Kids Demand Climate Action

There are waves of legal actions from kids around the world demanding that their governments act to combat climate change. In the absence of science based climate action a court-ordered mandate to reduce emissions may be our best hope of protecting our planet for future generations.

Kids are leading the call for climate action as a matter of survival. They are protesting the inaction of their political leaders and turning to the courts to demand that governments reduce greenhouse gas emissions and phase out fossil fuels. As these kids point out, they are being forced to act because adults are behaving like irresponsible children. Emboldened by leaders like 15 year old Greta Thunberg kids around the world are coming together to demand action.

Juliana v. United States

Almost four years ago a 15 year old environmental activist made headlines for being among 21 young plaintiffs suing the US government over its failure to adequately address climate change. Xiuhtezcatl Tonatiuh along with 20 other young people launched a lawsuit calling for a national climate plan. The lawsuit known as Juliana v. United States alleges that the government is denying young people their constitutional rights by failing to act on climate change. 


The suit was originally filed in 2015 in Eugene Oregon. It claims that the government and the fossil fuel industry knew the causes and effects of climate change but failed to act violating the plaintiffs’ constitutional right to live in a stable, habitable climate.

The fossil fuel industry is on trial along with the federal government for infringing on the constitutional rights of young people including their rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  For more than five decades government support for fossil fuels has increased emissions which, according to the filing, violates the public trust by failing to protect a common resource.

A scientific paper written in support of the Juliana lawsuit states that climate change "unarguably sentences young people to either a massive, implausible cleanup or growing deleterious climate impacts or both".

In 2016 a federal judge in Oregon ruled that the case could move forward. Although President Barack Obama and members of his administration were the original defendants, in February 2017 they were substituted with the current president Donald Trump and his cabinet secretaries and agency heads.

In March 2018 the Trump administration failed to stop the climate lawsuit. The federal government’s request to halt the lawsuit "is entirely premature," wrote Judge Sidney Thomas, the chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit.

In October 2018, a federal district court allowed the suit to move forward. In her ruling Judge Ann Aiken set a judicial precedent in her decision, when she wrote: "I have no doubt that the right to a climate system capable of sustaining human life is fundamental to a free and ordered society". 

In November 2018, the Trump administration managed to successfully stay the Juliana v. the United States trial. The 21 young plaintiffs immediately filed an emergency motion with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to lift the stay. The plaintiffs reiterated their allegation that the federal government’s "ongoing systemic conduct in controlling and perpetuating a fossil fuel energy system" has already led to dangerous climate impacts.

Juliana v. United States was scheduled to go to trial in Oregon beginning on February 5, however, the stay issued by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals gave the Trump administration a victory. Climate Liability News summarized the legal intrigue as follows:

"The Supreme Court issued a brief stay, then revoked it, and the Ninth Circuit rejected the government’s four requests for a writ of mandamus, an extremely rare pre-trial appeal, but its most recent decision keeps the proceedings on hold."

Our Children's Trust

Oregon-based nonprofit Our Children's Trust has supported climate lawsuits all across the US. They have been at the forefront of crafting a legal strategy that opens up a new front in the war against climate change.

Youth plaintiffs supported by Our Children’s Trust, launched state-level lawsuits in Alaska, Washington and Florida. State judges dismissed the cases in Alaska and Washington, but both sets of plaintiffs are appealing.

The Florida lawsuit is still very much alive. The suit was launched by eight plaintiffs ranging in age from 10 t0 20 against the state of Florida, former Republican Gov. Rick Scott, state agencies and the heads of those agencies. The young plaintiffs accuse the state of violating their constitutional rights by "perpetuating an energy system that is based on fossil fuels."

One of the plaintiffs is Delaney Reynolds, an eighteen year old climate advocate. "Our climate change crisis is the biggest issue that my generation will ever face, and it's up to us, today's children, to fix this problem," Reynolds said. "It is my hope that the court will rule to require that Florida enact and enforce laws to reduce and eliminate carbon emissions so that our state and citizens can have a future here."

The Florida lawsuit is but one of many lawsuits supported by Our Children's Trust. They have brought suits in 50 states calling for climate action and and reductions in fossil fuel usage. In a statement, Our Children's Trust said governments have a "legal and moral obligation to protect current and future generations from the intensifying impacts of climate change".

