The Environmental Advocacy Group focuses on educating the public and advocating for protection of our environment, fighting climate change, and alleviating environmental injustice. 

Upcoming Events

Event: The Huron River Watershed: Why we Need it and How to Protect it.

Event Date: 04/15/2025 - 11:00 AM ET

Event location: On Zoom - Please Register to receive your link to join the meeting

In southeastern Michigan, the Huron River watershed spans a land area of more than 900 square miles, draining water to the Huron River through hundreds of tributary creeks and streams. It spans Oakland, Livingston, Ingham, Jackson, Washtenaw, Wayne, and Monroe Counties, including 6 local Leagues. 

Rebecca Esselman, Executive Director of the Huron River Watershed Council will help us understand the importance of our watershed and how we can protect it.

Register for this Event

On May 29 at 7pm we will host Julia Fields, the Deputy Climate Energy Advisor for the EGLE Office of Climate and Energy which leads implementation of the MI Healthy Climate Plan. The MI Healthy Climate Plan lays out a pathway for Michigan to reach 100% carbon neutrality by 2050 to avert the worst impacts of the climate crisis, create good-paying jobs, and build a healthier and more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable Michigan for all Michiganders. Look for Zoom link and flyer in April.

YouTube Videos of Past Environmental Events

• BUILDING BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR CLIMATE ACTION.  Jan. 30, 2025. Speaker: Linda Racine, Michigan Co-Coordinator of Citizens’ Climate Lobby presents a program on practical ways to build bipartisanship in partisan times.  Click here to view.  Additional resources can be found here.

• CLIMATE CHANGE:  THIS IS HUMANITY’S MOMENT  - June 20, 2024.  Speakers: Robin Gleason, a geologist, educator, polar expert and League member, and Jackie Goodman, an anthropologist, retired professor at Eastern Michigan University, and experienced presenter on climate change. Both are long time members of the non-profit, non-partisan 501c3 group The Climate Reality Project.  Click here to view. 

• USING NATIVE PLANTS TO BENEFIT OUR ENVIRONMENT, WILDLIFE AND OUR CLIMATE – April 18, 2024.  Speaker:  Carol Gagliardi from Ann Arbor Wild Ones. Click here to view.  Two handouts featured in the video: Garden Talk and Native Plant Resources.

• CLEAN UP OF THE FOX RIVER AND GREEN BAY: LESSONS FOR MICHIGAN – September 21, 2023. Speaker: David Allen II, Author of “Paper Valley,” about how the EPA Superfund law forced paper companies to spend billions to clean up toxic sediment in the Fox River and Green Bay.  Click HERE TO VIEW 

• MICROPLASTICS IN THE GREAT LAKES: THE PROBLEM AND SOLUTIONS. Speaker Art Hirsch demonstrates how our Great Lakes and Michigan’s groundwater, inland lakes and streams are affected by microplastics, what microplastics are doing to the health of humans and animals, and what we can do about it.  Click HERE TO VIEW.

• MICHIGAN’S FAILING SEPTIC SYSTEMS – THE PROBLEM AND SOLUTIONS. On April 26, 2023 Jennifer McKay of Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council gave an informative presentation on the problem and solutions to Michigan’s failing septic systems. A link to the recording of the presentation is here. State House Bills 4479 and State Senate Bills 299-300 providing for regular inspections of septic systems are supported by LWVMI.

• CLIMATE CHANGE 2023: CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS - January 19, 2023 Speaker Peter Sinclair. View video  here. Peter Sinclair, who is based in Midland, Michigan has been involved with the Yale Climate Project for many years. Peter is a renowned videographer and speaker specializing in environmental and energy issues. He is recognized by the National Center for Science Education as a “Friend of the Planet”.

Advocacy

To beat climate change, we need engagement at all levels:

• Local leagues
• Local governments
• All of us!
• We work with Washtenaw County Governments – townships and cities - to adopt and implement Climate Action Plans.  

• Click here to view   10 Actions and 10 Processes for local governments