CHAMPAIGN — Illinois environmental advocates are working to strengthen their connections with lawmakers and communities across the state while the legislature is in recess.
On Saturday, June 28, progressive organizations gathered in Champaign for a convention hosted by Indivisible Illinois. The event allowed the groups to share their priorities for the rest of the year.
Among the attendees was Cate Caldwell, the senior policy manager for the Illinois Environmental Council, or IEC. The organization advocates for environmental policies across the state.
“We are the voice for people that feel like they don’t have access to their lawmakers,” she said. “We are kind of the engine that keeps things going in the environmental space.”
With recent federal rollbacks on environmental protections during the Trump administration, IEC has stated that it has had to rethink its advocacy strategies. Caldwell said a key focus of the organization is to strengthen its relationships with Republican and Democratic government officials.
“Something new that we’re bringing in and beefing up is our federal presence in our state-to-federal work,” Caldwell said. “You know, [we are] continuing to relationship-build, continuing to advocate for the policies, continuing to listen to the residents and the people and the constituents that are actually being affected.”
She also said the council is trying to ensure that policymakers hear from the state’s rural communities on environmental decisions.
To increase its outreach, Caldwell said the organization has become more active on social media platforms, like Instagram and LinkedIn. The group is also increasing its communication with partners in different districts to push back against misinformation and raise awareness of pending bills or local environmental issues.
“I think one thing that I think we’re doing great is understanding where our partners need us the most,” she added. “A lot of that is engaging with the federal administration, engaging with our state lawmakers and figuring out what exactly is happening.”
In addition to revamping strategies, the IEC is advocating for several key policy proposals. One of its top priorities is reducing single-use plastics and Styrofoam. Other priorities include expanding access to clean transportation options and providing assistance to farmers.
The council is also paying close attention to energy policy. One of the major proposals they hope will be approved in the future is the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, which would modernize the state’s energy grid and potentially reduce utility costs. Even though the bill was delayed during the Illinois General Assembly’s spring session, Caldwell remains hopeful.
“I really believe in our lawmakers,” she said. “I really believe that our Illinois state lawmakers, when they go to Springfield, they truly want to work for the best of the people and the people that they represent.”
Caldwell said the council will also continue its work on protecting the Mahomet Aquifer. The council supports legislation to ban carbon sequestration below sole-source aquifers. She said the IEC will continue to discuss the legislation with grassroots organizations and residents who may be affected.
Despite the changing political landscape, Caldwell said the organization remains rooted in serving communities in the state.
“For people living in Illinois, we just want to make sure that our planet is safe,” she said. “We want to make sure that our legacy is continued for generations to come and we want to be heard.”
Read the full story here.