The importance of Juliana

As reported by Grist, the case may be, "the best shot at large-scale climate action under the Trump administration."  Julia Olson is the executive director of Our Children’s Trust and she is the council leading the Juliana litigation. She called the lawsuit "this generation’s Brown v. Board of Education." Trump administration’s lead lawyer Eric Grant called the case the "trial of the century."  

Despite the stay, Juliana v the United State has already broken new legal ground by getting a District Court judge to declare that the plaintiffs have a constitutional right to a stable climate. 

Grist quotes Michael Burger, executive director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University as saying the litigation is key to climate action.

"This is strategic impact litigation," says Burger. "As you can see from the global interest, it’s already had a real impact. It’s starting to shape the conversation about climate change....The time may be right for Juliana and other lawsuits like it to gather real momentum, paving the way for meaningful victories" Berger told Grist. He believes cases like this could put real pressure on industries and governments to pay for local adaptation projects and make firm commitments to reduce emissions.

Also in Grist, Kassie Siegel, director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s Climate Law Institute calls the Juliana lawsuit an "especially crucial in the fight against climate disruption". She also said said this lawsuit empowers young people to advocate for their rights and that "drives social change."

EU climate lawsuit is part of a global phenomenon

The US is not the only place where young people are suing their governments and demanding climate action. Suits in Europe, India, New Zealand, and Pakistan all allege that their governments have failed to enact effective policies and they continue to rely on fossil fuels. 

"Worldwide, there is a great deal of interest in the Juliana case not just because of the practical outcome that it might or might not achieve, but because of what it represents," says Berger. "Deeply held values about environmental protection, about inter-generational equity, about the need to address climate change — these things can be linked to specific legal rights embodied in constitutions or in common law."
 
Kids and their families have filed a lawsuit against the EU. The suit often called the "People’s Climate Case," demands that governments protect citizens from climate change. This suit is focused on the EU's inadequate 2030 emissions reduction targets. The 10 families that are bringing the suit are from Portugal, Germany, France, Italy, Romania, Sweden, Kenya and Fiji. Young children and representatives from Sweden’s indigenous Sami community are among the plaintiffs in this lawsuit.

As quoted by The Independent, Environmental lawyer Roda Verheyen, who is representing the families, acknowledges that this is a global phenomenon. "Climate change is already an issue for the courts in the European countries and around the world," Verheyen said. "The plaintiff families are putting their trust in the EU courts and legal system to protect their fundamental rights of life, health, occupation and property which are under threat of climate change. The EU courts must now listen to these families and ensure that they are protected."

The European litigation is supported by Climate Action Network (CAN), an umbrella group of environmental NGOs working to tackle climate change. The German NGO Protect the Planet is shouldering the costs of the legal case.

"In 2015, as part of the Paris agreement, countries agreed to pursue efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5C. Yet, it is clear that the existing EU 2030 climate target is not enough to respect the commitments taken in the Paris agreement and should be increased,” said CAN director Wendel Trio. This legal action initiated by families is underlining the urgency and the necessity to increase the EU’s 2030 climate target."

Political headwinds

The fact that the interests of this generation are threatening future generations is unconscionable.  However, efforts to engage climate action are being met by political headwinds in North America, Europe and Asia.

As long as conservatives are in power there is little to no hope of a political solution. This is especially true in the US where the current field of Republicans and the US commander and chief are all climate deniers.  

The US lawsuits may end up in front of the Supreme Court, however, partisan supreme court appointments may make progress difficult. with the recent additions of conservative justices Gorsuch and Kavenaugh to the highest court in the land make favorable rulings very unlikely.

"There’s just such extreme urgency right now to have these constitutional infringements addressed by our courts with the full factual records," Olson said.  In the argument against the stay in the US lawyers argued that a delay in the trial would contribute to a "miscarriage of justice". 

Delaying action is a serious concern as the window of opportunity to act gets ever smaller.  "Every week, or even every day, that our trial is delayed is time I spend further worrying about the stability of our climate system and the security of my future," said Kelsey Juliana, a 21-year-old plaintiff from Eugene, Oregon.

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Kids Are Fighting for their Lives

The warming world has dire implications for us all but it is especially dangerous for kids. They are more susceptible to heat, infectious diseases, air pollution, and food insecurity. They are forced to reckon with the realization that adults are destroying their future by failing to do what they must to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Studies show that children are disproportionately affected by climate change. The World Health Organization estimates that climate change related diarrheal illness will kill 48,000 children younger than 15 by 2030 and nutritional deficiencies are expected to kill 95,000 children in the same time frame. Children are also at greater risk of sickness and death from extreme heat, droughts and air pollution.

