The platform includes youth, Indigenous peoples, frontline communities, advocates, and policymakers who traveled to Bonn with organizations from across the U.S.
With the Trump Administration rolling back climate protections, expanding fossil fuel development, and withdrawing the U.S. from its commitments to the Paris Climate Agreement, the People’s Delegation and the organizations involved are taking action in an attempt to protect communities by demanding a fossil free future and real climate action at the local level.
Kiran Ooman, a youth plaintiff with Our Children’s Trust said, “We are working to hold the Trump Administration accountable not only for their inaction but also for the actions they are taking, such as pushing through new fossil fuel infrastructure and cutting back on environmental regulations, which puts the climate and all people of the earth in danger.”
The group says it is seeking a “just and equitable transition to 100% renewable energy in all cities and states.”
Dyanna Jaye, representing ICLEI U.S. Local Governments for Sustainability and Sunrise Movement, said, “Flooding is routine in my coastal Virginia home town; our lands are being slowly reclaimed by the Atlantic Ocean and communities have been forced to flee their homes. Yet, Trump has allied with fossil fuel CEOs who are dead set on profiting from pollution. Though Trump and his billionaire friends may try to pull us backwards, we, everyday Americans, will keep moving our country forward and make sure our cities, universities, and states take the action we need to stop climate change and create good jobs in our communities.”
They are asking for U.S. elected officials to step up to ensure bold climate action in the face of the current Administration’s rollback on climate protections
They would like to see a reduction by halt to all new fossil fuel projects as well as an end to negotiating cap-and-trade, carbon offsets, carbon pricing, and other market schemes that avoid cutting pollution at the source.
The organizations represented in the People’s Delegation include: SustainUS, Sunrise Movement, Indigenous Environmental Network, Global Grassroots Justice Alliance, and the Climate Justice Alliance as part of It Takes Roots, U.S Human Rights Network, Climate Generation, Our Children’s Trust, NextGen America, and 350.org.
Thanu Yakupitiyage, U.S. Communications Manager of the U.S. People’s Delegation said, “The U.S. People’s Delegation is at COP23 to share loud and clear the message that communities back home demand a fast and fair transition to a world free of fossil fuels with 100% renewable energy for all. Our work, collectively, as part of the U.S. People’s Delegation is aimed at amplifying the urgency of climate action, holding accountable elected officials who have said they will step up against the Trump Administration to ensure they turn their words into action, and sharing our stories and solutions from diverse communities. We do not have time to waste; we need real climate action now.”
The organizations represented in the People’s Delegation include: SustainUS, Sunrise Movement, Indigenous Environmental Network, Global Grassroots Justice Alliance, and the Climate Justice Alliance as part of It Takes Roots, U.S Human Rights Network, Climate Generation, Our Children’s Trust, NextGen America, and 350.org
Among the events that the people’s delegation will conduct this week that are open to the public:
U.S People’s Delegation Speak Out
Date & Time: Thursday, November 9th, 4-6pm
Location: U.S Climate Action Pavilion, Fiji Room, The DHL Post Tower Charles-de-Gaulle-Straße 20, 53113 Bonn Germany
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U.S People’s Delegation Town Hall with Elected Officials
Date & Time: Saturday, November 11th, 4-6pm
Location: U.S Climate Action Pavilion, Fiji Room, The DHL Post Tower Charles-de-Gaulle-Straße 20, 53113 Bonn Germany
Photo: [Left to Right] Thanu Yakupitiyage, 350.org; Katia Aviles-Vasquez, Organización Boricua & It Takes Roots; Varshini Prakash, SustainUS & Sunrise Movement; Dallas Goldtooth, Indigenous Environmental Network & It Takes Roots; Kiran Ooman, youth plaintiff with Our Children’s Trust; Dyanna Jaye, Sunrise Movement & ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability; Ellen Anderson, Energy Transition Lab & Climate Generation.
