Who was Involved?
Ojas is 20 years old and has been with the CCL for about two years. He started as a volunteer and is also the Co-Lead of the Tucson chapter of the Arizona Youth Climate Coalition (AZYCC), which collaborates closely with the Tucson CCL Chapter.
AZYCC led an effort spanning over sixteen months of public outreach, community work, policy work, and expert input to create a resolution that commits the Tucson Unified School District (the third largest in the state) to reach net zero by 2040, cut emissions in half by 2030, and achieve 100% renewable energy by 2035. This resolution also includes heat adaptation, electrification of school buses for equity, and a comprehensive climate curriculum.
How?
The idea came about through extensive city community outreach. Ojas was inspired to realize this initiative after attending the CCL Summer Conference in 2023, where he was motivated by other volunteers. By bringing his inspiration and ideas to other students, they organized a legitimate effort. Ojas says, “One of the core, distinguishing elements of this resolution is that it was entirely researched (and lobbied for) by youth.”
Students worked to get legislators to collaborate and integrate ideas that were primarily student-driven. They conducted thorough research and built the resolution from scratch, reviewing hundreds of documents to create a comprehensive plan.
Through collaborating with AZYCC and CCL, Ojas helped Tucson enact its climate plan to adjust to climate change. Ojas says, “The biggest challenge is doing the research.” Getting a team of 5 to 10 students to research this fully comprehensive plan, while balancing school and other extracurriculars, was a spiritually daunting challenge. Keeping motivation, finding energy, and working through this process was unprecedented.
Another challenge was working with the district while balancing school obligations. Students faced numerous bureaucratic obstacles, re-edited and simplified the document, and worked to maintain comprehensive climate action and justice throughout the process. Constant debates, revisions, and edits were the norm.
The Aftermath and Conclusion
Even though this resolution passed, it will still be an ongoing process spanning over 20 years. Continued collaboration with the district will present opportunities for students and district members to work creatively on addressing the climate crisis.
Ojas is an outstanding example of grassroots advocacy bringing climate justice and environmental consideration to the forefront of local government. Arizona, being a purple state, passing this document is a testament to the power of youth advocacy and bipartisan resolution.
Through his work and dedication, Ojas has inspired other volunteers. He says, “I’ll use this experience to inspire people. I’ll continue my work here in Tucson, and I hope to inspire others to follow suit.”