University hosts Earth Week panel with Congresswoman Marie Newman

As a part of “Earth Week,” a week-long celebration on campus that celebrates the beauty of the planet and raises awareness to environmental issues, an environment panel discussion was held at the Frick Center on Wednesday, April 20, at 6 p.m. 

Grace Hanrahan, the president of Greenjays sustainability club on campus introduced the panel and moderator Javier Gloria, senator for sustainability of student government association at the start of the discussion. 

The panel consisted of U.S. Rep. Marie Newman and Illinois State Rep. Will Guzzardi, and Gary Newman, a volunteer lobbyist for Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL).

Gloria began by asking all members of the panel what it was that made them want to get into the work they do with climate change. G. Newman said that he was prompted to CCL because he saw they were in need of volunteers and then became more involved when he saw the work was focused on something as serious as climate change.

Newman said her motivation behind the work she does for climate change is simple: Her children. She wants them to breathe in 10 years. A common saying is repeated in her congressional office and among her staff: “With every breath we take and every policy we make, we have to think about climate change.”

Gloria responded to their reasoning with a heartfelt explanation of how he aspires to run for office in the City of Chicago because he has firsthand understanding of how disproportionately these communities are affected when it comes to climate change. 

His next question reflected this as he asked, “Some communities are more vulnerable than others, some depend on fossil fuels more than others, what will you do to ensure these communities are protected from these issues?”

Newman said that CCL is focused on what is called carbon pricing. This is when the government assesses a fee to the source of carbon mining and gives part of that money back to the American people. M. Newman pointed out that it is astonishing how climate and justice are intersectional.

At-risk neighborhoods have 40 to 60 percent more carcinogens in the air. The solutions, she said, are market-based solutions such as carbon-base pricing. She also stated many jobs in the industry could provide workforce training that allows union workers to help understand how to migrate in a just fashion quickly. 

Guzzardi gave insight on how he had recently passed a bill that was about a coal ash deposit in Waukegan, which is a primarily black and brown community. 

Republican congress members initially did not want to vote for the bill because it was against corporate and political interest. Guzzardi said that as the transition to renewable energy is made, it should be important to note that the change will not drastically change the economy. 

The labor unions that are responsible for the job market in these areas should still offer more apprenticeships for people of color.

The panel then shifted perspectives. 

Gloria asked the panelists, “What advice would you give an environmentalist or other people who want to get involved?” 

Guzzardi began by stating that it may seem to people that there is so much hopelessness, but everything can be won in strategic and deliberate campaigns. As an expansion on that idea, G. Newman said he would point people to the CCL because the organization makes use of every volunteer. 

Lobbying congress is the most important way of getting things done. Many people can email their members of congress or join a group that supports the effort.

Gloria asked the panel to give their opinion on what they would like the environmental community to prioritize more. G. Newman said that it is important to realize that this is not a liberal issue because it hurts everyone.