Environmental Summit Evokes Anger And Hope
January 22, 2026
HARTFORD, CT — With the upcoming legislative session around the corner, environmental advocates and lawmakers gathered Wednesday to preview legislative priorities. It began with a pep talk.
“With this current federal administration, like you, I am scared at times, but we have an obligation to stand up and stare him (President Trump) in the eye and say ‘we are not afraid of you,’” Attorney General William Tong told a crowd of more than 200 at the annual Environmental Summit held by the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters on Wednesday at CT State Community College’s Capital Campus. Tong, the keynote speaker who is currently suing the Trump administration for violating environmental law, urged the crowd to work for change.
Tong captured the general sentiment of the crowd, which was a blend of older and younger advocates, who gathered in Hartford to learn about the upcoming legislative session, which begins Feb. 4. His acknowledgement of a general feeling of anger mixed with determination was echoed by several of the summit’s speakers.
“It’s okay to feel angry and a little paralyzed, but shrug it off and find a way to make a difference,” state Rep. Jonathan Steinberg, co-chair of the General Assembly’s Energy and Technology Committee, told the crowd. Steinberg and Rep. John-Michael Parker, co-chair of the Environment Committee, laid out their agenda for the upcoming legislative session. Their priorities include an emphasis on affordability, offshore wind and solar energy, waste reduction, electric buses, enforcing the Bottle Bill, safeguarding the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), and making sure long-term energy policy doesn’t drive up electric costs in the short term.
Among the more ambitious – and controversial – agenda items espoused by advocates is the creation of a Climate Superfund, which would make fossil fuel-emitting companies pay for past carbon emissions. The fund would be designed to return billions of dollars back to Connecticut consumers and to support projects that mitigate climate change. Up to 40% of the funds would go toward Environmental Justice communities, its advocates say.
Julianna Larue, legislative liaison of the Connecticut chapter of the Sierra Club, explained the importance of the Climate Superfund. Larue noted that “choosing Big Oil over people is a choice, and ignoring science is a choice,” indicating that “we can instead choose a future that works for Connecticut families.”
Another speaker was state Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, D-West Hartford, who is running for Congress in the 1st District.
“I think holding fossil fuel companies accountable is incredibly important,” Gilchrest told a table of young environmentalists. “We can use this as an opportunity to deploy green jobs – which [are] vital to your economic futures.”
This summit, in its 26th year, “it brings people together from all over the state who are interested in different issues,” says Connor Yakaitis, deputy director of Connecticut League of Conservation Voters. “We create an intersection between all of the stakeholders, and it’s a chance for policymakers and advocates to roll up their sleeves together.”
Yakaitis acknowledged the incremental aspect of public policy, saying the environmental community works together to “move the football down the field.”
Breakout sessions were an opportunity for lawmakers and advocates to share ideas. For example, in a session on energy, participants dove into the nuances of solar energy permitting.
Alicea Charamut, of the Rivers Alliance of Connecticut, advocated for legislation to increase the use of riparian buffers, which are natural barriers that help protect waterways by slowing stormwater runoff, filtering pollution, and reducing flooding. She pointed out that Connecticut is the only state in New England that doesn’t have explicit protection for such essential vegetation along waterways. Riparian buffer legislation has been introduced in the past, and failed, but she insisted, “we can’t wait. The science is there.”
A commonly posed question in the environment advocacy community is why Connecticut enacts relatively few strong climate bills in comparison to other Democratically-led states. Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff acknowledged the two chambers of the Legislature “often have different priorities.” But, he said, “I am hopeful we will pass meaningful legislation this session.”
A common theme at the summit was environmental justice, a concept born of the belief that one’s zip code should not determine the quality of a person’s air or water. Jayson Velazquez, manager of community outreach for the Connecticut Green Bank, believes “kitchen table” issues such as paying rent, heating, and food are increasingly melded with environmental issues.
“We’re getting to the point where climate and energy are household conversations in environmental justice communities,” Velazquez said, adding that “it’s a hopeful sign.”
Taking a short break from packing up tables, and sorting compost from recyclable trash, CTLCV Executive Director Lori Brown said, “when lawmakers are active, dedicated, and determined to get stuff done, environmental groups will be there to rally support.”
Kellyn Kolber and Jenna Fowler are student interns with The Active Voice, a journalism project for young environmentalists. They attend Valley Regional High School.
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