Kids are demanding climate action because they have the most to lose. Children like Greta Thunberg are enjoining the fight against climate change because she realizes that climate change threatens her very survival.  In a COP24 meeting with UN secretary general, António Guterres, Greta, said: "What I hope we achieve at this conference is that we realize that we are facing an existential threat. This is the biggest crisis humanity has ever faced. First we have to realize this and then as fast as possible do something to stop the emissions and try to save what we can save."

In a tragic twist of fate those that have done the least to cause the climate crisis will be the ones to suffer from the worst impacts. Future generations will pay the price for our inaction and children will bear the brunt of that cost. The financial toll could exceed $600 trillion and hundreds of millions may die from air pollution, heat, drought, and flooding. Many of these casualties will be children.

Research reveals that kids are the first to feel the effects of extreme weather and its after effects. They are more likely to be adversely impacted by storms, floods, drought and wildfires. Sea level rise, storm surges, extreme rainfall and flooding all cause mold. Children's developing immune systems make them especially vulnerable to mold and related infections. Climbing temperatures have also been tied to an increased incidence of waterborne diseases like bacterial infections that cause diarrhea.

According to a 2018 study called "Climate Change and Global Child Health," children will account for almost 90 percent of those who contract climate related diseases. Children, especially young children under 5 are at increased risk of contracting and dying from diarrhea, malaria and nutritional deficiencies.

The study revealed that kids are already suffering from the impacts of climate impacts. This is the view of one of the study's co-author, Dr. Kevin Chan, Chairman of Pediatrics at Memorial University and head of child health at Eastern Canada. As reported by CNN, Chan says we see evidence of children's vulnerability to climate change in hurricanes, heat waves and pathogens like the Zika virus.

This view is shared by Dr. Mona Sarfaty, executive director of the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health and director of the program on climate and health at George Mason University's Center for Climate Change Communication. "The danger to children is real and is already witnessed by physicians in the US,"

"Children suffer more heat impacts because they spend more time outside. They are more vulnerable to the heat-related increases in air pollution that come from fossil fuel exhaust, because their lungs are still developing. Outdoor play also makes them more prey to insect vectors carrying dangerous infections," she said. "The doctors in our societies are seeing these problems today, and they will undoubtedly get worse if we don't decisively address climate change."

We also know that air pollution causes decrements in cognitive performance and this can be particularly injurious for developing brains.  The research suggests that air pollution may be linked to impaired learning and lower IQ.

Children are also more likely to experience psychological disturbances as a function of exposure to traumatic events. Displacement caused by climate change related cataclysms can also be very disruptive to children and in some cases it can damage mental health and lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

Pediatric organizations are sounding the alarm and advocating for climate action. In 2015, the American Academy of Pediatrics published an updated policy statement on global climate change and children's health in which they called for reductions in our carbon and environmental footprints. The National Children’s Health and Climate Leadership Forum joined ecoAmerica's coalition to amplify the call for climate action.

If we do not act we will reverse all of the progress we have made reducing childhood mortality and morbidity in the last quarter century.  As Sir David Attenborough stated recently, "the collapse of our civilizations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon". 

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Young People are Leading Climate Activism and Giving Us Reason to Hope

We live in a world where the adults are acting like children and the children are acting like adults. There is no escaping the conclusion that we have not done enough to protect kids from climate change. In defense of their futures children are taking it upon themselves to expose our unconscionable failure and demand climate justice. One of the world's leading advocates for climate action is 15 year old Swede Greta Thunberg. While some may see her as an angel, others think she is more like a ghost from Charles Dickens popular novella, A Christmas Carol. Either way the message Greta delivered at COP24 is reverberating around the world. She pulls no punches and tells it like it is. She reflects on her future and she imagines that if she has children one day they may ask her, "why you didn’t do anything while there still was time to act." She then makes an appeal to parents saying: "You say you love your children above all else, and yet you are stealing their future in front of their very eyes."

