Environmental Groups Push for Climate Justice in Arizona’s 2025 Legislature
A coalition of environmental groups outlines key priorities for Arizona’s upcoming legislative session, focusing on climate and water justice.
Arizona, Climate Change, Environmental Justice, Water Resources, Legislation
Arizona: A group of environmental organizations is making its voice heard ahead of the 2025 legislative session. They gathered for a news conference to share their goals with lawmakers.
Led by the Sierra Club, this coalition of 35 groups is pushing for action on several key issues. They want to tackle climate change, protect water resources, and support vulnerable communities.
Sandy Bahr from the Sierra Club mentioned that they’re already drafting legislation to address these priorities. Many of these organizations regularly engage with lawmakers to advocate for new laws.
Vania Guevara, from Chispa Arizona, emphasized the need for collaboration with elected officials to ensure cleaner air and better heat mitigation strategies. They want to prevent extreme heat from becoming a bigger problem in the future.
However, some lawmakers expressed frustration over what they see as a lack of action from the Republican-dominated Legislature. Arizona Senate Democrat Priya Sundareshan called on her colleagues to consider the bills they introduce.
Interestingly, no Republican lawmakers attended the conference, which raised some eyebrows. The coalition, which includes faith-based groups, is urging the Legislature to take climate change seriously and to consider the needs of vulnerable populations.
As the legislative session kicks off, Republicans will hold a 17-13 majority in the Senate and a 33-27 majority in the House. This means the political landscape is even more conservative than last year.
The coalition has specific priorities, like supporting Governor Katie Hobbs’s Office of Resiliency and pushing for laws that regulate groundwater pumping. They also want to protect local ecosystems and ensure that investments benefit communities facing pollution.
They’re advocating for a state-level version of the Biden Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which aims to direct funds to communities that have historically been overlooked. This includes defining “overburdened communities” and requiring companies to prepare Environmental Justice Impact Statements.
Additionally, they want a state-level version of the National Environmental Policy Act to assess the environmental impacts of government actions. This would involve public participation and consultation with tribes.
As the session approaches, the coalition is hopeful that their priorities will gain traction and lead to meaningful change in Arizona.