Caroline Town Board member and co-founder of Energy Independent Caroline Dominic Frongillo is getting ready to travel again.    

Just back from a trip to the Adirondacks, where he gave a workshop for area high school and college students on the problems caused by global climate disruption and what young people can do about it, Frongillo will leave soon for the United Nations climate negotiations in Copenhagen.    

There he’ll join other young American leaders, including students from Ithaca College and Cornell, Truman Scholars, Watson Fellows and Fulbright Fellows.  He is a co-coordinator of the 400-plus contingent of young people from the National Youth Network of Sustainable Development, or SustainUS.    

The organization sends youth to international conferences on sustainable development and gives them a direct role in shaping international policy. Students and young professional were selected after a competitive national search process.

One of the problems that concerns Frongillo and others is that the countries most affected by climate change are those with the least resources and the fewest opportunities to contribute to the discussion. To counteract this the youth from the U.S. and other developed countries hope to raise enough money to allow youth ambassadors from these countries, including Latin America, to attend the Copenhagen talks.    

Frongillo, who attended the 2007 United Nations Bali climate conference as a youth delegate, says, “Since the talks in Bali, which kick-started discussion of what will replace the Kyoto Protocol, scientific evidence has mounted that global climate change is accelerating rapidly and is affecting every community on the planet.

“The Copenhagen talks are widely recognized as a critical turning point where international leaders may emerge with an agreement to avert dangerous human-caused disruptions to the world’s climate system,” he adds.    

These negotiations are seen as the best chance for President Obama and other world leaders to forge a strong global climate treaty., says Frongillo. “President Obama announced last week that he may be attending the talks to make sure that such an agreement is reached. We have a historic opportunity to solve the climate crises, rebuild our economy and lift millions out of poverty.”    

Frongillo has put considerable effort into making sure that people in the Town of Caroline and in Tompkins County benefit from new ideas and new technology. He coordinated the largest single-day distribution of energy saving light bulbs in rural upstate New York. Each bulb came with a reusable bag and information on how to save energy.    

“Concerning Tompkins County,” Frongillo says, “by insulating every leaky home we can create 1,700 good, green jobs and $34.3 million in energy savings. When that happens, everyone wins. Tompkins County can benefit from solving climate change by harnessing our strengths. Transition to clean energy from the wind and sun means we can keep dollars in our community and build long term self reliance.” 

Regarding the current conference he states, “As an agent of change with SustainUs, I will work with U.S. youth and young people from around the world to submit policy recommendations, do interviews with the media and speak with government delegates. My generation will be dealing with the results of the decisions made in Copenhagen. Youth must have a voice in the process. Youth will bring their message, immediate action to ensure a livable world for the generations who follow, directly into the negotiation halls.”    

According toi Rachel Butler, climate coordinator for SustainUS, “A fair, ambitious and binding agreement coming out of the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in December could mean the difference between a manageable future and serious climatic consequences. A main goal of the youth delegation is to urge the U.S. Senate to pass strong domestic clean energy legislation before the Copenhagen conference and then use that momentum to advocate for a strong agreement in Denmark.”

Frongillo needs to raise some $3,500 to cover the cost of travel, lodging and accreditation. He is also raising funds to bring under-represented youth from Latin America to the historic talks. His goal is to raise the money before he leaves in early December. Tax-deductible contributions may be made at SustainUS.org or send a check made out to SustainUS and mail to Frongillo at 10 Bailor Road, Brooktondale, NY 14817.    

“Every young person from every nation deserves to have a voice in their future,” Frogillo says. 

TAGGED WITH: climate change, copenhagen, Frongillo