When activist Jeremy Cuebas was working for the community development-focused Northwest Center, some of his students were diagnosed with asthma out of the blue.
After reading about diesel pollution in the community, Cuebas, now the executive director of the Grassroots Empowerment Mission, decided he had no choice but to become involved in the climate movement.
“With that data and some of the stories that we’re hearing from our young people, I thought that it was our duty to be involved,” Cuebas said.
Wednesday, Cuebas joined about 400 community members in Springfield for the annual Climate Action Lobby Day, where advocates spoke with lawmakers and rallied in support of climate legislation.
Hannah Flath, the senior climate communications manager for the Illinois Environmental Council, said the day gave advocates a unique opportunity to speak directly to elected representatives.
“Our lawmakers work for us,” Flath said. “And so lobby day gives constituents across the state the opportunity to voice their opinions with their lawmakers and urge them to take action.”
Flath added that even for those whose representatives support climate action, the lobby day was also a time to thank lawmakers for their work.
This year, a contingent from Climate Action Evanston participated in the lobby day for the first time, CAE Executive Director Jack Jordan said.
While Climate Action Evanston doesn’t typically participate in lobbying activities for state bills, Jordan said he was excited to attend and interact with other advocates.
“It’s really a great place to meet our fellow advocates and to see how we can collaborate,” Jordan said.
Throughout the day, attendees stressed the importance of three specific bills: the Clean and Healthy Buildings Act, the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act and the Clean and Equitable Transportation Act.
The Clean and Healthy Buildings Act aims to phase out gas burners and stoves so buildings run on clean energy. The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act attempts to modernize the state’s power grid, making it more reliable and affordable while prioritizing clean energy.
The Clean and Equitable Transportation Act looks to transform the state’s transportation system through three bills. Most notably, the Metropolitan Mobility Authority Act aims to reform what Flath called an “inequitable” and “inaccessible” system and address the looming fiscal cliff by consolidating the state’s transit agencies.
Flath said that her organization hopes to see both the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act and the Metropolitan Mobility Authority Act move by the end of the legislative session on May 31.
“The action that folks are taking next week to come down to Springfield or go up to Springfield and meet with their lawmakers and show the whole state how much people care about these climate bills is huge,” Flath said.
According to Flath, this legislation builds on the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, which set Illinois on a path to 100% clean energy by 2050.
Later in the afternoon, activists rallied outside the state Capitol Building, where some lawmakers, including State Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview), voiced their support for the movement.
“It is more important now than ever to be loud and proud about what we are trying to accomplish for the future,” Fine said. “Illinois is leading the way with environmental advancements, and we’ve got to show the rest of the country we’re going to get it done here and everywhere across our country.”
Others, including Illinois Environmental Council Executive Director Jennifer Walling, spoke to the necessity of combating the Trump administration’s attempt to “decimate historic climate progress.”
Throughout the rally, speakers were imbued with a sense of immediacy that Cuebas echoed.
“When we’re talking about the environment, we’re talking about the future, but we’re also talking about the now,” Cuebas said. “Transportation and environmental justice is urgent. It can’t wait.”
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