About Us

"We are a coalition of youth from across the city of Omaha fighting for our planet."

Cate Kelly, Students for Sustainability Founder

Climate Justice

Climate Justice means ensuring that the planet and all its inhabitants are treated with respect and care, and that anyone who does intentional damage to the earth is held accountable for their actions. Climate justice has a foundation of Indigenous rights and legacies as well as racial justice and the acknowledgement of intersectional environmentalism. We work to meld these values into our organization and promote the rights and equalities of all people.

Equity

Climate change will surely impact the most marginalized and impoverished among us. We fight to ensure that these communities are heard, seen, and included in the fight for the planet. We also want to make a just transition to sustainable practices one of our utmost priorities.

Holding Leaders Accountable

Truthfully, our elected officials have been aware of the impending climate crisis for decades now, and have done little to nothing to prevent it, nor have they prepared in any way for the ecological disaster that their constituents will soon be subject to. We believe in holding politicians accountable, talking and acting with them to put planet over profit.

Local Sustainable Change and Improvement.

Real change begins at the grassroots level, and that is exactly what we are doing in Omaha! Our mission is to interact, advocate, and encourage our community to be more sustainable in every way. Our local actions are contributing to a larger global crisis that we all must fight to stop.

Advocating for Environmental Policy & Legislation

We know that using reusable straws and biking everywhere isn’t enough- we need systematic change, change that doesn’t allow for fossil fuel industries and corporations to continue to destroy our planet for their own greed. We support policy and legislation that will allow our city to be not only sustainable, but a happier and healthier place to live for everyone.

Pass a State Climate Action Plan

Building Sustainable Policy

Students for Sustainability have been fighting since their founding to pass a state climate action plan in the state of Nebraska. A state climate action plan is a plan that oriented towards addressing climate change and its effect, especially that ways in which the Nebraska contribute to climate change and focusing on issues which will directly effect Nebraska. Nebraska is one of 14 states without a state climate action plan.

Transition to Regenerative Agriculture

Protecting the Environment and our Food Supply

Nebraska is one of the leading producers of agricultural products in the United States. In order to address this industry and the environmental footprint of agricultural production, Students for Sustainability are fighting to transition to regenerative agriculture. Regenerative agriculture is an approach to farming and other food systems that incorporates environmental conservation and preservation in order to safeguard the future of the industry and the people it serves.

Harness Our Renewable Energy Potential

Playing to Our Strengths

According to a report posted by WINDExchange, in 2020 Nebraska is has the 7th highest wind energy potential capacity and the 5th highest wind energy potential generation, but had only about 2100 installed wind power capacity--or about one fifth of Iowa's installed wind power capacity. On the potential side however, Nebraska actually has almost double the wind energy capacity and generation potential of Iowa. This disparity, along with the environmental benefits of wind energy, illustrates why Students for Sustainability are committed to fighting for furthering usage of renewable energy in Nebraska with a focus on what wind energy can do for the state.

Say No to the Keystone XL Pipeline

Protecting the Environment and America's First Peoples.

The Keystone XL Pipeline is an oil pipeline that passes through Canada and the United States. There have been plans proposed to expand the pipeline through northern Nebraska near Neligh and through land owned by the Ponca Native American Tribe, which has already had so much land stolen by the United States Government and its people. Students for Sustainability is committed to opposing this pipeline not only because of its potential environmental drawbacks, but also to protect the land of the Ponca Tribe.

Camille Beaulieu

President

Camille Beaulieu is the President of Students for Sustainability. She is a member of the class of 2021 at Omaha Westside High School where she is the president of Warrior Planet. Camille is also involved in Show Choir and Students Council. She hopes to study Environmental Studies after her graduation from Omaha Westside.

Aidan Chapman

Vice President

Aidan Chapman is a part of the Creighton Prep class of 2021 where he leads the school sustainability club. He played an integral part in the introduction of composting to the school in 2019. Some of his other involvements include running with the school Cross Country and Track teams and as participating in the school literary Journal, Ink Inc.

Kate McGill

Head of Social Media Committee

Kate McGill is a member of the class of 2021 at Marian High School. Along with her role as the head of the social media committee at Students for Sustainability, she has helps lead the Marian sustainability club. She is also involved in the Forensics club at Marian as well as helping in the production of the plays and musicals.

Emily Salzman

Head of Public Outreach Committee

Emily Salzman is a member of the Marian High School Class of 2021. Along with heading the public outreach committee for Students for Sustainability, she also plays an important role with the Marian High School sustainability club where she managed to implement composting as part of the Marian lunch program. She also runs with the Marian Track and Field and Cross Country teams, as well as participating in the student journalism club.

Chlöe Johnson

Head of Recruitment Committee

Chlöe Johnson is the Head of the recruitment committee at Students for Sustainability. Her main goal is to increase the representation of the Omaha Public Schools within Students for Sustainability. Chlöe is a member of the Omaha Central High School class of 2023 where she also participates in the art program and swims with the swim team, along with being a very active member of the school's environmental club.

Noemi Gilbert

Writer

Noemi Gilbert is in the class of 2023 at Omaha Central High School. She is active in the drama department, performing and working backstage for shows. She is on the improv team as well as the the drama leadership board. Noemi also writes for the school newspaper, The Register. Noemi participates in both local and regional Jewish youth groups and hopes to become an English teacher. At Students for Sustainability, she writes for the blog and is particularly interested in addressing the intersection between environmentalism and other social justice issues.

Bridget Neville

Writer

Bridget Neville is part of the Millard North High School class of 2021. Bridget participates in competitive speech along with her role as the front page editor for the school newspaper. She plans on becoming a doctor without borders so that she can teach people around the globe about health issues they face, as well as administering life saving medicine. She also plans on incorporating sustainability into her work in some way. At Students for Sustainability, she is excited to represent Generation Z and the future of the human race in an effort to save the planet from those we have inherited it from.