By: Josh Wolf

Forty-three volunteers with Organizing for Action and 350 Silicon Valley gathered in Lytton Plaza Wednesday, May 29 to encourage Rep. Anna Eshoo to continue promoting the national conversation about climate change.

Among them were Vanessa Warheit from the Climate Reality Corps and climate scientist Richard Nevle who shared their insights about the realities of climate change, including the recent recording of 400ppm carbon dioxide in the atmosphere for the first time in millions of years. They also spoke about increasing environmental damages from extreme weather.

The speakers called on those present to take action to mitigate damages brought about by climate change.

Many people at the rally carried colorful signs demanding “Climate Action Now” and “Stop Subsidizing Fossil Fuel Companies” over to the nearby office of Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Calif.) to deliver more than 200 signatures supporting her continued efforts around climate change.

Although the congresswoman could not attend the event, she sent a letter of support thanking the volunteers for “standing up for future generations by making your voices heard today.”

The activists delivered the petition to staff members in Rep. Eshoo’s office and posed for pictures with her staff to demonstrate strong support to the Congresswoman.

As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change, Rep. Eshoo has been active in promoting policies to address climate change. But Eshoo noted in her letter that the “majority party in the House of Representatives refuses to even allow a hearing on climate change with testimony from scientific experts.”