Letter from the Executive Director
Our 18-person delegation in Copenhagen at the U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP15) is working on a range of issues: interpreting high level policy discussions on adaptation, finance, climate justice, and technology transfer; participating in creative actions with youth from across the globe; and sharing their experiences with media and their peers in Copenhagen and back home in the Midwest. In addition to hosting a series of presentations and briefings over the course of the summit, Expedition Copenhagen team members are also meeting with government delegates and civil society from around the world.
Delegates heard from U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson who received a standing ovation in a room filled with youth. Meanwhile, YEA! Minnesota alum, Ethan Buckner has been asking tough questions at U.S. briefings on behalf of U.S. youth; David Sandalow, Assistant Secretary of Energy, commended the presence of the 500 U.S. youth and 2,000 from around the world that are here to remind negotiators that their future is being negotiated. Similarly, Rajenda Pachauri, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report, told youth that their presence gives him hope and that young people have the power to spread the urgency of climate change, especially since their lives extend beyond a political term. He reminded youth to continue their political engagement at home. Other important highlights:
- Wisconsin delegate Jamie Racine joined Asian and North American youth for a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke
- Delegates marched with over 50,000 youth for a fair, ambitious, and binding agreement as part of the 350.org and youth block. And Aurora Conley led the Indigenous Peoples block on behalf of indigenous peoples everywhere, and in particular those from the Midwest
- Iowa delegate Holly Jones joined several other young leaders for a closed-door private meeting with Todd Stern (State Department climate envoy) and the U.S. lead negotiator, Jonathan Pershing.
You can tune in daily at 2 pm CST/3 EST here through December 18th to catch interviews captured by our outstanding youth delegates with key climate leaders in Copenhagen. Hear what Bill McKibben has to say about the 350.org movement and its role here in Copenhagen, meet other eco-adventurers like Roz Savage and Alison Ganett and fellow climate champion Garett Brennan, with Focus the Nation.
Sincerely,
Nicole Rom
Executive Director
Expedition Copenhagen
Top Expedition Copenhagen blog excerpts – read more at: www.willstegerfoundation.org/blog
“If you have recently seen in the news large-scale, high visibility actions staged by youth in and around the Bella Center, I would like to provide another perspective on what's really happening when the media isn't watching. The "front page worthy" photos the media chooses to portray are not truly representational of all the work that's actually being done by youth around the world during the conference…” – Jamie Horter, South Dakota
“Expedition Copenhagen delegates are still advocating for the same three things in a new treaty that we always have been. We want a FAB deal- that is, a Fair, Ambitious and Binding treaty based on sound science. Why? Because the science is clear, and so is the history. Developed nations have an ecological debt to pay to the rest of the world. We have contributed most to climate change in the form of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions…Developing nations, most specifically small island states, polar regions and coastal areas are already experiencing the many effects of climate change now. For them this deal means survival.” – Danielle Ostafinski, Michigan
“Tensions continue to increase as we come close to the end of the COP15 negotiations, Secretary of Energy for the United States, Steven Chu announced the launch of a new initiative to promote clean energy technologies in developing countries. This announcement seemed to surprise many of those standing close to me because finances seem to be completely off from what developing countries are asking in the negotiations. Although, on the positive side the United States is taking a step forward in helping developing countries to get cleaner energy.” – Chali Nevarez, Wisconsin
Education
Will shared his Eyewitness to Global Warming presentation with several hundred people through partnerships with the World Wildlife Fund and Polar Conservation Organization. He also spoke to hundreds of Danish high school students in northern Denmark.
Several of our delegates led an outstanding presentation in partnership with U.S. federal agencies, including the EPA, NOAA and USFS to schools in Washington D.C. from the U.S. Center at the conference.
Action!
In the News
Two sides of the ocean; one climate plea -Top Story
D.C area students hold own conference with peers in Copenhagen: A delegation of Washington area students and one squirmy diamondback terrapin named Happy were beamed into Thursday's United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen to help advance a solution for curbing carbon emissions.
Blogosphere
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Minnesota
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Midwest Highlights:
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Check out our incredible video and image gallery and get highlights from this historic event. Starting tomorrow, over 113 heads of state will converge here, an unprecedented opportunity to set the course for our future climate.
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