Third Act Maine, Maine Youth For Climate Justice and other groups rallied outside of the MainePERS building in Augusta on Thursday, arguing that that the system has been too cautious in implementing a three-year-old law calling for MainePERS to divest from fossil fuels by 2026.

Climate activists gathered outside of the Maine Public Employee Retirement System building to demand the divestment of fossil fuel investments from the board.

Bowdoin Sunrise invites climate activist Georgi Fischer and Lucy Hochschartner of Our Power to speak about the impact that youth can have on local climate issues, including the current Pine Tree Power debate.

Climate advocates are still struggling to get the legislation implemented, as they say the state pension system is refusing to take the steps to divest fully from fossil fuels because leaders argue it would violate their fiduciary duty.

Youth climate activists in Maine are working to enshrine "the right to a clean and healthy environment" into their state's constitution.

Activists want Maine to become the next state to pass a green amendment, with a coalition of youth groups and grassroots organizers working over the past several years to advance what they call the Pine Tree Amendment, which would add the right to a healthy environment, clean air and clean water to the constitution. 

Efforts to add the Pine Tree Amendment to the Maine Constitution are now being led by youth groups.

Youth climate activists in Maine are working to enshrine "the right to a clean and healthy environment" into their state's constitution.

This legislative session saw the passage of a landmark bill to jumpstart the buildout of offshore wind in the Gulf of Maine, which advocates hope will provide a critical source of clean energy while also creating myriad high-quality jobs. Along with that, some other important bills to protect Maine’s environment were approved by lawmakers this year.

The activists on Saturday, April 22 accused Maine’s government of putting the interests of corporations over the interests of the people for too long.

On Earth Day, young environmental activists gathered in Portland to call on leaders to end the fossil fuel era and recognize the injustices that climate change is inflicting on marginalized communities.

Students gathered outside the State House in Augusta Thursday to convince lawmakers to pass bills to help the climate and the environment.

The city and its residents tout the strides toward sustainability, with a rally and march from Monument Square to Portland City Hall, and an event at Payson Park.

Abortion protections. LGBTQ rights. Equity and inclusion. Affordable housing and childcare. Climate change. Those were among the issues highlighted by youth leaders and activists during a forum Tuesday at which young Mainers asked questions of elected leaders and those seeking state office.

The Inflation Reduction Act is the biggest environmental investment in U.S. history. And while celebrating that step forward, some advocates in Maine say the bill falls short of what is ultimately needed to avert the worst impacts of climate change.

Color of Climate (COC) is a Maine-based group working to spread awareness of climate issues while centering young Black and Indigenous voices that have historically been marginalized from the conversation. 

The halls of the Maine State House on Wednesday were filled with a different set of lobbyists – high school kids — there to press for greater action in response to climate change.

Around 100 allies and advocates filled the halls of the State House on Wednesday, joining Wabanaki leaders to urge the legislature to pass a slate of bills that would reinforce tribal sovereignty and treat Indigenous nations in Maine like other tribes around the country.

Dozens of Mainers testified Tuesday against a bill put forward by Gov. Janet Mills that the administration says would hold the state’s investor-owned utilities accountable for poor service but that many advocates argue is not a plausible solution to the systemic issues that have plagued Central Maine Power and Versant.  

Maine environmental groups and young climate change activists are backing a bill that would give teachers a chance to beef up on climate science instruction.