For Immediate Release: Groups Release 2024 Environmental Priorities for Arizona Legislature and Governor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Sandy Bahr, Sierra Club – Grand Canyon Chapter, (602) 999-5790, sandy.bahr@sierraclub.org
Yara Marin, Vote Solar, (602) 492-6077, Yara@votesolar.org
Phoenix, AZ – Today, 25 plus organizations, including Sierra Club – Grand Canyon Chapter, Arizona Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders for Equity (AZ AANHPI for Equity), Arizona Interfaith Power and Light (AZIPL), Chispa Arizona, Vote Solar, and other environmental, faith, and Indigenous groups presented 2024 Environmental Priorities for the Arizona Legislature and Governor. The priorities were presented in the context of water as a top priority and include climate and clean energy, environmental justice, land protection, and democracy, among other issues.
The groups are asking legislators to pass and the governor to sign bills that will help to better conserve water to provide for a more sustainable future and protect rivers and streams, prioritize climate actions to promote clean energy and reduce pollution and to direct resources to communities that have disproportionately suffered the impacts of climate change. They ask that the legislature and governor prioritize environmental justice to address the disparate impacts of environmental harm to communities of color, protect public lands and wildlife, and to advance measures that make it easier for people to vote.
“It’s time to implement forward-thinking solutions that ensure a sustainable future for Arizona,” said Yara Marin, Western Regional Director, Vote Solar. By investing in clean energy generation, we not only reduce our environmental impact but also forge a path towards resilience. Let this be a rallying cry for a water-smart and sustainable Arizona, where the intersection of water, communities, and clean energy becomes the cornerstone of our shared prosperity.”
“As we head into 2024 and make plans for the year, it’s important to think about how the upcoming summer will impact our communities here in Arizona,” said Alondra Morales, Climate Justice Program Coordinator with AZ AANHPI for Equity. “We can’t ignore the water crisis and should take proactive steps to address the inevitable challenges that will arise.”
Ensuring access to democracy for every Arizonan is the key to creating a better Arizona for generations to come, said Melanie Beikman, Executive Director for Arizona Interfaith Power and Light..
“This upcoming legislative session, Chispa Arizona will continue to work with our members to feel empowered to advocate for policy solutions that prioritize environmental justice in communities most directly impacted by extreme heat and poor air quality,” said Vania Guevara, Advocacy Deputy Director, Chispa Arizona.
“We think it is important for legislators and Governor Hobbs to understand that our communities are prioritizing protection of our water, addressing climate change, promoting environmental justice, and ensuring access to voting and other aspects of our democracy,” said Sandy Bahr, Director for Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon (Arizona) Chapter. “We cannot afford to wait to tackle these important issues. We cannot and must not defer actions and impacts to future generations.”
A livestream of the news conference can be found here.
The following organizations have signed on to the priorities to date.
Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans
Arizona Climate Action Coalition
Arizona Faith Network
Arizona Interfaith Power and Light
Arizonans for Community Choice
AZ AANHPI For Equity
Brophy Student Climate Coalition
Champion PR + Consulting
Chispa Arizona
Climate Cabinet Action
Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection
Elders Climate Action – AZ
Great Old Broads for Wilderness – Northern Arizona Broadband
Great Old Broads for Wilderness – Sonoran Broadband
Great Old Broads for Wilderness – Tucson Broadband
Great Old Broads for Wilderness – Yavapai-Prescott Broadband
Kids Climate Action Network
Living United for Change in Arizona
Moms Clean Air Force – Arizona
Physicians for Social Responsibility, AZ Chapter
Rural Arizona Action
Sierra Club – Grand Canyon Chapter
Sustainable Tucson
Tucson Audubon Society
Vote Solar
Western Watersheds Project
Yuma Audubon Society
Senator Brian Fernandez
Representative Mariana Sandoval
Representative Stephanie Stahl-Hamilton