SAINT PAUL, Minn. – In conjunction with last Friday’s Youth Climate Strike in Saint Paul and other locations across the country, House DFL lawmakers announced the formation of the Climate Action Caucus to find solutions and establish Minnesota as a national leader in the fight against climate change. Rep. Laurie Pryor (DFL – Minnetonka) enthusiastically joined the caucus as a founding member.
“We all have a responsibility to recognize the urgency we’re facing and work together to stop the impacts of climate change before they take such a hold our state becomes unrecognizable,” Rep. Pryor said. “I’m particularly inspired by the energy from youth climate activists who are tirelessly working to ensure state leaders take bold action. If this pressing issue isn’t addressed, the next generation of Minnesotans, and generations who follow them, will be the ones left to deal with the consequences such as devastated ecosystems, more frequent catastrophic weather events, poorer public health, and others. Action simply cannot be delayed.”
Climate Action Caucus members will create an ambitious agenda – the Minnesota Climate Action Plan – based on input from Minnesotans. The plan will draw on the unique advantages of our state – generous, hard-working people; innovative businesses; world-class colleges and universities; and vast natural resources – to find solutions and establish Minnesota as a national leader in the fight against climate change.
The Climate Action Caucus, chaired by Rep. Patty Acomb (DFL – Minnetonka), will bring together legislators with different backgrounds and areas of expertise. Growing the clean energy sector will be a key piece of the Minnesota Climate Action Plan, but the plan will touch on every sector of Minnesota’s economy, including transportation, agriculture, and forestry.
Students who helped organize the Youth Climate Strike in Minnesota joined lawmakers for the announcement. Video of the news conference announcing the caucus’s launch is available courtesy of Minnesota House Public Information Services.
PHOTO: Rep. Laurie Pryor (DFL – Minnetonka), left, joined other legislators and organizers of the Youth Climate Strike to launch the new Climate Action Caucus of the Minnesota House at a State Capitol news conference last Thursday. [LINK]
