Fifty-two years since the first Earth Day, advocates made their way to Albany on their bikes Friday to push the Empire State to adopt more aggressive policies to address climate change.

Veekas Ashoka, a leader with New York’s Sunrise Movement, told Capital Tonight that it is time for New York to follow up on the promises in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and take action to reduce emission and achieve a just transition.

The Sunrise Movement was one of the members of a Climate Can’t Wait coalition that converged on Albany to demand action on 12 bills in the legislature. The package of bills includes a Green New Deal, the Climate and Community Investment Act and the Build Public Renewables Act. Ashoka argues that the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act “was always supposed to be only half of the equation” and that more regulation and funding is needed.

The call for action comes after Gov. Kathy Hochul and lawmakers came to an agreement on a multi-billion dollar environmental bond proposal which is aimed at strengthening New York’s climate infrastructure. Ashoka said the bond act is a “good start” but there is more that needs to be addressed.

The legislative session is scheduled to run until June 2 before resting until the new year.