This is MYCJ’s legislative team, they tackle advocating for the bills that we all vote as our legislative priorities. Join the legislative team if you want to advocate for climate justice legislation at the state level, write testimony, talk to your legislators and organize at the grassroots level!

The Legislative Team meets every two weeks for an hour, you can expect a higher time commitment during the legislative sessions from January to May/June.

Check out our legislative report from the 131st Legislature, which highlights our 2023 legislative priorities. Read the legislative testimony that MYCJ members submitted in 2023. Join the legislative team here!

Maine Youth for Climate Justice is part of the Wabanaki Alliance Tribal Coalition. We participate in their communications and legislative efforts, and amplify calls to action that aim to further the self determination of Tribal Nations in Maine. As a member of MYCJ, you will receive updates and calls to action from the Wabanaki Alliance.

For more details about the Wabanaki Alliance check out their website, follow along with their legislative efforts through their 131st Legislature bill tracker, watch the State of the Tribes Address from 2023.

At MYCJ we believe that a just transition to renewables must not continue the practices of fossil fuel corporations that benefit the few at the expense of the many. This means including Wabanaki nations, and other frontline communities in all decision-making processes around energy generation, transmission, and cost to rate payers.

Check out our blog posts for past stances on energy justice issues, and join our Energy Campaigns calls to stay up to date on energy issues that we’re working on. We are currently involved in Offshore Wind advocacy, as well as the consumer owned utility campaign Pine Tree Power.

What is Divestement?

“When you invest your money, you might buy stocks, bonds or other investments that generate income for you. Universities and colleges in the US, as well as religious organizations, retirement funds, and other institutions put millions or billions in these same kinds of investments to generate income to help run their institutions. Divestment is the opposite of an investment–it simply means getting rid of stocks, bonds or investment funds that are unethical. Fossil Fuel investments are a risk for investors and the planet–that’s why we’re calling on institutions to divest from these companies.” -from 350.org’s FAQ on Divestment

Fossil fuel divestment is one of our priorities: in 2021, MYCJ helped pass L.D. 99 “An Act to Require the State to Divest Itself of Assets Invested in the Fossil Fuel Industry.” Now is the time to push the state to implement L.D. 99.

In 2022, MYCJ’s Core Member UMaine Climate Action, formerly DivestUMS, successfully got the University of Maine System to fully divest from fossil fuels by 2030.

For more on Divestment, check out our calls to action.