy, equitable, prosperous, and affordable for all.

CAP officially launched in March 2026 with 12 organizations across 8 communities in 6 states — representing diverse geographies, political contexts, and climate priorities, from Tucson to Memphis to Madison (see Appendix). CAP applies a proven methodology for large-scale systems change. Its core insight: when high-performing leaders are brought together in sustained, trust-based communities to share real experience and collaboratively generate solutions, insight deepens and progress accelerates. Unlike conferences, traditional best practice-sharing communities, or static networks, CAP creates an ongoing community focused on peer to peer support and innovation, measurable results, and practical implementation.

Theory of Change: A reinforcing cycle of learning, action, and scale

CAP operates through six integrated functions: Identify communities achieving strong results → Convene them in sustained communities of peer learning, support, and action → Support leaders to individually and collectively innovate and accelerate their local climate agendas → Measure indicators and outcomes → Incorporate successful strategies, tactics, and actions into a living Climate Action Playbook supported by expert peer faculty → Diffuse proven approaches and offer interactive, action-based learning opportunities to more communities. Each cycle grows our network of trusted community leaders, strengthening both the quality of knowledge and the capacity of communities to act on it.

In our first year, we are prototyping this methodology to prepare for replication and scaling. We have already recruited an initial cohort, and partner meetings so far have been rated over 4 out of 5. Priority topics for deeper collaboration are already emerging, including moving residential solar and electrification past early adopters, partnering with local businesses on emissions and efficiency, and reducing urban heat in vulnerable neighborhoods. We will support our partners as they learn, innovate, capture practices, and advance their local climate agenda through case presentations and discussions, working groups, and individualized support. After this initial pilot, we will iteratively add cohorts, with the goal of reaching 75-100 communities within five years.