GenCLEO UCF gears up to advocate for climate action and reform at Florida’s Capitol

UCF students fueled by a passion to transform the state’s environmental policy, spent their Wednesday evening in downtown Orlando preparing for Earth Advocacy Day.

On Earth Advocacy Day, March 5 and 6, GenCLEO UCF members and hundreds of students from across the state will travel to the Florida Capitol, where they will advocate for climate change and environmental action by meeting with representatives and senators.

GenCLEO UCF is a student-run organization that promotes climate education, advocacy and engagement while working with community leaders to empower students to take climate action.

The training session for Earth Advocacy Day was hosted by GenCLEO UCF and the Youth Action Fund, a resource center for young people seeking progressive change in Florida. 

Dylan Lovings, senior political science major, is a member of GenCLEO UCF that attended the training session. Lovings said that Earth Advocacy Day takes place during the first two days of the legislative session when state politicians are guaranteed to be there.

“We want to encourage them to see our perspective,” Lovings said. “We’ll rally there and meet directly with elected officials to advocate for smart climate policy.”

Lovings said that he will personally be advocating against the Orlando Utilities Commission policy that threatens net metering, the process by which individuals with solar panels can sell their excess energy back to the grid and reduce their energy bills.

“Net metering is a huge economic incentive for people to adopt solar energy,” Lovings said. “Getting rid of that is a big deal because it increases our reliance on fossil fuels, and it weakens the market for solar power.”

Solar energy technologies and power plants do not produce air pollution or greenhouse gases when operating and can have a positive effect on the environment, according to the US Energy Information Administration.

According to The CLEO Institute, buses will be traveling from Miami, Gainesville, Orlando, and Tampa to provide transportation for student advocates wishing to participate in the event.

Sergio Cartagena, organizing director of YAF, delivered a presentation at the meeting to GenCLEO UCF members, covering everything from how to greet a state official and appropriate attire to key policies and legislation that should be highlighted during conversations.

Key talking points with elected officials on Earth Advocacy Day will be HB 209: State Land Management and HB 419: Storage of Firearms in Private Conveyances and Vessels.

Cartagena said that House Bill 209, State Land Management, sets stricter procedures to protect state parks from development.

“We want to make sure that we protect not only our parks but also just protecting the reservation of our greenspaces,” Cartagena said. “It’s important for the ecosystem and for the animals, and we want to make sure that we have all of our biodiversity protected.”

Cartagena said that House Bill 419, Storage of Firearms in Private Conveyances and Vessels, prevents utility companies from shutting off customers’ power in events of extreme weather.

“If utility companies decide that they don’t want to deal with this excess power, that’s going to be crazy because people can die from extreme weather,” Cartagena said. “It’s important because we want to make sure people have access to electricity and water in coming years due to the dangerous effects of climate change.”

Florida has seen a warming trend over the past decade and as the average temperature rises, the likelihood of experiencing more frequent and extreme heat will also increase, according to the Florida Climate Center.

Cameron Driggers, executive director of YAF, said that advocating for change in this way has a significant impact on the state’s environmental policy and reform.

“Over 300 young people from across the state have signed up to join the effort, making it one of the largest advocacy gatherings in the state Capitol this year,” Driggers said. “This is huge.”