2026 has brought so many campaign highlights – and we’re just getting started!
Our PIRG clubs across the country worked to clean up our waterways, reduce plastic pollution, advocate with elected officials, organize events to protect wildlife and wild places, and so much more. Here are just a few highlights from the first half of the year:
Protecting wildlife and wild places
Youth Oceans Summit – Florida
Florida PIRG Students organized the second annual Tampa Bay Youth Oceans Summit. The summit brought together students, community members, and ocean experts to address critical issues like plastic pollution, habitat loss, and declining marine wildlife in Florida.
Participants learned about these issues through expert panels, film screenings, and educational presentations. They also got hands-on experience, from taking a boat tour to learn about the ecology of the Tampa Bay area to digging in the sand alongside scientists to learn how sea turtle nesting activity is monitored.
Protecting Wetlands – Illinois
Illinois PIRG Students delivered 1,000 petition signatures to Governor JB Pritzker calling for stronger protections for the state’s wetlands. Throughout the semester, students organized panel discussions, petition drives, press conferences, and other events to educate students and community members about the importance of protecting Illinois’ wetlands.
Addressing plastic and clothing waste
Break Free From Plastic – Texas
TexPIRG Students hosted numerous events to clean up local waterways and search for plastic nurdles – tiny plastic pellets that pollute our waterways. Through cleanups, media outreach, and engagement with local businesses, students called for stronger policies to reduce nurdle pollution.
Waste Is Out of Fashion – Virginia
Virginia PIRG students organized on-campus clothing swaps, documentary screenings, and educational tabling events, where they encouraged hundreds of University of Virginia students to pledge to make more sustainable clothing purchases. Their work was featured by the university’s campus television station.
Educating our elected officials
Making Textbooks Affordable – Pennsylvania and Washington DC
During our federal lobby day, students met with staff from more than 40 congressional offices to advocate for increased funding for the Open Textbooks Pilot. The program was renewed at $7 million. Students also met with Pennsylvania lawmakers to advocate for policies that make college textbooks more affordable.
