On September 12th, 2018, We Are Still In (WASI) will host a day-long forum in San Francisco as part of the Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS), the first ever climate summit designed exclusively for leaders from the private sector and local government to highlight meaningful solutions to climate change and raise the bar for action.
The We Are Still In Forum will convene U.S. leaders from state and local government, the private sector, and academic, faith and other major institutions to showcase best practices and case studies of cross-sectoral collaboration and build strategies to accelerate climate action outside the federal government across the country. Several members of the WASI coalition will also use the forum to announce new actions they are adopting to further reduce emissions and expand renewables (click here for the full agenda).
The We Are Still In Forum and WASI’s additional activities at GCAS over the week of September 10th will be co-hosted by Mars Inc., Microsoft and The Guardian. WASI thanks all of these venerable institutions for their involvement in the planning and support for the Forum and for WASI’s presence at the Global Climate Action Summit. Our sincere gratitude goes to Mars and Microsoft for their sponsorship, and in the case of the latter, for lending its San Francisco offices as the venue for an evening reception on Thursday, September 13th.
WASI enthusiastically welcomes the opportunity to work with The Guardian as a media partner to We Are Still In throughout the week of the Summit. WASI appreciates The Guardian’s interest in its project and the outlet’s decision to co-host the WASI Forum and the WASI evening reception, as well as moderate sessions at both events. The Guardian’s long-standing and outspoken dedication to environmental journalism has played an essential role in raising awareness about the reality and impacts of climate change. At a time when it has never been more important for the press to be paying attention to the impacts of climate change and solutions to the challenge, WASI applauds The Guardian for prioritizing climate and environmental issues in its coverage and actively seeking out opportunities to creatively and deeply engage on the issue. Opportunities which include, but are not limited to, its partnership with We Are Still In.
Their work harmonizes well with We Are Still In’s landmark efforts to build a stronger, more connected coalition of American stakeholders working towards the U.S. goals under the Paris Agreement. This partnership will allow for We Are Still In to showcase its presence at the Global Climate Action Summit, and we particularly thank The Guardian for working with us to host a We Are Still In page on their website.
WASI also appreciates The Guardian’s understanding that the world needs more media outlets to prioritize climate impacts and action in their coverage, not fewer. WASI thanks The Guardian for agreeing that the WASI story is one that should be told beyond a single outlet, and therefore we invite all reporters attending the Global Climate Action Summit to attend the WASI Forum and speak with the leaders participating in the movement to learn about the climate action and organizing that is alive and well in the United States.
Check out our We Are Still In page on The Guardian’s website!
Sincerely,
The We Are Still In Organizers
More information on the September 12th WASI Forum (see full agenda below):
The We Are Still In Forum will provide We Are Still In signatories with the opportunity to strategize with and learn from their fellow leaders across all sectors. The day will feature keynote addresses from Ceres President Mindy Lubber and World Wildlife Fund President Carter Roberts, and a panel with members of the We Are Still In Leaders Circle, including Oregon Governor Kate Brown and McDonald’s chief supply chain and sustainability officer, Francesca Debiase. The forum will report on the coalition’s collective climate action to date and highlight both the need to build strategies to accelerate climate action and to broaden the We Are Still In coalition.
The forum will also include an afternoon workshop in which signatories can share their accomplishments, hear about successful models and techniques, and collaborate to scale solutions. The workshop will cover a wide range of measures that groups can take to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, including renewable energy, electric vehicles, and land management. Participants will also explore challenges and opportunities to advance climate and clean energy policy at the local and state level.
Event Details:
WASI Forum
September 12th, 2018 from 9am - 5pm
9am-11am: Opening panel, with new announcements from the WASI coalition
12pm-1pm: Lunch and coffee provided to all participants
2pm-5pm: A mix of workshops and plenary sessions
California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Dr
San Francisco, CA
WASI Reception, Co-hosted by Climate Nexus, Ceres, World Wildlife Fund and The Guardian
Microsoft, 555 California St, Suite 200
San Francisco, CA
Participation in these events are free and by invitation only. All interested organizations can reach out to communication@wearestillin.com or ryan.finnegan@wwfus.org for more information.
####
The We Are Still In coalition was launched in June 2017 to signal to the world that despite the federal government’s planned withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, American leaders from many sectors are committed to addressing climate change. By joining the declaration, signatories express their intent to ensure the U.S. remains a global leader in reducing carbon emissions. Over a year later, the coalition is made up of over 3,500 cities, states, tribes, businesses, investors, faith groups, healthcare organizations, universities, and cultural institutions, and continues to grow. Representing, $9.46 trillion and over 155 million people, We Are Still In has become the broadest cross-section of the U.S. economy ever assembled in pursuit of climate action.