-For Immediate Release-
For More Information:
Manny Rin, PIRG Campus Action Organizing Director, [email protected]/opentextbookalliance, 925-234-1457
Josh Chetwynd, Communications Manager, [email protected], 303, 573-5558
Nationwide– The Student PIRGs, a student environmental organizing group, is partnering with local organizations, student governments and elected officials to host in-person and virtual actions to celebrate Youth Earth Week, a national effort of more than 250 actions around the country to protect the environment, April 19-23.
Since Earth Day was founded in 1970, students have been on the forefront of change to protect our environment. In the midst of numerous environmental crises, from climate change and air and water pollution to the destruction of ecosystems critical to all life on Earth, this generation is taking action.
Despite the pandemic which has limited face-to-face advocacy, young people are still finding ways to organize their communities to protect the environment. Here are some of the actions taking place during Youth Earth Week (Interviews with student event organizers are available):
Events and actions about clean energy:
California Climate Action Summit:
From California’s commitment in 2018 to 100 percent clean electricity with the passage of SB 100, to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent announcement to ban the sale of gas-powered vehicles after 2035, California has been at the forefront of progress — but there’s more to do. That is why this Earth Day, as we celebrate victories of the past, CALPIRG Students and other activists in California are hosting the California Climate Action Summit to call on state leaders to speed up our transition to a 100 percent clean renewable energy future. The virtual event will bring together hundreds of student activists, climate experts and policy leaders from across California for a day of advocacy workshops, themed panels and discussions on climate solutions and clean energy.
Who:
Mayor of San Diego Todd Gloria
California Assemblymember David Chiu
Co-founder of the 100% Clean Renewable Energy Movement Mark Jacobson
Where: Virtual – RSVP
When: Thursday, April 22
MASSPIRG Panel for 100 Percent Renewables:
Join MASSPIRG Students to discuss the future of 100 percent renewable energy in Massachusetts. The panel will discuss the importance of climate activism and the current work being done on climate change and renewable energy at both the campus and statewide level to pass the 100% Clean Act (HD.3551, SD.2205). That legislation aims to transition Massachusetts to 100 percent clean electricity by 2035 and 100 percent clean heating and transportation by 2045.
Who:
Massachusetts State Rep. Mindy Domb
University of Massachusetts – Amherst Deputy Chancellor Steve Goodwin
University of Massachusetts – Amherst Sustainability Manager Ezra Small
Where: Virtual – RSVP
When: Thursday, April 22
University of South Florida Renewables Roundtable: How to Transition USF to 100 Percent Renewable Energy
Join us for a discussion between faculty and students at the University of South Florida about how to transition our community away from depending on dirty fossil fuels and move toward a greener brighter future powered by renewable energy.
Who:
Director of the Clean Energy Research Center Dr. Lee Elisa Stefanakos
Director of Sustainable Tourism and Director of the Sustainable Development Goals Action Alliance Dr. Brooke Hansen
Florida PIRG Student Coordinator Isabella Saldariagga
Where: Virtual – email Crystal Boutwell, [email protected] to RSVP
When: Wednesday, April 21, 2pm ET
Events and actions about zero waste:
Connecticut “Slash the Trash” Webinar and Discussion
CONNPIRG Students at Trinity College is hosting a “Slash the Trash” webinar with a panel of local environmental leaders and elected officials to discuss initiatives to move Connecticut to zero waste. The effort in Connecticut to ban polystyrene, commonly described as Styrofoam, one of the worst forms of plastic, is gaining momentum. Young people are advocating for the passage of a newly introduced statewide ban on polystyrene to protect the environment for years to come.
Who:
State Senator Will Haskell
State Representative and House Chair of the State Environment Committee Joe Gresko
A representative from Blue Earth Compost
Where: Virtual – email Fiona McElroy, [email protected] to RSVP
When: Thursday, April 22, 12:30pm ET
Events and actions about student voter engagement:
Michigan Student Activism Conference
Michigan students will participate in an activism conference to learn about local environmental issues and skills to run effective campaigns to make an impact. In Michigan, voter participation amongst young people, 18-29 year olds, increased by 12 percentage points from 2016 to 2020. With civic engagement at an all time high in the state, students are primed to take further action on issues like protecting the environment.
Who: Speakers from local environmental organizations will present from:
- PIRGIM Campus Action
- Michigan Student Power Network
- Rise
- Campus Election Project
Where: Virtual – RSVP
When: Sunday, April 18
Other events are planned in additional states as thousands of students will participate in hundreds of actions during Youth Earth Week. These range from local beach clean-ups to virtual advocacy days and from environmental movie screenings to educational panels. If you are interested in more information on the time and locations for these local events or would like to speak with student organizers, please contact Manny Rin at [email protected]/opentextbookalliance.
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Learn more about Youth Earth Week and more actions around the country on our website or follow us on social media using #YouthEarthWeek
Youth Earth Week is a project of the Student PIRGs that has worked for nearly 50 years helping students to get organized, mobilized and energized so they can continue to be on the cutting edge of positive change. Other partners include: Environment America, Greenpeace, Break Free From Plastics, Plastic Pollution Coalition, The Story of Stuff Project, Students for Environmental Concerns, and The Earth Day Network.