I’m in NYC for a few weeks volunteering on the ground for the upcoming March to End Fossil Fuels on Sunday, September 17. Learn more about it here.  

There are more than 50 organizations sponsoring this March, including Progressive Democrats of America, Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN), Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light, Inc, US Climate Action Network (USCAN), Seventh Generation, Science for the People, Oil Change International, North American Climate, Conservation and Environment (NACCE), Lutherans Restoring Creation, Jane Fonda Climate PAC, Greenpeace USA, Food & Water Watch, Extinction Rebellion US, Beyond Plastics and American Indian Law Alliance. 

The youth (Gen Z) are leading the March to End Fossil Fuels and, frankly, leading the U.S. in demanding serious climate action.  There are 3 important climate court cases moving forward and the youth are plaintiffs in each: Juliana v. United States , in Hawaii  and Montana.President Biden was asked point blank by a reporter in Arizona during his visit there in August if he would declare a climate emergency. The youth are really disappointed with his wishy washy response — “I’ve practically declared a climate emergency.”   “

Invoking a national emergency over climate change would enable Biden to unleash sweeping actions to restrain greenhouse gas production — such as banning U.S. crude oil exports, ending offshore drilling or speeding the manufacturing of electric vehicles.”

The goal of the March on Sept. 17th is to demand President Biden declare a climate emergency leading up to the Climate Ambition Summit at the UN on Sept. 20th.  Here’s a very good article about the powers such a declaration would unleash (listen 6 minutes).   

Lora Lucero
PDA-CNM