This excerpt from Greta's address at the recent climate conference in Poland explains where we are at and why we are not doing more:

"You only talk about moving forward with the same bad ideas that got us into this mess, even when the only sensible thing to do is pull the emergency brake. You are not mature enough to tell it like it is. Even that burden you leave to us children. But I don’t care about being popular. I care about climate justice and the living planet. Our civilization is being sacrificed for the opportunity of a very small number of people to continue making enormous amounts of money. Our biosphere is being sacrificed so that rich people in countries like mine can live in luxury. It is the sufferings of the many which pay for the luxuries of the few...Until you start focusing on what needs to be done, rather than what is politically possible, there is no hope. We cannot solve a crisis without treating it as a crisis. We need to keep the fossil fuels in the ground, and we need to focus on equity. And if solutions within the system are so impossible to find, then maybe we should change the system itself. We have not come here to beg world leaders to care. You have ignored us in the past, and you will ignore us again. We have run out of excuses, and we are running out of time. We have come here to let you know that change is coming, whether you like it or not. The real power belongs to the people."

Greta practices what she preaches. Every Friday she stages a protest in front of the Swedish Parliament to demand climate action. When she attended COP24 in Poland she traveled by EV to avoid the footprint associated with air travel. Greta also called on other kids to strike for climate action.  Tens of thousands of students in hundreds of cities and towns around the world have heeded her call.

In Australia thousands of children skipped school to protest their governments inaction on climate change. After students in Canberra held a protest, kids across Australia followed suit.  There were student protests in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and elsewhere.

"This is just the beginning. This is our first strike, our first movement altogether," one of the protest leaders said. "We will keep leading more campaigns until something is done".

Australia is not the only nation where Students are protesting. Students from schools all around the world are cutting class and going on temporary strikes to call for climate action. This includes kids in Poland, Germany, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, France, Belgium, Japan, Canada, the Netherlands, the U.S., and the U.K.

Changing our energy mix is at the top of the agenda of young people looking to defend their futures. Curtailing our use of dirty energy is critical that is why young people shut down a pro fossil fuel panel organized by the Trump administration at COP24.  "We need to keep the fossil fuels in the ground," Greta explained.

Following the student strikes more than one thousand youth activists came together to participate in a sit-in at Democratic leaders offices in Washington DC.  They went to the Capitol to support the idea of a Green New Deal. 

Young people are demanding action from the newly elected Democrat controlled House of Representatives "Any politician who wants to be taken seriously by our generation needs to support solutions that match the scale and urgency of the climate crisis," said Sunrise co-founder Varshini Prakash in a press release. "If the Democrats want the youth vote in 2020, they need to get to work on a Green New Deal in 2019".

In response to the protests Rep. McGovern (D-Mass), the incoming chair of the powerful House Rules Committee, said: "I want to make sure that it happens. I am committed to the House Select Committee on a Green New Deal to deal with the issue of climate change."

The fact that Rep. Hoyer has received more than a quarter of a million dollars from fossil fuel interests during his congressional career prompted Prakash to say: "We need you to do more than listen. We need you to take the #NoFossilFuelMoney pledge and support the proposed Select Committee on a Green New Deal by the end of the year. We're doing our job, will you do yours?"

Kids are fighting for their lives. To their credit, this generation of young people will not be mollified by platitudes they will settle for nothing less than concrete action.

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Like a Dickensonian Ghost Greta Thunberg Offers a Chilling Rebuke and a Haunting Warning

Fifteen year old Greta Thunberg spoke truth to power at the recent UN COP24 climate talks. Her address on behalf of environmental non-governmental organizations was one of the most powerful speeches ever delivered on climate action. Like a ghost from Charles Dickens' 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol she shows us what we have done, what we are doing and what we must do. She cuts through our excuses for inaction and exposes the insanity of our failure to do what common sense dictates we must. Here are the full transcripts of two speeches that she delivered at COP24:

Climate Change is Stealing Children's Future

Many people say that Sweden is just a small country, and it doesn’t matter what we do. But I’ve learned that you are never too small to make a difference. And if a few children can get headlines all over the world just by not going to school, then imagine what we could all do together if we really wanted to.

But to do that, we have to speak clearly, no matter how uncomfortable that may be.

You only speak of green eternal economic growth because you are too scared of being unpopular.

You only talk about moving forward with the same bad ideas that got us into this mess, even when the only sensible thing to do is pull the emergency brake.

You are not mature enough to tell it like it is. Even that burden you leave to us children.

But I don’t care about being popular.

I care about climate justice and the living planet.

Our civilization is being sacrificed for the opportunity of a very small number of people to continue making enormous amounts of money.

Our biosphere is being sacrificed, so that rich people in countries like mine, can live in luxury. It is the sufferings of the many which pay for the luxuries of the few.

