Today, the Green Umbrella: New York Youth for a Just and Sustainable Future and Power Shift New York delivered this letter to Governor Cuomo with the support of dozens of youth vote and environmental organizations to demonstrate that the youth vote in New York and across the country demand Governor Cuomo ban fracking now, and ambitiously lead towards a clean energy economy. Sign on in support here.

Governor Cuomo,

New York is at a turning point. Do we continue to allow Big Oil and Big Gas to threaten our water, the climate and our economy? Or do we break ties with the dirty polluters and lead the nation towards a clean energy economy? 

For young people across New York the choice is clear, and we are rising to the occasion to ensure that we ban fracking, and move to a green economy. With the support of thousands of young leaders across the country we’re calling on you to use your political leadership and join us.

We are organized, committed, and leading efforts that will end dangerous hydrofracking along with other fossil fuels that disrupt our backyards and the climate. And we’re working to bring forth a 100% clean, green economy that will open up opportunity and prosperity for all. We’re working with our middle schools, high schools and college campuses to lead the way. And we’re standing shoulder to shoulder with communities on the frontlines of this fracking fight to ensure justice. We will demonstrate now, through the spring, summer, fall, winter, and beyond until we have moved beyond fossil fuels in New York. And we will use the power of our thriving grassroots communities to make it happen.

We will take to the streets, legislators’ offices, and come election day we will carry our message forward at the ballot box. In 2008, youth voters turned out in unprecedented numbers. But we didn’t just show up on election day, we organized in campaign offices, making phone calls, handing out yard signs, and signing up our friends to vote. In 2016, our generation, the Millennials, will the be largest voting bloc our country has ever seen, bigger than the baby boomers. We’re not waiting around for our future to be handed to us. We’re organized, we’re active and we’re voting. 

Governor Cuomo, young people across New York--with the support of thousands of young leaders across the country--are looking to you to make the right choice. It is time to take a stand for the future of New York State and our global climate by simply saying NO to fracking and YES to a green economy. It is time that we move forward into an economy that leaves space for every member of every community to prosper. It is time to get corporate money out of policy and decision making in our country. It is your time to make the right choice. The choice is clear. Join us. 

Signed,

The Green Umbrella: NY Youth for a Just and Sustainable Future 
Energy Action Coalition 
Ohio Student Environmental Coalition 
Missouri Student Environmental Coalition
Florida Youth Sustainability Coalition 
Virginia Alliance for a Cleaner Environment
New Hampshire Students for the Environment 
UNC Chapel Hill - Sierra Student Coalition 
Iowa Sierra Student Coalition
Maryland Student Climate Coalition
New Jersey Sustainable Collegiate Partners
Sierra Student Coalition
Greenpeace Student Network
Cascade Climate Network
Southern Energy Network
Earlham Environmental Action Coalition
Generation Waking Up 
Bus the Change
YouthNow
Colby Environmental Coalition
Better Future Project
Swarthmore Mountain Justice