350 Brooklyn’s History

We Began in 2015 With a Spark and a Mission

That spring, a handful of us founded 350Brooklyn—built a logo, launched a website, and started organizing. By summer, we were meeting regularly in Gowanus and hosting forums on local climate action with leaders like Council Member Brad Lander.

In the fall, we held a teach-in, marched in the Park Slope Halloween Parade with signs that read “Fossil Fuels Are Scary”, and rallied at a local ExxonMobil station for the Exxon Knew campaign.

We ended the year by joining hands with other 350 groups to circle the Statue of Liberty in support of the Paris Climate Talks.

From a few voices to a movement—we were just getting started.

2016: A Strong Foundation

We entered 2016 ready to grow our impact. That year we became a formal member of NY Renews, standing shoulder to shoulder with a statewide coalition to push for bold climate legislation in Albany. We hosted “Don’t Fuel the Refugee Crisis,” connecting climate change to global displacement, and grew enough to form dedicated committees and a seven-person Steering Committee. We took action at National Grid’s Brooklyn office to protest the AIM pipeline near Indian Point and joined the push for offshore wind in Long Island Sound.

In 2016, we saw the emergence of our abiding concerns—passing strong climate laws, stopping fossil fuel expansion, and promoting renewable energy for all—baked into our DNA.

2017: Growing Together 

We started 2017 with bold action, protesting outside Senator Schumer’s home to demand he oppose Trump’s environmental and energy appointees. By February, we had outgrown our meeting space at St. Lydia’s and moved to the Commons Café. We marched in Washington, D.C. for the Climate March, helped lay the groundwork for the Stop the Williams Pipeline Coalition, and hosted a climate-focused Town Hall at Brooklyn College. We joined the statewide Plastic Bag Coalition, marched in the Park Slope Halloween Parade, and testified at Public Advocate Tish James’s climate forum.

2017 was a year of building bonds—welcoming more people into 350Brooklyn and uniting with allies in the pursuit of a common future. 

2018: Turning Pressure into Progress 

In 2018, we pushed harder than ever and showcased our vigor. We organized forums with compelling speakers—from climate change and the media to climate entrepreneurs—and held public rallies, petition drives, and community events. We testified at hearings on the Williams pipeline, lobbied for a plastic bag ban in Albany, and joined the “Rise for Climate, Jobs, and Justice” march. We were everywhere—sharing our message, engaging our neighbors, and making climate action visible across Brooklyn.

2018 was the year we showed up, spoke out, and made our presence impossible to ignore. Our pressure was felt across the city—and the state.

2019: Branching Out

2019 was a landmark year. We launched 350Brooklyn Families, partnered with the Brooklyn Public Library for our “Climate Wednesdays” series, and deepened our collaborations across the climate movement. Together with statewide allies, we celebrated major victories: the CLCPA in Albany, the Climate Mobilization Act in NYC, a statewide plastic bag ban, a paper bag fee, and Local Law 97 reducing gas in NYC buildings. We continued to push for climate justice, from opposing the Williams pipeline to striking for the Green New Deal.

We were rooted in our mission, and growing in every direction.

2020: Adapting and Persisting

Even as the pandemic reshaped the world, we found new ways to act. We mastered Zoom and shifted meetings online — launching Power Hour, a brilliant new way to take real action together through phone calls and emails. We joined the “Stop the Money Pipeline” coalition, supported the Black Lives Matter movement, and hosted our first Plastic Free July. We marked Earth Week digitally and celebrated the full denial of the Williams pipeline permits. With “Climate Wednesdays” continuing virtually, our activism never slowed.

A year when distance couldn’t dim our resolve.

2021: Persistence and New Beginnings

We began 2021 with a redesigned website and campaigns opposing peaker plants in Gowanus. We saw wins for Renewable Rikers and a citywide plastic straw ban, and we celebrated the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water Amendment. We launched our podcast, Climate Check: Stories and Solutions! And we joined marches, won clean school bus legislation, and threw a garden party to keep the momentum going.

From the halls of Albany to the earbuds of new listeners — our persistence paid off.

2022: Steadiness with a Creative Spark

In 2022, we held steady in our mission—we fought for LL97 enforcement, testified for a strong Scoping Plan to carry out the CLCPA, advocated for universal composting, and supported the Hudson Canyon’s marine sanctuary designation. We expanded our focus to confront the financial forces behind fossil fuels. We kept the pressure on decision-makers, and we also got even more creative! We hosted our first Fun Run fundraiser, and we brought fresh energy with the launch of Parts per Million, our e-magazine.

From the streets to the page, we proved that steady pressure fuels lasting change.

2023: Big Wins, Bold Presence

We rallied for People v Fossil Fuels, helped pass the All-Electric Buildings Act and the Build Public Renewables Act, and introduced “Three Quick Actions” to keep our members engaged every month. Our Summer of Heat tabling connected climate and health, and we marched in one of the largest climate demonstrations ever to the UN. We danced, fundraised, and defended LL97 from being weakened.

Stronger laws, stronger community, stronger climate action.

2024: Creativity and Connection

From field trips to the Climate Museum to the Solarpunk party, 2024 blended joy and activism. We celebrated the passage of the Climate Superfund Act, rallied for environmental justice on the BQE, and hosted our second Fun Run. We marched in our first Mermaid Parade, joined Wall Street’s Summer of Heat, and promoted “Get Out the Vote” efforts. Through art, culture, and community presence, we kept building momentum for public renewables.

Creativity fueled connection, and connection fueled action.

2025: A Decade of Action

Our 10th anniversary year was both a celebration and a recommitment. We honored our roots with volunteer stories, a party for core members, and a look back at our greatest moments. We launched new projects like the Climate Confessional and Facing the Future on climate resilience, while returning with determination to the fight against the revived Williams NESE pipeline.

Ten years in, we stand as a mature, deeply rooted organization—ready for whatever comes next.