FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
28 October 2021
US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez supports fundraiser to help get frontline activists to COP26
With just four days until the UN Climate Talks begin in Glasgow, the COP26 Coalition, Climate 2025 and Climate Emergency Fund have launched an urgent fundraiser to close the gap and help young frontline activists get to COP26.
Close to 100 delegates from frontline and indigenous Global South communities with COP26 Blue Zone badges are struggling to overcome multiple structural barriers to get to the UN Climate Talks COP26, which begins on Monday 1st November.
A combination of the high cost of hotels, COVID-19 travel curbs and quarantine rules have left many in a position where, without support, they will not be able to make their voices heard at the UN Climate Talks.
Today, Climate 2025, the Climate Emergency Fund and the COP26 Coalition are joining forces with YOUNGO and Fridays for Future Most Affected Peoples and Areas (MAPA) to launch an emergency fundraiser to get activists to COP, with US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez leading the charge. Ocasio-Cortez joined the fundraiser today by committing to supporting two frontline activists in their journey to COP26.
Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez said: “It’s vitally important that those areas most affected by climate change have representatives at COP26. Unfortunately, it is these very activists that have the least access. I’m committing to support two international advocates to attend the conference, and I challenge my colleagues in Congress and in wealthier nations around the globe to step up to ensure these 90 activists have a chance to be heard.”
Jon, an activist with Fridays For Future MAPA said: “COP, and in particular this year's COP in Glasgow, presents a key moment in human history; what is decided, or not decided, here will define climate action and consequently the state of the world for decades, if not centuries to come. It is essential for me and all of us to be able to register our demands in a space where we can not simply be muted or kicked out by the Zoom room host.”
For activists able to travel to Glasgow, the funds raised through this initiative will cover travel, accomodation, any quarantine requirements, visas, legal costs and any other necessary expenses. For activists unable to travel to Glasgow, support will be provided in the forms of virtual meeting room rental, any domestic travel required to participate remotely, internet access for video conferencing and other related costs.
The COP26 Coalition has been working since May to support hundreds of activists with the immigration process, including through a Visa Support Service, a COVID-19 Public Resource Centre and through a Travel Fund.
Rachael Osgood, Lead Immigration Coordinator, COP26 Coalition said “The immigration service at the COP26 Coalition has supported hundreds of people from frontline and indigenous Global South communities who are trying to make it to COP26. From all of our work, one thing is clear: due to compounding structural barriers, thousands are being silenced. And these thousands represent millions who are already fighting for their lives on the frontlines of the climate crisis. The time to act is now.”
Liam Garcia Lillis, Co-Founder, Climate 2025 said: “In order to reach just, equitable and real solutions, youth, most affected people and areas (MAPA), and other climate justice activists need to be in the spaces where decisions are being made. Supporting these activists with COP26 Blue Access passes in reaching COP, either in person or virtually, is crucial in ensuring this.”
Marie-Claire Graf, YOUNGO, official Youth Constituency of UNFCCC said: “For too long, voices of the youth from most affected areas have been ignored. To keep 1.5 °C alive we need to change that. Therefore, YOUNGO secured the largest ever youth delegation to any UN Climate Change COP in history. Now we need further financial support in order to engage youth in these negotiations, and enable their voice to be heard at the decision-making tables. Their contribution to the climate justice dialogue is not only important, but integral to fighting the climate crisis and achieving climate justice.”
ENDS
Media Contact: +44 7507 8888 37 / press@cop26coalition.org
For more information and to donate, visit: https://www.climateemergencyfund.org/cop26
Climate Emergency Fund (CEF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit supporting the activists who are transforming climate politics. CEF funds young, ultra-ambitious organizations and activists who educate and tell the truth about the climate emergency, organize powerful protests, and demand transformative change. CEF deploys strategic grant making as part of a proven and scalable Venture Philanthropy model. Under the leadership of Executive Director Margaret Klein Salamon, PhD, author of Facing the Climate Emergency: How to Transform Yourself with Climate Truth (2020), CEF utilizes deep networking to help build and sustain an ecosystem of diverse and mutually supportive climate movements. Co-founded by Rory Kennedy and Aileen Getty, CEF stands with the activists who put everything on the line to protect humanity and the living world. Learn more at www.climateemergencyfund.org.
Climate 2025 (C2025) is a not-for-profit supporting emerging high-potential movements with infrastructure and capacity building. C2025 works with over 1,000 movements across the world, providing key financial and logistical infrastructure alongside capacity building programmes in movement governance, strategy and communications. www.climate2025.org
The COP26 Coalition is the biggest UK-based civil society coalition of groups and individuals organising for climate justice at COP26. Coalition members include climate campaigners, trade unions, grassroots community groups, faith groups, youth strikers, migrant and racial justice networks and many more.
6th November 2021: Global Day of Action for Climate Justice, 150 simultaneous mass mobilisations worldwide.
7th - 10th November 2021: The People's Summit for Climate Justice, 200 hybrid in person and online across Glasgow.
www.cop26coalition.org
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