The year 2078, I will celebrate my 75th birthday. If I have children, maybe they will spend that day with me. Maybe they will ask me about you. Maybe they will ask why you didn’t do anything while there still was time to act.

You say you love your children above all else, and yet you are stealing their future in front of their very eyes.

Until you start focusing on what needs to be done, rather than what is politically possible, there is no hope.

We cannot solve a crisis without treating it as a crisis.

We need to keep the fossil fuels in the ground, and we need to focus on equity. And if solutions within the system are so impossible to find, then maybe we should change the system itself.

We have not come here to beg world leaders to care. You have ignored us in the past, and you will ignore us again.

We have run out of excuses, and we are running out of time.

We have come here to let you know that change is coming, whether you like it or not.

The real power belongs to the people.

Thank you.

Here is Greta Thunberg’s speech to UN secretary general António Guterres

We Don’t Have Time

For 25 years countless of people have stood in front of the United Nations climate conferences, asking our nation’s leaders to stop the emissions. But, clearly, this has not worked since the emissions just continue to rise.

So I will not ask them anything.

Instead, I will ask the media to start treating the crisis as a crisis.

Instead, I will ask the people around the world to realize that our political leaders have failed us.

Because we are facing an existential threat and there is no time to continue down this road of madness.

Rich countries like Sweden need to start reducing emissions by at least 15% every year to reach the 2 degree warming target. You would think the media and everyone of our leaders would be talking about nothing else — but no one ever even mentions it.

Nor does hardly anyone ever talk about that we are in the midst of the sixth mass extinction, with up to 200 species going extinct every single day.

Furthermore, does no one ever speak about the aspect of equity clearly stated everywhere in the Paris agreement, which is absolutely necessary to make it work on a global scale. That means that rich countries like mine need to get down to zero emissions, within 6–12 years with today's emission speed, so that people in poorer countries can heighten their standard of living by building some of the infrastructures that we have already built. Such as hospitals, electricity and clean drinking water.

Because how can we expect countries like India, Colombia or Nigeria to care about the climate crisis if we, who already have everything, don’t care even a second about our actual commitments to the Paris agreement?

So when school started in August this year I sat myself down on the ground outside the Swedish parliament. I school striked for the climate.

Some people say that I should be in school instead. Some people say that I should study to become a climate scientist so that I can ”solve the climate crisis”. But the climate crisis has already been solved. We already have all the facts and solutions.

And why should I be studying for a future that soon may be no more, when no one is doing anything to save that future? And what is the point of learning facts when the most important facts clearly mean nothing to our society?

Today we use 100 million barrels of oil every single day. There are no politics to change that. There are no rules to keep that oil in the ground.

So we can’t save the world by playing by the rules. Because the rules have to be changed.

So we have not come here to beg the world leaders to care for our future. They have ignored us in the past and they will ignore us again.

We have come here to let them know that change is coming whether they like it or not. The people will rise to the challenge. And since our leaders are behaving like children, we will have to take the responsibility they should have taken long ago.

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The Festering Rot that is Corruption in the Trump Administration

Despite promises to "drain the swamp" Trump and his administration have been defined by ethics violations and rampant corruption. On the campaign trail Trump repeatedly vowed to end government corruption. Instead he has made it worse in ways that most could not have imagined.

Trump has been tied to shady deals, questionable financial partners, hush money, conspiracy, tax evasion, illegal payments, and conflicts of interest.

Although Trump has disparaged his own government (intelligence services, the Department of Justice, and the FBI) a report at the end of last year concluded that most Americans share the view that the White House is the most corrupt institution in government.


Corruption in the White House

Allegations of corruption against members of the Trump administration are ubiquitous. Headlines echo a resounding chorus of opinions and analyses that have all come to similar conclusions. According to Newsweek, Trump sits atop the most corrupt administration in US history  Zephyr Teachout, an expert on government corruption and a Fordham University law professor said Trump is at the head of, "the most corrupt presidency and administration we’ve ever had".

Reflecting on the Trump administration Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson concluded, "Never have we seen such utter chaos and blatant corruption". The New York Times described Trump as a "scandal ridden scoundrel", and Time described a White House "devoid of integrity". The Washington Post said, "Trumpism is rotten to its core and the stench of corruption is everywhere".

Presidential historian Robert Dallek says there is something nefarious that distinguishes the Trump presidency. Dallek is quoted as saying, "no American leader has acted with more unadulterated self-interest as Trump." According to Dallek Trump is not just allowing corruption he is encouraging it. "The fish rots from the head," Dallek said.

