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Our local political program focuses on electing environmental champions through nonpartisan, grassroots political action. The principal goals of the program are carried out by our all-volunteer  Political Committee, who work to:

• Hold elected officials accountable
• Raise the visibility of environmental issues in electoral campaigns
• Strengthen the Sierra Club’s capacity to elect pro-environment candidates at every level of government.

Sierra Club Florida PAC Fundraising

The Sierra Club does not engage in politics simply to win elections.  Our goal is to protect the environment, the wildlife and the people, and address issues of equity, inclusion and justice. Doing so through our political endorsement process requires financial support for political communications. Please consider supporting our efforts by contributing to the Sierra Club Florida PAC

Legislative Advocacy

The Suncoast Political Team regularly meets with elected officials at the City, County, and State levels to advocate for policies that support Sierra Club Florida’s environmental and equity priorities including Clean Energy, Land Conservation, Smart Growth, Water Quality and Quantity, Democracy, Home Rule, and responsible allocation and administration of Budgets. In doing so, we help to shape policy at the level which most directly affects our lives, the local level.

 Our efforts are currently focused on St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Dunedin, Largo, and Safety Harbor, but our goal is to engage in every municipality in the Suncoast region. To do this work we need teams of passionate supporter members to join us as we speak with political officials, attend meetings and workshops, and serve as changemakers. To learn more about how you can assist in these efforts, please reach out to Suncoast Political Team Chair Dan Huber (danh@suncoastsierra.org).

Our conservation team is actively engaged in protecting Pinellas green spaces, educating the public on conservation issues and solutions and participating in activities to improve our environment and community.  The committee meets as needed  in-between all our great activities. In May 2024 we built a rain garden in Gulfport and we are currently working on our annual participation in St Pete Pride in June and a Community Safe Raptor Community Bar Crawl in October.

See below list for upcoming events or email Kira for more info. barrerakira@gmail.com.

Click here to see  a  1.5 minute video on the Rain Garden Installation in Gulfport.  Video courtesy Damon Rothgeb.

Save the West Klosterman Preserve

Pinellas County Schools owns this property, and has agreed with West Klosterman Preserve Group and Pinellas County that the land should become a preserve.  But PCS also needs to raise money for their school facilities, and needs to receive at least $3MM in value for this property to spend on school facilities.  WKPG has agreed with PCS to raise the money required, and are cooperating with Pinellas County to raise money and obtain matching funds from the County. It is the plan that Pinellas County would own and operate the West Klosterman Preserve.  Pinellas County has appropriated $1.5 million for the project. WKPG has raised $630,000 and is campaigning to raise the remaining $870,000 to match with the County’s contribution to make the final goal and acquire the West Klosterman Preserve.    
Donations can be made through the Pinellas Community Foundation - it is time for the community to step up and #SaveWKP.  Read about fundraising effort to save this pristine area in the Tampa Bay Times.

It's official! We saved the Gladys Douglas Preserve!

Our Clean Energy Team is moving its focus to ensure Pinellas County along with St Petersburg, Dunedin, Largo and Safety Harbor implement their 100% clean energy commitments. Lend your talents to help make real & tangible environmental change in our community!   

Five cities representing half the incorporated population of Pinellas County have commitments to move to 100% renewable energy.  St Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo, Dunedin and Safety Harbor are already working on plans to transition our local economy and environment to clean energy.  Pinellas County in 2021 also committed to move the entire County to Clean Energy.

From Pinellas Website: 

In November 2021, the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners adopted a resolution setting clean energy targets as a part of Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 campaign. The resolution sets goals to transition to renewable, zero-emission, clean energy use as follows:

• 50% of electricity for County government operations by 2030
• 100% of electricity for County government operations by 2040 
• 100% countywide by 2050

The resolution directs all County departments to incorporate the clean energy targets into their policies and planning processes. The goals will also be incorporated into the County’s Sustainability and Resiliency Action Plan.

On March 2, 2021 the Suncoast Group ExCom voted unanimously to form an EIJ Taskforce, led by Vice Chair Erica Hall. Current Suncoast Chair is Melissa Fultz. This team’s purpose is to assess and provide recommendations that operationalize our EIJ values. This Taskforce proposes a collaboration with the Florida Chapter EIJ Committee aimed at setting, aligning and achieving the Suncoast Group and Florida Chapter’s common EIJ goals.  Using the Suncoast Group as a pilot, the Chapter can co-evolve while building a model that supports future Group-level EIJ work.   Want to be part of the movement?  Email volunteer@suncoastsierra.org!

Our group is run by volunteers. Monthly leadership meetings are at 6:30 PM on the second Thursdays of the month (except for January).  Currently being held online. If you are interested in attending, please email volunteer@suncoastsierra.org. Leadership meetings are open to all Sierra Club members.  In mid-January, we host our annual strategy session - to assign leadership roles and outline major events and goals for the year.  

UPCOMING EVENTS: