Sunrise Movement Hamilton College members Sam Greenhouse ’21 and Aoífe Thomas ’20, and Hub Coordinator Eric Stenzel ’23 spent Monday, Jan. 27 in Albany, New York lobbying State Senators and State Assembly people for climate justice funding and legislation.

The group joined over 300 others from across the State of New York, representing dozens of different organizations under the umbrella coalition “NY Renews.” Demands included $1 billion in this year’s state budget dedicated to funding the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and to pass the Climate and Community Investment Act (CCIA).

Passed last year, the CLCPA is widely considered to be the most progressive climate law in the nation, setting mandatory emissions reduction targets for the state. If passed, the CCIA would put a tax on carbon and reinvest revenue into frontline communities most impacted by the climate crisis.

To start the day, activists submitted written testimony to the 2020 Joint Legislative Budget Hearing taking place the same day regarding the 2020–2021 Executive Budget Proposal. Thomas wrote, “I want to see at minimum $1 billion in funding to meet the goals of the CLCPA in this year’s budget because climate change is devastating communities around the world and at home — especially the most marginalized and voiceless — and it will only get worse, and fast.”

The three visited multiple legislator offices, notably including Speaker of the Assembly Carl Heastie (D), Assemblywoman Vivian Cook (D), Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein (D), State Senator Jessica Ramos (D), and State Senator Julia Salazar (D). Salazar, Ramos, and Cook’s offices took the time to listen to and express support for the concerns and policies of NY Renews members; Ramos and Cook both spoke with the activists directly. However, Weinstein’s office locked their door upon hearing chants from the group, and Speaker Heastie walked past coalition members in the building lobby without pausing to talk with them.

Activists then went to the joint chamber budget hearing on environmental conservation, where Basil Seggos, Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation of New York State, was answering questions from legislators. That morning, members of the Movement for a Green New Deal, another coalition which included Sunrise Movement NYC, left the gallery seats and surrounded the commissioner while chanting demands for a Green New Deal for New York. This was part of a larger campaign to call on Governor Andrew Cuomo to increase funding for environmental programs.

Shortly after 1 p.m., about 300 members of the NY Renews coalition entered the hearing room and quietly sat in the gallery, all wearing shirts which read “No Empty Promises: Fund Climate Justice Now.” Activists were told by guards to leave their signs outside. At a predetermined time, the activists quietly rose out of their seats. Many had snuck in signs and pulled them out. Ushers were quick to tell people to sit down, though a significant number remained standing for a few minutes before the group slowly exited the room.

The activists immediately began a rally on the stairs outside the hearing room. Chants such as “What do we want? Climate justice funding! When do we want it? Now!” and “If we don’t get it, shut it down!” rang through the building. Various speakers from different organizations rallied the crowd with speeches about the need to respond to the climate crisis with urgency and equity.

Several officials spoke, too. State Senator Rachel May, whose district includes Hamilton College, told the crowd to cheers, “We’re gonna be pushing hard for the [CLCPA] funding this year and in future years as well, because it is true, our house is on fire and we can’t wait to put it out.”

Stenzel also spoke with Senator May after her speech, where she agreed to meet with Sunrise Movement Hamilton College in the future to discuss ways to work together on other climate justice issues.

NY Renews plans on having more Albany lobby visits and rallies in the next few months. Sunrise Movement Hamilton College is also working with other Sunrise hubs in NY to organize a protest in Albany sometime in March.