Grassroots Delegation to Attend Climate Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark

In an effort to ensure that underserved communities and women of color are included in the global discussions on climate change, a grassroots delegation of leaders and activist from across the United States will attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. The delegation will convene Thursday, Dec. 3, at the Gaylord National Hotel on the Potomac in Maryland, for a Climate Change Roundtable briefing co-hosted by Black Women's Roundtable (BWR), National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) and the Environmental Justice & Climate Change Initiative (EJCC).

"Women suffer more from the effects of climate change; whether it is hurricanes, floods, fires and drought in the US or tsunamis in far away Asia so we are headed to Copenhagen to make sure that women's voices are heard" said Felicia Davis, GenderCC North America Focal Point and coordinator of the delegation. "Black women are leading the effort for gender equity in domestic climate policy and we're working with women from every corner of the globe to mainstream gender in the international negotiations," the Atlanta, GA resident adds.

Organization's sending representatives to Copenhagen include: Bennett College, The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, Joint Center for Political and Economic Justice, BWR, NCNW, Tandeka, LLC, Responsible Endowment Coalition, NAACP,and EJCC. The Atlanta Daily World will have a correspondent to cover activities hosted by the delegation as well as President Obama's address.

People from around the world are going to the Climate Conference in Copenhagen hoping to emerge with a Copenhagen Protocol to prevent global warming and climate changes. Last week the White House announced that President Obama and a U. S. Delegation comprised of top officials, will attend the conference in Copenhagen. Additionally, for the first time, the U. S. Delegation will also set up a U. S. Center at the conference.

According to a White House Office of the Press Secretary press statement, "The President has worked steadily on behalf of a positive outcome in Copenhagen throughout the year. ...The President's decision to go is a sign of his continuing commitment and leadership to find a global solution to the global threat of climate change, and to lay the foundation for a new, sustainable and prosperous clean energy future."

Nia Robinson, executive director of EJCC, adds, "President Obama has upped the anty for Copenhagen by appearing early in the negotiations. His presence signals the world that the US is back, and the high level delegation proves that he is serious about moving the agenda forward. Our goal is to ensure that principles of environmental justice are embedded in the final document."

The Copenhagen pre-conference briefing will be held Thursday, December 3, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center 201 Waterfront St Oxon Hill, MD 20745.

EJCC will hold a Copenhagen post-conference briefing in early January. To receive more information or to RSVP for the breifing email iask at bellsouth.net.