Get Schooled by 12 year old environmental activist, Charlie Johnson!
Above, Charlie speaks at Lobby Day in Springfield on April 8th, visits with his Rep, Margaret DeLaRosa, and poses with his mentor, Go Green GE President Jac Casazza at the Capitol.
——————————————————-
At this year’s Environmental Lobby Day, hundreds of environmental advocates gathered in Springfield to push for three major pieces of environmental legislation in Illinois. Charlie Johnson, a Glen Ellyn student and Go Green volunteer, was one of them—and even spoke at the rally:
"It's not fair for kids like me, kids all around Illinois, to inherit foam we had no hand in creating," he said.
The three bills at the center of the day reflect some of the biggest environmental challenges facing Illinois:
Polystyrene Foam Foodware Ban This bill would phase out single-use foam containers (like takeout boxes and cups), which are used briefly but persist in the environment for hundreds of years.
Wetlands Protection Act Following a rollback of federal protections, this bill would create state-level safeguards for wetlands—protecting over 500,000 acres that help filter water, prevent flooding, and support wildlife.
POWER Act (Protect Our Water, Energy, and Resources) As large data centers expand in Illinois, this bill would regulate their massive energy and water use, helping reduce pollution and protect nearby communities.
Together, these bills show how environmental action spans everything from plastics to natural habitats to emerging technologies.
For Charlie, the experience was eye-opening: “There were a lot of people there… not just for our bills, but for lots of other issues too. It shows that I'm not the only one who cares about these issues and realizes it's a problem."
For more on how you can act on these issues, scroll down.
DO: Take the first step—your voice has impact
Charlie’s advice for anyone new to advocacy is simple: don’t let fear stop you. “They [the legislators] are really nice… they want you to succeed. They want to hear your point—they’re supposed to represent you.”
And the impact is real. During the trip, Charlie met directly with his state representative. "I got to meet with Margaret De La Rosa, my state rep, and she agreed [with] all the bills and she was really nice. And I got to meet with a lot of environmental activists, which is cool." Moments like that show how accessible government can be—and how much individual voices matter.
Charlie’s journey into environmental advocacy started with concern: "I think once I heard about how much our world is heating up and all the effects of climate change, I just started getting nervous. And then I knew there was a way to make change, so I decided, if I'm nervous about this, the best thing I can do is turn fear into action."
The work to pass these bills are still ongoing! Please see the box below and be sure to call your reps to tell them to support the three bills below.
-Margaret DeLarosa (217) 782-8037 D42 IL House
-Amy Grant (217) 558-1037 D47 IL House
-Laura Ellman (217) 782-8192 D21 IL Senate
Or click HERE to locate your representative.
Participate—Find your issue—and get involved
Charlie’s message to other young people—and adults—is simple: Start where you care most. “It’s whatever appeals to you most… what makes you think, ‘we need to change this.’”
From microplastics to climate change to protecting trees, there are many ways to engage—and all of them matter. “If we all spread out, we can fix a lot of issues.” notes Charlie.
Charlie’s advice for anyone considering a future lobby day: “You should definitely go. It’s really fun—and you can make some real change.”
And advocacy doesn’t have to start in Springfield. Go Green Glen Ellyn volunteers regularly meet with legislators locally—in district offices, at community events, and even over Zoom. In fact, Charlie honed his Springfield skills in these local meetings. Reach out to us at info@gogreenglenellyn.org if you want to join us.
Charlie also shared his favorite tips for reducing environmental impact:
Choose reusables over single-use plastics
Try silicone snack bags and reusable utensils
Carry a stainless steel water bottle
“Recycling plastic isn’t the full solution… using reusables is a win-win,”
Thank you, Charlie for inspiring us!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
YOU can take action from home that will make a HUGE difference. We want to speak loud and clear to legislators that the people of Illinois support policies that protect people and the environment. Join us by contacting your state senator and representative on three key pieces of environmental legislation TODAY:
The POWER Act: Protect Our Water, Energy, and Ratepayers from Data Center Harms. Advocate for commonsense guardrails on data centers. TAKE ACTION
Polystyrene Foam Foodware Ban (Farewell to Foam): Phases out polystyrene foam foodware, the worst of the worst single-use plastic in our state. For this one, you have to call! But this is all you have to say: Hi, I’m calling to urge Rep. [NAME] to support SB1531, farewell to foam, to reduce unnecessary single-use plastic and protect our Illinois communities from dangerous pollution. Plastic is a problem for public health and environmental health. Will Rep. [NAME] support SB1531 to say farewell to foam across Illinois?
Wetlands Protection Act: Safeguard precious wetland ecosystems. Enacts state-level wetland protections. TAKE ACTION
Look up your rep here: https://www.ilga.gov/members/FindMyLegislator
