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.
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.
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.”
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