1. Why is the Will Steger Foundation sending youth overseas to Copenhagen for a U.N. Conference?

The upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference is the last time the parties of the United Nations Framework Convention will meet before the expiration of the Kyoto Protocol in 2012. Essential to securing our environmental future and preventing catastrophic climate change, the goal of the conference is to establish a global climate agreement from 2012 forward.

Believing that the Midwest is a key player in driving national climate policy, public opinion, and the renewable energy revolution, Will Steger Foundation is committed to engaging young emerging leaders across the Midwest in the international climate negotiations. Will Steger Foundation has selected ten dynamic youth leaders representing diverse communities from each of the following Midwest states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois.

Young people across the globe will bear the brunt of global warming consequences throughout our lifetime. Without key policy measures to encourage clean energy solutions, youth will inherit a more turbulent and expensive future as a result of unchecked global warming. Here in the Midwest we risk losing many of our manufacturing and agricultural jobs. On the global scale, we risk facing more frequent conflicts caused by resource competition. We need policy decisions that will grow our economy in ways that create new long-term employment opportunities, support the transition to a clean energy economy, and secure a safe and healthy future.

2. What impact can youth have in Copenhagen?

As observers to the negotiations, Expedition Copenhagen youth delegates will be able to attend open meetings, meet with official delegates, attend side events, make their voices heard through peaceful and creative youth actions, and generate media attention to the negotiations. The Will Steger Foundation is bringing the Midwest voice to Copenhagen, drawing attention to the critical role the Midwest can play in U.S. climate leadership and national support at the citizen level. Delegates will also be messaging to a Midwest audience the importance of a just global climate treaty for both international and local environmental health and sustainability.

As young people inheriting the consequences of climate change, youth highlight the moral dimensions of climate change. Through media outreach, social networking, peaceful and creative actions in Copenhagen, youth not only provide a call to action that is hard to ignore, they also provide a sense of hope and inspire engagement in solutions.

3. Will the youth actually be able to influence an outcome in Copenhagen? How will this play out?

The youth can bring a moral imperative to the United Nations policy discussions. They can and will demand immediate action, because any time wasted will mean more devastating consequences youth across the globe will have to face. Expedition Copenhagen will highlight the need for international solidarity that works to safeguard the interests of people from areas in the world most vulnerable to climate change. Youth delegates will have opportunities to unite with thousands of youth from around the world in peaceful demonstrations and strategic policy demands. They will forge a stronger coalition of youth calling loudly and urgently for climate solutions that will influence not only the outcomes of Copenhagen but also any future discussions of action on this issue.

4.What are the Will Steger Foundation and/or delegation doing between now and December to ensure success in Copenhagen?

Delegates have been tasked with domestic campaign work in each of their Midwestern States, calling for a strong U.S. climate bill going into the Copenhagen negotiations. This includes meetings with elected officials, letter-writing campaigns, holding community events, and phone calling. Delegates are encouraged to collaborate with the youth constituency across their state to make the youth voice heard on this critical issue.

Delegates have also been presenting information on climate change and the Copenhagen negotiations to high schools in each of their states, in conjunction with Will Steger Foundation Citizen Climate curriculum. High schools have the opportunity to follow Expedition Copenhagen while the negotiations are taking place through online multimedia resources on the Will Steger Foundation website. Students are invited to submit personal position statements on the negotiations, which the delegates will publicize and use to strengthen the youth voice.

5. You believe climate change is a critical issue and yet you’re sending a large number of people on overseas flights? How do you justify this environmental footprint?

While we regret that we will be producing large amounts of carbon through our travel, we feel strongly that it is worth the difference we will be able to make through our participation in these historic negotiations. We will be offsetting our carbon through Native Energy, which develops wind projects in the Midwest.

6. What can people do in the U.S. to integrate with and/or influence your work while you’re in Copenhagen?

Please visit our blogs at www.willstegerfoundation.org to follow delegates in Copenhagen and share your comments. Each delegate will be following and blogging on a specific policy thread, including cap and trade, deforestation, equity, and climate technology. Visitors to the Will Steger Foundation website will be able to access information about individual delegates, including video interviews, personal blogs, and Twitter feeds.

We also encourage the following actions to support U.S. leadership on global climate solutions and public investment.

1. Demand leadership and action by the U.S. Senate: to achieve a mandatory national policy for sizable, sensible long-term reductions of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in accordance with the 80% reductions below 1990 levels by 2050 that scientists and climate models suggest are urgently needed to avoid dangerous climate change. Contact your state senator immediately to voice your conviction before the Senate vote on the climate bill.
2. Take action on a local level: Support local initiatives that create awareness of climate change and solutions; write letters to your local papers highlighting the importance of U.S. climate leadership on a global scale; work within your community to support youth climate leadership!

7. How did you select members of your delegation?

With support from partnering youth climate organizations, colleges and universities, and student networks across the Midwest, the Will Steger Foundation sent its delegate application across seven Upper Midwest states including North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois. Applicants were required to meet the following criteria:

• Be between the ages of 18 and 26
• Have a passion for the environment and climate change solutions
• Have an interest and/or experience in education
• Have a background in student/community organizing

For a total of 10 spots we received over 50 applications, the majority from highly qualified, extremely dynamic, and self-motivated individuals. Out of this initial pool of applicants, 35 qualified for an interview. The ten delegates who were ultimately chosen reflect the best of the best across the Midwest. These are individuals who shine above their peers and whose experience profiles are extremely impressive for someone their age. Our ten delegates have skills that range from video production, to non-profit management, to community organizing, to environmental engineering. While they inspire hope for the next generation of leadership, they also reflect the incredible groundswell of youth climate activism gathering momentum across the Midwest. We are proud and honored to work with them on this exciting project.

8. What does success look like to you for the trip to Copenhagen?

A successful expedition to Copenhagen will result in the following outcomes:

• Effective messaging on the potential for Midwest impact on U.S. climate solutions and global leadership, and the role Midwest youth are playing to make a difference.
• Increased citizen awareness and investment in the role the U.S. can play in global climate solutions, especially across the Midwest
• Inspired youth leadership and action on climate change solutions across the Midwest, nationally, and internationally
• Active engagement from teachers and students at high schools across the U.S. in investigation of real-world solutions to climate change on a global scale from an interdisciplinary perspective.

9. What will happen after the delegation returns from Denmark? What’s next?

The Will Steger Foundation will continue its work to educate young people about global climate change and amplify the efforts of emerging leaders striving for change. Delegates will continue to push for strong climate legislation and work with their peers to support the transition to a clean and just energy future.

10. Who will you be traveling with?

Along with our ten youth delegates, two youth and WSF staff, including polar explorer Will Steger, we will be traveling with Minnesota State Representative Kate Knuth and Executive Director of Fresh Energy, Michael Noble.