Shortly after Obama’s speech, hundreds of people from Klimaforum (an alternate climate conference for NGOs) rushed out into the square with “climate shame” posters and banners as well as pictures of heads of governments. It was cold and windy, but it attracted the attention of the Danish news and others.

Randomly assigned to hold one side of a climate shame banner, I was quickly drawn into the demonstration. Everyone wore neon-yellow “climate not saved” vests and called on world leaders to set a fair, ambitious, and binding treaty. There were boos for Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the U.S., and other countries that blocked progress in climate negotiations over the past two weeks. The unified mass of climate activists included both many people from the youth movement and older, concerned people.

Nearly all of the NGOs in Copenhagen were barred from entering the Bella Center staring Tuesday, making demonstrations the preferred action for most people. Many NGOs now reside in Klimaforum. The main hall in Øksnehallen has hundreds of people listening to world leaders and negotiators on two large television screens. Even more people are furiously typing away on their computers or looking up negotiation updates on twitter, email, and other news sources.

It is inspiring to see so many in one place for one cause. It is not strange to walk past NGO leaders, such as Bill McKibben of 350.org or organizers from 1Sky and the Climate Action Network (CAN). Even though the belief in a fair, ambitious, and binding treaty in Copenhagen is all but extinguished, there is still a deep, powerful fervor to continue the climate movement.

Posted in 1 ]]> http://youthclimate.org/ngos-show-no-signs-of-accepting-defeat%e2%80%a6ever-28486/feed/ 0 http://youthclimate.org/momentum-feels-good-16876/ http://youthclimate.org/momentum-feels-good-16876/#comments Sat, 05 Dec 2009 06:22:51 +0000 Juliana Williams http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/?p=14948 ]]>

On Wednesday around 150 youth leaders of this movement were invited to the White House for the first Youth Clean Energy Forum.  They voiced the concerns and ideas of young people from around the country to Cabinet members.

On Thursday, 1Sky and the Chesapeake Climate Action Network delivered banners from the 350 Day of Action to the White House, representing the thousands of people calling for bold, decisive action on climate.

Which brings us to today, when President Obama announced that he would move his visit to the UN climate negotiations in Copenhagen from December 9th to December 18th, at the end of the negotiations.  The first week of negotiations involves, speeches, demonstrations and a lot of strategic posturing between the countries, but the real decisions and agreements are reached in the second week.  This places Obama at the negotiations at the most critical time for him to jump into the ring.

Also this past week, China offered to reduce it’s carbon intensity (emissions per GDP) 40-45% by 2020, India offered a 25-25% carbon intensity reduction by 2020 and Obama announced that the U.S. would offer to reduce emissions 17% by 2020 and 83% by 2050 (all compared to 2005 levels).  While the numbers may not be as ambitious as we need, they are the first major steps any of these three countries has taken towards specific action.

Perhaps even more exciting is the proposal outlined in the White House press release:

This week, the President discussed the status of the negotiations with Prime Minister Rudd, Chancellor Merkel, President Sarkozy, and Prime Minister Brown and concluded that there appears to be an emerging consensus that a core element of the Copenhagen accord should be to mobilize $10 billion a year by 2012 to support adaptation and mitigation in developing countries, particularly the most vulnerable and least developed countries that could be destabilized by the impacts of climate change.

That’s right, Australia, Germany, France, the U.K. and the U.S. may finally be putting their money where their mouths are.  Funding for adaptation and mitigation of the impacts of climate change are crucial but always seem to be ignored when discussion turns to emissions targets and carbon markets.  While this level of funding isn’t nearly sufficient, it is a major first step.

So now, we have several major breakthroughs in the last few days before the negotiations actually kick off, whereas just a week ago the media was still declaring the negotiations in Copenhagen essentially dead on arrival.

And why is this finally happening?

I am utterly convinced that such major policy moves would not have happened without the groundswell of action from individual people around the country and the globe who refuse to sit on the sidelines.  So while the Youth Clean Energy Forum and the 350 banner display probably didn’t cause  India and China to commit to emissions reductions, they may just have been the extra oomph to get Obama to change his flight plans.  These actions a part of the ever more visible and powerful movement that is working to secure a better future.   We are providing the political pressure and cover for our leaders to do get on the right track.  And it feels good to see the fruit of our labor.  Let’s keep it up!

Posted in 350, China, Climate Policy, Copenhagen 2009, global warming, Government, India, International Affairs, Political Participation, Politics

Cross-posted on WattHead

Today Barack Obama took the oath of office and became the 44^th President of the United States of America. He identified grave challenges our nation faces and called on all of us to unite in facing them.

George Bush is moving back to Texas, Henry Waxman (D-CA) is the chair of the House Energy and Commerce committee and our movement is stronger than ever. What are we going to do with it? Now is the critical time to make big plans, build the movement and make all the changes that have been out of reach for eight years a reality.

President Obama explicitly referenced harnessing “the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories,” but the message I heard is that we must harness a new American energy – the energy of an awakened citizenry sensing the urgency of this moment – to power a global transition to a more just and prosperous clean energy future.

We are that energy. Here are three things you can do today to harness it:

1. Register now for Power Shift 2009 Feb. 27 – Mar. 2 in Washington, DC, get ten friends to come with you and visit your representatives in Congress where they work.

1. Call your representatives in Congress today and tell them the stimulus package must include green jobs. Congressional Switchboard: (202) 225-3121. You can also send an email through MoveOn, 1Sky or Green For All.

1. Start organizing a town hall on energy as a part of Focus the Nation 2009, a nationwide event to focus on our energy future on April 18^th. Get your campus, your community and your representatives in Congress together and turn our national conversation on energy into action. Contact your regional organizer to find out more.

Posted in Campuses, Climate Policy, Earth Day, Events, Focus the Nation, green jobs, online organizing, Political Participation, Power Shift, United States