SustainUS is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of young people advancing sustainable development and youth empowerment in the United States. Through proactive education, research, and advocacy at the policy-making and grassroots levels, we are building a future in which all people recognize the inherent equality and interdependence of social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

U.S. and International Youth Sit-In at Bella Center in Copenhagen to Raise Expectations for Outcome

December 16, 2009

Copenhagen, Denmark – At 5:00pm today, during the opening of the high level segment of this year’s international climate change negotiations, a group of approximately 30 international youth staged a sit-in, refusing to leave the talks until a fair, ambitious, and legally binding treaty was reached. The group included young people from both developed and developing nations, including 10 Americans.

The young people gathered and initiated the sit-in at the main hall of the conference centre where more than 110 heads of government are expected in coming days. They immediately began to read the names of the more than 11 million people who signed a petition demanding the same fair, ambitious, and legally binding agreement that is needed to avoid dangerous climate change and usher in a global clean energy economy.

“The U.S., along with many other rich nations, has fallen pitifully short and even obstructed progress here in Copenhagen. Despite this, President Obama and other heads of state still have a chance to make the necessary commitments to keeping global warming as far below a 2 degree increase as possible in a legally binding, ambitious, and equitable way,” said action participant Rachel Butler from Madison, Wisconsin. “Americans are disappointed that our government, which has historically polluted more than any other country, has failed to play the befitting leadership role in these negotiations that determine our future, and they have failed to represent the majority of Americans who want stronger action on climate change.”

Around 6:30pm, Bella Center security began gathering around the circle of non-violent sitters, who were seated in a central walkway between plenary rooms.  The youth were not entirely blocking the flow of foot traffic, and were garnering considerable media attention.  With a huge group of international reporters present and cameras rolling, the police officers began roughly grabbing youth by the arms and shoulders, and dragging them across the center floor.  Reporters and young people surrounded the police mob, chanting, ''The whole world is watching.''  After detaining several youth, the remaining protesters were left on the side of the hallway, where they currently remain as of 8:30pm.  One hour after the police incident, Senator John Kerry arrived and shook hands with all the protesters, raising sprits among the group.

The U.S. youth maintain that recent events have not lowered their own ambition. “America can still raise our targets; numerous reports have shown that world-class, science-based targets will have a marginal impact on economic growth, and a positive impact on job creation in a clean energy economy. America should lead the world in clean energy, and yet in every technology area we lag behind countries like China, India and Denmark.   We can still pledge additional, sustainable, and predictable climate finance, in accordance with ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’ and historical responsibility. Above all, the U.S. must be a leader on climate change; the defining issue of our time,” emphasized Dominic MacCormack, a youth from San Francisco, California.

For more information and to arrange interviews with U.S. participants, contact Dominic MacCormack at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or +45 5269 4035