The needed hope for the United States

“The world is run by those who show up”, which is exactly what some of the United States citizens have done in Bonn, regardless of the stance the United States has taken on the issue of climate change and the Paris Agreement. President Trump may have pulled out of the Paris Agreement and taken the side of the coal companies but that doesn't mean that is what citizens want or what they are going to have.

It started on June 1, 2017, the day President Trump announced that the United States would be pulling out of the Paris agreement. Only four days later a movement began and declaration stating “We Are Still In” was created. With over 2,500 leaders from across America signing the declaration, the We Are Still In coalition is showing the world that there are still people in the United States making a difference for our changing climate. Starting here at COP 23, the We Are Still In unofficial pavilion (known as the U.S. Climate Action Center) is located right outside of the BULA zone, the main meeting area for negotiators at COP 23. Set up with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, WWF, ICLEI, climate mayors, Target and many more, the sessions and activities at the Center are showing the world that the U.S. is still battling climate change and progressing towards the 2 degree goal.

People showing up like Al Gore, Jerry Brown, and Michael Bloomberg attract a crowd of not just Americans but of important and or influential people of other countries. When Al Gore spoke there were many people filling up the meeting room and there were spots reserved. He spoke about where we are now, what our goals are, what each country has done to reduce carbon emissions, and what some countries need to do, including ours. He stated, like many other speakers here at COP representing the U.S., that regardless of what is happening at the White House our country will continue to progress towards being more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

People have been very welcoming and open to our presence here. When asked “How do you feel the U.S. is represented/viewed?” Most made jokes about Donald Trump, like asking if we had to get his permission to come here or if we were his representatives. Michael, a college student from Trinidad, thought that President Trump wasn't as much ruining the economy or the environment as he was ruining relationships with other countries. A Minnesota woman, the only American I interviewed, felt in some way that she was ashamed to be an American at the conference because of all the jokes and actual hits towards the President.

The number of people from Minnesota here is astonishing. Not only has our school and our non-profit partner Climate Generation join together to be here but several colleges and universities from Minnesota have sent undergraduate and graduate students to attend this COP as well. I have already met two girls from Macalester and one from the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities) at random sessions here totally unrelated to the United States. On Wednesday, an event was held at the U.S. Climate Action Center entirely dedicated to Minnesota.  Stephanie Zawistowski, Senior Policy Advisor to the Governor, and J. Drake Hamilton from the non-profit Fresh Energy were there talking about the goals Minnesota has towards reducing climate change by increasing renewable energy sources. Pat Hamilton from the Science Museum of Minnesota shared the Museum's renewable energy story with us and Greg Downing the Sustainability Manager at Target Corporation shared Target's 2025 goals of reducing CO2 by 25%. There is so much happening in Minnesota commercially and privately.

Overall I'm very proud of Americans for how we are consistently pushing on, despite the interference from our national government. Our local governments provide enough for us to continue towards climate neutral impacts so that our carbon footprint won't determine our futures. We are still in.
Emily G.