The U.S. People’s Delegation takes citizen climate solutions to COP23

This week, citizen climate leaders, local city staff, youth and members of the environmental justice communities from the United States arrived at COP23 as members of the “U.S. People’s Delegation”. Convened by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA and 350.org, the U.S. Peoples Delegation brings youth, Indigenous peoples, frontline communities, advocates, and policymakers to Bonn with organizations from across the U.S. They have come together to show what climate leadership should look like at the ground level.

The U.S. Peoples Delegation offers the first time a delegation of citizens from the United States have attended the United Nations’ annual climate talks to showcase local-level action alongside elected leadership, and the delegates are bringing the message of local solutions to the global stage.

Among the Peoples Delegates’ messages are:

• A just and equitable transition to 100% renewable energy in all cities and states.
• Cities, towns, and counties are acting on climate and their elected officials are called to step up and work alongside constituents in meaningful ways to ensure bold climate action in the face of persistent and ongoing extreme weather events and existing inequalities in frontline and vulnerable communities.
• For work on climate and sustainability to operate in a collaborative space across party lines in a way that brings local elected officials and citizen actors together to develop joint solutions to climate impacts felt in their communities outside of politics.
• A call for all nations to increase their ambition, not decrease it. The commitments countries put forward under the Paris Agreement are first steps only on a path toward the 1.5° and 2° goals enshrined in the agreement. Despite the rhetoric out of Washington, U.S. citizens are carrying the ideals of Paris forward where it matters most: in communities on the frontlines of climate change.

The People's Delegates is a diverse and passionate group of grassroots U.S. representatives. For Scott Tess, Sustainability Manager with the City of Urbana, “Local governments and community organizations, taken together, may constitute the most effective force capable of throwing a life preserver to our shorelines, our crops, and our communities. Our city’s small stature makes us nimble and lean when taking action on emerging energy and climate opportunities.”

During the two weeks of COP23, they will take part in the following events:

Speak Out with combined US People’s Delegation, Pacific Climate Warriors, and Ende Gelende

Time: Nov 9 4-6pm
Location: U.S. Climate Action Pavilion (The DHL Post Tower Charles-de-Gaulle-Straße 20, 53113 Bonn Germany).

America’s Pledge event.

Time: Nov 11 10:30 - 11:00
Location: The Cities and Regions Pavilion (Bonn Zone).

UNFCC Digital Talks. Talking to youth.

Time: Nov 11 1-2pm
Location: Talanoa space (Bonn Zone, next to Cities and Regions Pavilion).

Town Hall with elected officials

Time: Nov 11 4-6pm
Location: U.S. Climate Action Pavilion (The DHL Post Tower Charles-de-Gaulle-Straße 20, 53113 Bonn Germany).

All-American Panel Press Q&A

Time: Nov 12 5:30-6:00pm
Location: Cities and Regions Pavilion.

ICLEI USA Panel

Time: Nov 13 12-1:30pm
Location: Cities and Regions Pavilion.

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For more information on the U.S. People’s Delegation and the organizations involved, please go to www.350.org/uspeoplesdelegation