Resignations

In the first 6 months the Trump administration was plagued with complaints of ethics violation. During this time 6 members of his cabinet were accused of misusing public funds. Both Brenda Fitzgerald, the head of the Center for Disease Control and Tom Price, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, were forced out due to financial improprieties. Complaints were also leveled against Steve Mnuchin, Secretary of the Treasury and Ben Carson, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

In the most recent 6 month period Trump lost 5 cabinet secretaries. Former Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt was forced to resign because of a number of ethics controversies. Pruitt will be remembered for enfeebling the EPA, but most of all he will be remembered for his deregulatory agenda and its deleterious impact on the health of Americans

David Shulkin the former Secretary of Veterans Affairs was forced to leave due to ethics violations and misuse of taxpayer dollars. Tom Price Secretary of Health and Human Services resigned in the midst of a controversy over his use of private jets for government travel.

Most recently Ryan Zinke, was forced to resign his post as Secretary of the Interior due to ethics investigations. Zinke will be remembered for selling off rights to huge swaths of public lands to fossil fuel interests.

Rob Porter, White House staff secretary, resigned over multiple allegations of domestic abuse. Others have resigned because they strongly disagree with Trump's policy decisions. Gary Cohn resigned over the tariffs. James N. Mattis, often referred to as the only adult in the White House, resigned recently in the wake of Trump's decision to pull troops out of Syria and Afghanistan. White House ethics lawyer Stefan Passantino also left the Trump administration. 

Indictments and incarceration

Although the Mueller probe is not over several former Trump employees have been indicted and a few are serving time.  Former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos was arrested, he pleded guilty and was sentenced to prison. Sam Patten, a Republican operative and lobbyist pleded guilty to not registering as a foreign agent.

Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign chair, was indicted and convicted on eight counts with more to come. He will likely spend the rest of his life in prison. Former Trump campaign aide and Manafort’s longtime junior business partner, Rick Gates was indicted on similar charges to Manafort but unlike Manafort he has cooperated and received a plea deal. Michael Flynn, Trump’s former national security adviser, pleded guilty to making false statements to the FBI and he is awaiting sentencing.

Trump’s former lawyer and "fixer" pleded guilty to 8 counts including campaign finance violations where Trump is an unindicted co-conspirator. Cohen received a three year sentence. "The president is clearly guilty of high crimes and misdemeanors," said New York Times columnist Bret Stephens

Trump cheated to win the White House but the tentacles of corruption extend well into his presidency and may have even had a role in his stacking of judges on the Supreme Court.*

Russia

We have seen a number of indictments against Russians. A total of 13 Russian nationals and three Russian companies have been indicted as have Richard Pinedo, Alex van der Zwaan, Konstantin Kilimnik, and 12 Russian GRU officers.

Trump's son-in-law and top advisor Jared Kushner may be next. Kushner withheld information about his assets and his ties with Russian oligarchs. Trump himself is known to have shared intelligence with Russian diplomats and the evidence for collusion with Russia to win the 2016 election is expected to be among the findings contained in the Mueller report.

It is clear that the investigation is getting ever closer to Trump himself. It is almost certain that when the Mueller probe is released Trump and his inner circle will be exposed for their criminal malfeasance.

Why do we not see more Republicans publicly calling the president on his corruption? Perhaps Trump has acquired compromising information on them in the same way that Russia allegedly has kompromat on Trump.

Impeachment?

Trump's corruption was already widely known before he was elected and concerns intensified early in his presidency. In recent months some of those fears have proven to be warranted. The conviction of Michael Cohen impugns Trump in campaign finance violations.  Trump has also been found guilty of misusing funds from his charity.  But this is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

Trump's exposure may include but is not limited to collusion with Russia, obstruction of justice, treason, the emoluments clause of the Constitution, shady financial entanglements, nepotism, and numerous conflicts of interest.

Trump has power, but there are also checks and balances to that power. As explained in a New York Times opinion piece, it is unlawful for the president to exercise his power corruptly.  Federal statutes subject individuals to criminal penalties for the crime of obstruction of justice when they "corruptly" or by "any threatening letter or communication" try "to influence, obstruct, or impede, the due administration of justice". In this this context, corruptly implies improper use that is evil or wicked.

So what?

