ITHACA, N.Y.(WENY)-- A rally was held today in downtown Ithaca with the hope of raising awareness and support for the Climate and Community Investment Act. 

The CCIA is currently working its way through the Senate and Assembly and if passed, the CCIA would raise $15 billion a year and invest the money into environmental justice communities. It would also work alongside New York's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act to build a renewable economy for New York state. 

Around forty community members showed up to the rally to show support for the CCIA and asked that community members reach out to their local government officials and ask them to support this bill. 

Eden Lewis, an event organizer, said this rally was organized to bring awareness to a bill that is currently in the process of being voted on and she wanted to encourage as much support as possible. 

“We know how urgent the bill is, the CCIA is a super urgent bill and like, it's necessary that we pass it now,” said Lewis. 

One-third of the funds that would come from the CCIA would go to low-income qualifying people in the state that have been directly affected by climate change. Climate change disproportionately affects those who suffer from socioeconomic inequalities which include people of color, this is known as Environmental Racism (the unequal access to a clean environment and basic environmental resources based on race).  For these reasons, Lewis organized the rally today. 

“I am an African American woman and a young woman too and it's really important for young people to be involved in this and it will affect a lot of people from my community,” said Lewis. 

In the past, fossil fuel companies have dumped toxic waste in Black and Brown neighborhoods and the CCIA would institute a fee on greenhouse gases and co-pollutants, holding fossil fuel companies accountable. 

The CLCPA outlines a very ambitious set of climate goals for New York State, calling for an 85% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, 100% zero-emissions electricity by 2040, and 70% renewable energy by 2030. 

Dr.Anna Kelles, Assemblywoman of District 125, said the CLCPA has given New York a strong outline but the CCIA is needed because it focuses on the financial aspect. 

“This establishes the mechanism to encourage that transition to renewable on one side,” said Kelles. “ It also addresses that part of the CLCPA that said any of the benefits, 35% of it, needs to go to [environmental justice] communities,” said Kelles. 

The CCIA is also projected to create around 150,000 jobs in the green energy sector, this will come at a cost as there will be a loss in jobs in the fossil fuel industry, supporters claim that this bill will support those who lose their jobs. 

Kelles said the bill is currently in committee and it still has many hurdles to jump through leading up to the last day of session on June 11th and she is asking for the community's support. 

“We need every voice, we need everybody pushing, we need all of the activists out in the street, we need rallying happening if we are going to get that pressure, that tight pressure cooker to push this,” said Kelles.