Climate activists gather for Earth Advocacy Day at the Capitol

Students congregate at the Florida Capitol to advocate for environmental protections during session.

Downtown Tallahassee teems again for this year’s legislative session with groups in formal dress, coffee and clipboards in hand, shuffling between buildings on Monroe Street. Florida’s elected representatives, mostly Republican in both chambers, are back in town and they have a slew of decisions to make, including about the environment. 

Luna Plaza speaking to attendees and reporters from the Capitol steps in March 2025. Credit: Noah Bookstein

That’s why, for the third year in a row, 250 students from around Florida gathered for Earth Advocacy Day during the first week of committee meetings in early March. They urged lawmakers to vote for more protections for state parks and to ensure residents have water and electricity in extreme weather events. They also asked lawmakers to consider voting against a bill that would create new requirements for citizen-led petitions. 

On Thursday, March 6, students with The CLEO Institute, a Miami-based climate non-profit, chanted and held signs between the old and new capitol buildings, calling for stronger environmental action.

“We're trying to build up our future climate leaders who will be inheriting a future that is at risk,” said Samantha Kaddis, Advocacy and Campaigns Associate of The CLEO Institute. 

Kaddis said she hopes lawmakers will pass more protections for state parks and measures to safeguard residents during extreme weather events. Students also gathered to oppose changes to the citizen-led petitioning process, which they say is essential for democracy in Florida.

“Participating in Earth Advocacy Day with genCLEO was both a rewarding and eye-opening experience. I appreciated the opportunity to collaborate with students from across Florida, uniting in a shared commitment to climate advocacy. Witnessing so many young people actively engaging with legislators and voicing their concerns for their futures was truly inspiring,” said Mary Reed, a third year marine science undergraduate student at the University of Miami. 

Students expressed strong discontent over the state and federal government’s handling of environmental issues such as unchecked development and rising temperatures that are affecting the frequency and severity of hurricanes.

Signs read: “Denial won’t fix it,” and “There is no Planet B.”

Luna Plaza speaking to the the Government Operations Subcommittee in March 2025. Credit: Noah Bookstein

Students stressed that they will be saddled with the worst ramifications of today's environmental issues when they grow to be as old as some lawmakers. 

The coalition, which included several student environmental groups, addressed three specific sets of legislation with lawmakers:

• More protections for state parks (HB 209 / SB 80).

• Additional safeguards for residents during extreme weather events (HB 419 / SB 330).

• Oppose changes to the citizen-led petitioning process, which they say is essential for democracy in Florida  (HB 1205 / SB 1414).

After the demonstration, students rushed into the building to meet with lawmakers both privately and in public House hearings, including with the Government Operations Subcommittee.

“We're showing up here because we want our legislators to know that the youth cares about the decisions that are being made, that are impacting our lives and our communities and the future,” Luna Plaza, a University of Miami student and genCleo representative, told the News Watch in the halls of the Florida Capitol.

Max Chesnes served as a mentor on this story.