Cindy Carr, cindy.carr@sierraclub.org, +14129998223 (WhatsApp)
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, EGYPT -- As the annual United Nations Climate Negotiations (COP27) begin in Sharm El-Sheikh, thousands of attendees from across the globe are convening for climate action and discussions. This is the first major climate convening since President Biden signed the historic Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) into law. The Inflation Reduction Act – the single largest investment in climate action ever – includes more than 100 programs that will invest about $369 billion in climate action, clean energy jobs, and environmental justice. Collectively, these unprecedented investments will put the US on a path to cutting climate pollution by 40 percent by 2030 while creating over 9 million family-sustaining jobs over the next decade and advancing racial, economic, and environmental justice.
This year, the Sierra Club is a proud sponsor of the first-ever Climate Justice Pavilion inside the Blue Zone, which will bring together representatives from the Global South, the U.S. Environmental Justice Movement, and Indigenous peoples to spotlight the voices of communities disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis. The Sierra Club will be hosting an environmental justice panel in the Climate Justice pavilion this Thursday with Global Climate Grassroots Leaders from across Africa and Asia to discuss the pressing issues facing their regions, their priorities for COP27, and more. Press advisory to follow.
Ahead of COP27, the Sierra Club released its analysis of the real world benefits achieved by the IRA that support communities and working families. The Sierra Club also released a new analysis on how Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) and Coal Retirement Mechanisms (CRMs) can protect public health through coal plant closures and a just transition for workers and communities.
In response, the Sierra Club’s International Climate and Policy Campaign Director, Cherelle Blazer, issued the following statement:
“As the world convenes to take action on climate, we are looking to the US to play a leading role after the passage of the historic Inflation Reduction Act, which will drive critical climate action at home. As the largest historic carbon emitter, we need the United States to do its part to address the climate crisis globally. This means the US must take steps to achieve tangible outcomes on Loss and Damage, commit to our fair share of international climate finance, and promote climate-friendly trade. The US must deliver on its international promises at COP27. There is no time to waste.”
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Sierra Club Delegation at COP27:
- Ramon Cruz, Sierra Club President
- Cherelle Blazer, Senior Director of International Climate and Policy Campaign
- Leslie Fields, National Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Legal
- Steve Herz, International Climate Advisor
- Cindy Carr, communications lead for the International Climate and Policy Campaign
During the negotiations, the Sierra Club will be closely following the negotiations and progress on US climate action and commitments, Loss and Damage, the global coal phase-out, Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs), climate finance, coal diplomacy, and more.
Please contact Cindy Carr (cindy.carr@sierraclub.org or +14129998223 on WhatsApp) to set up interviews.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.