July 17, 2020. In the final countdown to the end of the legislative session, Elders Climate Action and seventeen other advocacy organizations held a Virtual Rally on July 15. Over 260 participants attended to advocate for passage of H3983, An Act to create a 2050 roadmap to a clean and thriving Commonwealth and H4264, An Act relative to environmental justice in the Commonwealth.
Noting that her constituents “will be the first climate refugees in Massachusetts,” Roadmap Bill author Representative Meschino (Third Plymouth), led a line-up of speakers including Representative Pignatelli (Fourth Berkshire) and other prominent legislators. Newton Representative Kay Khan (11th Middlesex) said, “Carbon neutrality by 2050 is within our reach and it is our responsibility to our children, our grandchildren and future generations to do everything in our power to get there.”
Speakers representing rally organizers from 350MA, Conservation Law Foundation, Elders Climate Action, League of Women Voters, Mothers Out Front and the Union of Concerned Scientists all emphasized the urgency of getting the bills out of the House Ways and Means Committee to a vote on the floor of the MA House.
The activists hope that the legislature will extend its session to pass the climate and environmental justice bills that had been set aside for work on COVID and Policing Reform. And, advocates continue to mobilize to remind legislators that the Climate Crisis needs them to move these bills to a House vote before the session adjourns at the end of July not to resume until 2021.
If you missed the rally, you can watch this recording.