Youth Leading the Charge: Protecting Our Future by Defending the Climate Commitment Act
In the ongoing work to hold back global warming, young people are stepping up to protect their future. Climate Action Families’ intergenerational approach to community organizing has meant there is a generation of young adults who have grown up doing the work of protecting their planet and future, and they are adeptly stepping into roles as leaders and facilitators.
The Washington State Climate Commitment Act, passed in 2021, is a pioneering piece of legislation designed to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, positioning Washington as a leader in climate action. However, Initiative 21117, or I-2117, begun by out of state billionaires, threatens to roll back this progress, and the youth of CAF are determined to prevent that from happening. They want you to vote No on I-2117, and they want you to help make sure our friends and neighbors know as well.
Why This Campaign Matters to CAF Members
For Percy Sandhu (18), a University of Washington student majoring in Sociology who also holds the Culture and Equity Chair position with WashPIRG, the motivation to work on this campaign is deeply personal. “It is really about pollution,” Percy explains. “I have asthma, my family has asthma, there’s a big chance my kids will. It’s getting worse with more and more emissions in the world.”
Similarly, Emory Ranes (19), an Evergreen State College student studying Political Economy, Global Studies, and Environmental Justice who has been a CAF member since the age of 9, is driven by a sense of urgency. “I was just realizing how far behind we are,” Emory says. “I was reading No One is Too Small to Make a Difference by Greta Thunberg this one night when I couldn’t sleep… That was published in 2019, 5 years ago now, and we STILL haven’t made the progress we need. For an initiative like this that’s just taking us back, I think it’s something we can’t allow to pass.”
These reflections underscore the stakes of the No on I-2117 campaign for the youth involved. It’s not just about policy; it’s about their health, their families, and their future.
The Power of Collective Action
Working on this campaign has been an eye-opener for both Percy and Emory in terms of community involvement and organizing. Emory shares, “Seeing how everyone has come together on this, from my local legislative district, to our calls with Governor Inslee, to, of course, Climate Action Families working on it. Seeing my whole community coming together to fight against this, that’s been really cool to see.”
Percy echoes this sentiment, noting how the campaign has revealed the power of individual action within a collective effort: “Similarly, I was surprised about a lot of individuals in organizing meetings, rather than just organizers of campaigns, and I thought that was pretty cool.”
Support and involvement with CAF has given them skills and access to start making a difference. As Emory puts it, “I don’t think I’d be comfortable public speaking if it wasn’t for CAF. It’s something I now enjoy doing. It’s also helped me feel comfortable networking and collaborating with different organizations. I’m also confident in doing basic project management. Since we are included in all of this when we are younger, it feels natural. CAF truly has prepared me to do this kind of work, and that’s not an exaggeration.”
Hopes for the Future and CAF’s Role
Both Percy and Emory have clear hopes for the outcome of the campaign and CAF’s ongoing role. Percy is passionate about the potential for education and advocacy to prevent future health issues. “I hope we are able to educate families more. My family’s health issues could likely have been avoided if there had been knowledge of how pollution, and especially indoor air pollution, could affect our health. I want to make this better for other younger people and future generations.”
Emory sees this campaign as a stepping stone to even broader efforts. “This is about building connections and establishing frameworks so we can come together on other important issues like this. This type of work isn’t just for opposing regressive initiatives and policies, but we need to come together like this to pass progressive policies as well, like we did for the electric school bus bill this past session.”
Get Involved: Stand with Youth to Protect Our Climate
The No on I-2117 campaign is a pivotal moment for climate action in Washington, and it needs the support of people like you. By volunteering, you can stand alongside these young leaders and help ensure that the Climate Commitment Act remains in place.
Here’s how you can help:
- Learn More: Check out this Fact Sheet about the impact to youth and schools of repealing the CCA
Pledge to Vote No!: Let the campaign know you are on board by pledging for yourself or an organization.
Volunteer: Join Percy, Emory, and other youth leaders in canvassing, phone banking, or organizing events by sending us an email at volunteers@climateactionfamilies.org. Or sign up with the main campaign here – Volunteer with No on I-2117
Donate: Donating to Climate Action Families help sustain the campaign and amplify the voices of these young activists. Donating to the No on I-2117 campaign will help ensure we don’t roll back this essential legislation.
