activism
Newsletter
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Oil industry faces pressure as California activists push for 'polluter pays' bills
Activists rallied outside California's Capitol, urging legislators to pass bills that would hold oil companies accountable for environmental damage as the legislative session nears its end.
In short:
- Three bills aim to strengthen local control over oil and gas operations, accelerate the decommissioning of idle wells, and impose penalties on low-producing wells.
- Activists argue the bills are crucial for protecting vulnerable communities from pollution linked to fossil fuel extraction.
- The oil industry is opposing the bills, citing concerns about increased reliance on foreign oil and potential job losses.
Key quote:
“We’re here today to push back against Big Oil’s influence in Sacramento. We’re here to show that the people have the power.”
— Woody Little, campaign lead at Last Chance Alliance
Why this matters:
These bills could help prevent further environmental harm in California communities already burdened by pollution. If passed, they may set a precedent for stricter oil industry regulations nationwide.
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Climate group boosts Harris campaign but withholds endorsement over policy concerns
The Sunrise Movement is ramping up voter outreach for Kamala Harris while withholding endorsement until she clarifies her climate policies.
In short:
- The Sunrise Movement plans to contact 1.5 million young voters for Kamala Harris but has not endorsed her.
- The group awaits more details on Harris’s climate agenda and stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
- Other environmental groups have endorsed Harris, emphasizing the need to defeat Donald Trump.
Key quote:
“Let’s be clear: the most important climate policy right now is defeating Donald Trump in November.”
— Cassidy DiPaola, a spokeswoman for Fossil Free Media
Why this matters:
Young voters, crucial for Democrats, seek strong climate action. Harris's ability to address these concerns could impact her appeal to key voting blocs in the upcoming election.
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Indigenous youth are leading the charge in climate lawsuits.
Across the globe, Indigenous youth are taking governments and companies to court, fighting for the future of their land and culture against the devastating impacts of climate change.
In short:
- The Lāhainā wildfire in 2023, fueled by climate change and colonialism, destroyed Kaliko's home, pushing her to join a successful lawsuit to decarbonize Hawaii's transportation system.
- Indigenous youth globally are increasingly leading climate lawsuits, challenging governments and corporations to protect their lands and traditions.
- These legal battles, while often difficult, represent a powerful way for young people to transform grief and anger into action.
Key quote:
"This feeling of loss and grief of experiencing life with climate change — it impacts so many of our traditional ways."
— Beze Gray, Aamjiwnaang First Nation
Why this matters:
For indigenous people climate change is about more than rising sea levels or shrinking ice caps—it's about the loss of ancestral lands, the disruption of ecosystems they've relied on for generations, and the deep cultural connections that are being severed. Read more: Youth activism alone cannot save us: A case for intergenerational environmental coalitions.
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Credit: Mark Dixon/Flickr
Protest highlights billionaire influence on Vance and urges Harris to act on climate
Activists from the Sunrise Movement protested at Sen. J.D. Vance’s office and urged Kamala Harris to champion climate action, targeting Vance’s ties to Big Oil.
In short:
- Youth-led Sunrise Movement protested at Sen. J.D. Vance’s office, highlighting his ties to the oil industry and calling for climate action.
- The group marched to the DNC to demand Kamala Harris adopt stronger climate policies, including clean energy investments and ending fossil fuel subsidies.
- The activists aim to galvanize young voters by pushing Harris to distinguish herself from Biden’s policies and take a firm stand on climate issues.
Key quote:
“This is your chance to energize young people and our communities to vote, mount one of the greatest political comebacks in decades, and deliver a resounding defeat to the far-right agenda of Trump and Vance."
— Letter to Harris, co-signed by Gen Z for Change, March for Our Lives and United We Dream Action
Why this matters:
Frustration with billionaire influence in politics is galvanizing youth activists and pushing Vice President Kamala Harris to seize the moment and champion bold climate action. Read more: Youth v. Montana — Young adults speak up.
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Activists demand halt to uranium mining near Grand Canyon
Environmentalists and tribal members are urging Arizona officials to end uranium mining near the Grand Canyon, citing health and environmental risks.
In short:
- Activists delivered a petition with over 17,500 signatures to Governor Katie Hobbs, calling for the closure of the Pinyon Plain Mine.
- Uranium mining poses significant health risks and threatens water sources critical to the Grand Canyon's ecosystem and local communities.
- The governor’s office acknowledged receipt but has yet to take action on the petition.
Key quote:
“The safe thing to do, the prudent thing to do, is to avoid that risk altogether and close the mine.”
— Taylor McKinnon, director of the Center for Biological Diversity
Why this matters:
The Grand Canyon has long been a battleground for conservation efforts. Uranium mining, with its potential to contaminate water sources and disrupt ecosystems, adds a new layer of urgency to these efforts. The Havasupai Tribe, whose ancestral lands lie within the Grand Canyon, has been vocal about the threats posed to their health and way of life. Contaminated water sources could have devastating effects on both human populations and the diverse wildlife that call the canyon home.
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Activists urge Louisiana to reject 2,400-acre plastics plant permits
Environmental advocates want Louisiana to block air permits for a planned 2,400-acre plastics facility due to new federal air quality standards and concerns over toxic pollution.
In short:
- EarthJustice and six environmental groups argue the Formosa Plastics project in St. James Parish would violate EPA standards for particulate matter, also called "soot" and dust.
- EarthJustice submitted a letter urging the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality to deny Formosa’s permit renewal, arguing it would exacerbate the already poor air quality in the communities of the corridor between New Orleans and Baton Rouge known as “Cancer Alley.”
- The U.S. EPA and local residents are also pushing for an investigation into mercury-laden dust from the Atalco Gramercy refinery.
Key quote:
“When they get this application, they need to reduce Formosa Plastics emissions so that it isn’t worsening the problem.”
— Mike Brown, senior attorney with EarthJustice.
Why this matters:
The proposed plastics plant could worsen air quality in an area already plagued by industrial pollution. Advocates are particularly concerned about "Cancer Alley," a stretch of the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans known for its high concentration of petrochemical plants and elevated cancer rates. They worry that adding another massive facility to this already burdened region would exacerbate existing health disparities.
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Environmental activists face increasing repression and criminalization
Environmental protests are increasingly met with severe repression and criminalization, threatening democracy and human rights, according to UN special rapporteur Michel Forst.
In short:
- Europe has seen a surge in police brutality and heavy-handed legal measures against environmental defenders, often using outdated or new restrictive laws.
- Public discourse often labels environmental activists as "eco-terrorists" or "green Talibans," inciting public and media hostility.
- Countries like Italy, Germany and the UK employ laws to criminalize peaceful protests, with harsh sentences and severe legal penalties.
Key quote:
"In terms of freedom of speech and the right to protest, certainly in regards to climate change, the world is moving in the wrong direction."
— Michel Forst, UN special rapporteur on environmental defenders.
Why this matters:
The repression of environmental activists undermines basic human rights and stifles efforts to address climate change. This atmosphere of fear can stymie broader civic engagement and deter necessary actions to address environmental crises. At a time when urgent action is needed to combat climate change and environmental degradation, silencing activists could have negative consequences for the planet and future generations.
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