We are at a historic moment for Minnesota with an approximately $17 billion state budget surplus and a climate-led House, Senate, and Governor's office.
We have an amazing opportunity this legislative year to effect meaningful change with a bold climate and equity platform.
As people of faith and Indigenous leaders, we're taking the “green road” to build a local renewable economy that supports vibrant Native and non-Native communities living in right relationship with the land.
Our platform is based on years spent building an authentic coalition between people of faith and Native and Indigenous people. It represents a fundamentally long-haul plan for true healing, respect, and sustainability. Regardless of what happens in the 2023 legislative session, we will never cease striving for the realization of this vision.
Join us in ushering in a new world!
ADVOCACY ALERTS
Contact your Senator or Representative to urge their support on key bills going through the Minnesota Legislature.
Platform
Our platform includes five categories of work in which we see real opportunities for progress and funding in this 2023 legislative session. Questions? Contact Juventino Meza, MNIPL's legislative affairs coordinator, at [email protected].
1
Reparations
Engages in the work of truth telling, relationship building, and spiritual grounding; moves individuals and communities to political solidarity and wealth return.
2
Climate Goals & Truth Telling
Creates a 100% carbon-free electric energy supply and restricts approval of C02 pipelines if they deliver carbon for Enhanced Oil Recovery.
3
Economic Development & Just Transition
Increases funding for renewable energy workforce training, solar on schools, and locally feasible, climate-helpful crops.
4
Regulatory Protection of People, Land, Air, & Water
Advances tribal authority and tribal sovereignty. Prioritizes consumer demand, not energy industry demand.
5
Environmental Justice
Centers the needs of BIPOC and Indigenous communities and builds a sustainable future in which all people in Minnesota can thrive.
Get Involved
Sign up to be more involved! You could join a rapid response team, help engage your faith/spirituality or other community, organize a forum with local legislators, write a letter to the editor, or join a study group,
Sign a letter of support for this platform. These will be personalized and sent to targeted legislators over the course of the 2023 session as specific opportunities arise to advance elements of our legislative agenda.
Make a financial gift to MNIPL to help us continue our leadership and engagement in this critical moment in history. You can become a sustaining donor with a monthly contribution or make a one-time donation.
Learn More
MN Climate Innovation Finance Authority (MNCIFA) Bill
- Overview document created by MNIPL and provided to the Senate
- Blog posts:
- Study circle recording
- Fill out this form to tell us about your community and what project ideas this financing can make a reality. We will use these ideas in our outreach to legislators as to why this bill is important across Minnesota.
Solar on Schools Bill
Bonding for Resilience
- Every bonding project can be designed to help meet our climate goals. Fact sheet
Read MNIPL's Legislative Blog Posts
Watch a recording of our 2023 Platform Launch held on January 11. Speakers included Winona LaDuke, Patricia Torres Ray, Robert Blake, Jim Bear Jacobs, and MNIPL staff.
Video Testimonies Before House & Senate
Julia Nerbonne: HF7, a bill to establish the MN Climate Innovation Finance Authority (3/7/23)
Makayla Freeman, a youth leader: SF4, a bill requiring 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040 (1/23/23); also this blog post
Julia Nerbonne: HF7, a bill requiring 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040 (1/18/23); also this blog post
Coalition Partners:
This platform is provided by a coalition of the following organizations: Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light, Honor the Earth, Jewish Community Action, Minnesota Council of Churches, Minnesota Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Alliance (MUUSJA), EcoFaith Network of the Minneapolis Area Synod of the ELCA, Episcopal Church in Minnesota, and Native Sun Community Power Development.
