The U.S. began to face mounting criticism on Thursday that they were stalling progress on a climate treaty by postponing a new deal until 2020 and by blocking progress on the creation of the Green Climate Fund.
In response to stalled progress a U.S. young person stood up and interrupted the beginning of the US lead negotiator’s speech.
Here are her words:
“I am speaking on behalf of the United States of America because my negotiators cannot. The obstructionist Congress has shackled justice and delayed ambition for far too long. I am scared for my future. 2020 is too late to wait. We need an urgent path to a fair ambitious and legally binding treaty.
You must take responsibility to act now, or you will threaten the lives of youth and the world’s most vulnerable.
You must set aside partisan politics and let science dictate decisions. You must pledge ambitious targets to lower emissions not expectations. Citizens across the world are being held hostage by stillborn negotiations.
We need leaders who will commit to real change, not empty rhetoric. Keep your promises. Keep our hope alive. 2020 is too late to wait.”
US Youth Disrupts High Level Plenary Session -video
She received an ovation from negotiators as she was escorted from the plenary hall.
The U.S. negotiators directly responded to her and to the growing “perception” that the US is stalling progress here at the COP17.
For more, check out the New York times article here: