Watch CBS News

Nationwide Rallies Call For Climate Justice & Clean Energy Economy

Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter

MIAMI (CBSMiami) — Rallies across the country are demanding a clean energy economy and seeking to draw attention to the perceived environmental and economic problems stemming from climate change.

Events in several major cities in the U.S. were organized to coincide with a national climate march in Washington, D.C. on President Trump's 100th day in office, protesting an administration that has seemingly attacked and ignored apparent evidence that says melting ice, rising seas, longer droughts, stronger storms, and threatened habitats are increasing.

About 20 cities in Florida have joined the march, including Miami, Orlando and at Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in West Palm Beach.

"This date marks the end of the first 100 days of the Trump Administration, during which time Donald Trump has dismantled hard-won climate protections, issued assaults on our air, water, and land," said a Miami-based organizer.

Others have demanded stability for workers in affected industries like fishing, farming and forestry.

"The climate crisis is a symptom of a deeper problem: an economy based on extraction and exploitation of resources and people," said the Orlando People's Climate March. "This economy benefits a few at the expense of communities and the planet."

In March, Scott Pruitt, Trump's pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, rejected the mainstream thinking on carbon dioxide and climate change, including contradicting the EPA's own website on the matter.

Pruitt's predecessor, Gina McCarthy, the EPA's 13th administrator, spoke Saturday at Jose Martí Park in Miami about the types of issues South Floridians are experiencing first-hand.

"We have challenges here with these parks flooding, just in the king tide, never mind the storm surges that we are seeing," she said. "We have salt water mixing in with our drinking water. This is not about polar bears. This is about people acknowledging that public health is impacted and we have a real threat. And it's about both Democrats and Republicans beginning to embrace that and taking the actions we need to correct it."

More importantly, McCarthy said solutions are out there.

"Solar energy, wind energy, energy efficiency," McCarthy added. "These are things that're gonna save people money and grow jobs in the future."

A week earlier, similar protests were held in a global day of action defending science.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.