act and advocate
We mobilize Jews to participate in public actions to demand the change needed. We advocate with elected officials to achieve the passage of laws for a just transition to a sustainable future. We promote sustainable practices that protect the Earth and its inhabitants.
Since 2017, we have been active partners in the following coalitions; in 2019 we helped to propel groundbreaking new laws at the state and city level and mass public actions for change. At the national level, we work with our Jewish partners to mobilize the Jewish community. Contact us to get involved!
NY Renews
JCAN worked to educate state senators and Assemblypeople in NY in a bipartisan effort to bring the Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act to fruition.
NY Renews is a coalition of more than 200 grassroots state and national organizations, including JCAN-NYC, aiming to make New York State the nation’s leader in tackling the climate crisis, while protecting workers and lifting up communities. After years of advocacy by NY Renews, with JCAN-NYC’s enthusiastic participation, the NY legislature passed the Climate Leadership & Community protection Act in June 2019. The Act, arguably the most ambitious climate law in the country, requires New York to hit net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, while directing millions of dollars to communities most vulnerable to climate change.
Climate Works for All
The Climate Works for All coalition, of which JCAN-NYC is a member, demands mandatory energy efficiency improvements in the city’s largest buildings to reduce our emissions, create good, local jobs to address inequality, and protect affordable housing to prevent displacement. In April 2019, the NY City Council passed an unprecedented “Green New Deal,” which includes massive reductions of the city’s building emissions. Roughly 50,000 of the city’s largest buildings must cut their emissions 40 percent by 2030 and a whopping 80 percent by 2050.
People’s Climate Movement NY
The People's Climate Movement (PCM) is a coalition that advocates for political and social change to reverse or mitigate the effects of climate change. PCM-NY focuses on efforts to encourage NYC to be in the forefront of policies designed to move off of fossil fuels while building a new and sustainable energy economy.
Jewish Earth Alliance Letter Writing
Jewish Earth Alliance is a grassroots network of partner organizations working together to enable Jews to engage in the policy process as citizens. They’re mobilizing Jews to stand up and raise a loud voice for action that reflects Jewish values. Each month, you can write a letter to your representatives urging them to take action on climate. All letters will be hand-delivered by coalition members!
JTree
JTree is calling on Jewish communities worldwide to plant large numbers of trees. According to Gina McCarthy of NRDC, healthy forests are one of our most effective resources in the fight for survival. Forests cleanse a quarter of all carbon pollution from the air.
In the US, the goal is to plant one million trees, along with other Jewish tree planting groups. Thanks to JTree's partnership of the National Forest Foundation, we're able to plant 1 tree for every $1 donated. Help JCAN plant 1,000 trees by donating now with JTree.
“As my forebears planted for me, so do I plant for my children.” (Ta‘anit 23a).
Living in Balance as Individuals
Advocacy alone is not enough. Living the Change is a global movement of religious communities inspiring individuals to live more sustainably. By making behavior changes in three areas—transportation, energy use, and diet—we can help ensure a 1.5°C future.
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS WHERE WE’RE ACTIVE
NYS SENATE
Senator Brian Benjamin, NYS Senate District #30
Senator Alessandra Biaggi, NYS Senate District #34
Senator Robert Jackson, NYS Senate District #31
Senator José M. Serrano, NYS Senate District #29
NYS ASSEMBLY
Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, NYS Assembly District #81
Assemblymember Daniel J. O’Donnell, NYS Assembly District #69
Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal, NYS Assembly District #67
NYC COUNCIL
Council Member Andrew Cohen, NYC Council District #11
Council Member Mark Levine, NYC Council District #7
Council Member Helen Rosenthal, NYC Council District #6
Want to add your elected official? Email us at info@jcan-nyc.org