Grassroots activism drives climate policy shift in US
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In 2017, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez witnessed the devastation of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and visited protests against an oil pipeline in North Dakota, experiences that motivated her to run for Congress.
Moved by the activism she saw at Standing Rock, she accepted a request to campaign for a seat in the House of Representatives, where she advocated for a “Green New Deal.” In 2018, she won the primary election, helping to put climate change back on the political agenda.
That same year, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report stating global emissions needed to fall by almost half by 2030 to limit warming to 1.5°C. This news spread quickly, prompting activists to demand action from political leaders. Following the 2018 midterm elections, members of the Sunrise Movement staged a sit-in at Nancy Pelosi’s office, calling for a Green New Deal and urging the Speaker of the House to address the climate crisis.
Ocasio-Cortez joined the activists and encouraged them to clearly define their goals. This led to a meeting in March 2019, bringing together activists, organizers, and academics to further develop the Green New Deal framework. Varshini Prakash, executive director of the Sunrise Movement, played a central role in these efforts, inspiring others with her dedication and vulnerability.
Leah Stokes, a political science professor, observed that these collective actions, though seemingly small, created momentum for change and offered a hopeful vision for the future.