Corruption may end up being both the defining feature of Trump and his undoing. But what does this mean for the United States? The range of direct and indirect effects of corruption include the erosion of trust, impeding economic growth and undermining political stability. It leads to inefficiency and reduced government effectiveness. It also erodes the institutions of democracy. 

Some say that corruption is part of life and we should learn to live with it.  However, this view ignores the fact that corruption is a cancer that often kills its host. In a Business Insider an op-ed, James Traub argued that America has become "decadent" and he explains how this is tied to corruption. He concludes that this is, "the last stage before collapse."

* Deutsche Bank loaned Trump over $2.5 billion since 1998. The bank was fined $630 million for its role in a $10 billion Russian money laundering scheme in 2017. Justice Anthony Kennedy ceded his place on the Supreme court paving the way for Brent Kavanaugh. It is interesting to note that Justice Kennedy's son is a banker at Duetsche Bank.

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Corporate Activism and the End of Silence

Corporate activism is growing and ushering in a new era. Never before have corporations been more involved in activism or felt more compelled to engage. What corporate leaders say or don't say can have profound consequences for their personal reputations and the reputation of the brands they lead. Businesses are standing up for environmental issues, LGBTQ rights, immigration policies, sexual harassment, gun safety and climate action.

As they come to the realization that ethics are as important as cost and quality, businesses are doing more than just leveraging issues to sell their products and services. They are engaging in brand activism campaigns that build awareness and promote a message.

A Triple Pundit article declared: "Companies are increasingly adding their voices to these conversations and more as the trend of brands taking stands goes mainstream." The article cited the successful corporate activism of Bank of America, NASCAR, Nike, Patagonia, and REI. Stakeholders ranging from investors to consumers now expect companies to take a stand. A Shelton Group survey indicated 85 percent of consumers share this view. An Edelman's 2018 Trust Barometer report indicated that 64 percent of people think CEOs must lead on social issues and not wait for governments.

Global communications firm MSL has studied how corporate activism influences stakeholder behavior. "The days of being everything to everyone are gone. Brands may choose to take a stand on a controversial social or political issue, based on a very clear understanding of who they are and who their customers are," Ron Guirguis, CEO of MSL U.S. explained. "Today’s social activism requires companies to do more than just the right thing—it’s requiring a much deeper understanding of the organization’s obligation to help solve some of our most difficult and divisive social issues."

Silence is no longer an option. Companies see risks associated with being perceived as disconnected from their customer's values. Increasingly they are being forced to take a stand. In our polarized environment this entails identifying and aligning a company's values with those of their customers.

Being controversial was once avoided like the plague. This has changed, it can now contribute to viral marketing, which is a powerful low-cost way of gaining exposure and reaching consumers in an authentic and organic fashion.

In the past the risk equation almost always tipped the scales in favor of inaction, nowadays that scale is weighted in the opposite direction. There is now more risk associated with inaction. Communicating values that align with consumers can help to sell your products or services. The key is knowing your customer's values. The world has changed and corporations that want to stake a claim must change too. 

Consumers are increasingly looking at a firms values to decide where they spend their money. Social and environmental issues are at the forefront of public consciousness, public facing brands that ignore this fact risk alienating their consumers.

These movements have power. In the wake of the Arab Spring we have seen how these popular uprisings can topple governments. In places like Romania collective opposition to corruption has forced a government to bend. In the US there have been massive protests against gun violence that has weakened the NRA.  Corporate activism is coalescing around social issues  like the women's movement and Black Lives Matter. We have also seen unparalleled environmental activism and some of the largest climate demonstrations in history.

In a Forbes article, Patrick Quinlan writes about the change we have seen in corporate activism. Quinlan is Co-founder and CEO of Convercent, a technology company that enables brands to instill ethics at their core of their organizations. Quinlan points to Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase who has spoken about the "moral obligation" of the private sector.

"Not long ago, 'lay low' was the appropriate CEO response to political and social debates. Business leaders felt they could (and in fact should) stay quiet. And consumers, for the most part, allowed it. Some of the old guard stand firm in the traditional apolitical approach, but acceptance of corporate silence has been waning for years. Sustained social and financial pressure from activists and consumers has forced brands to make a choice," Quinlan writes. "This is a tipping point in a much larger ethical transformation occurring in tech and across nearly every industry. Fueled by the rise of social media, unprecedented brand transparency and a greater consumer emphasis on corporate integrity, ethics are weighed more heavily than ever. Laying low is over -- the future will be built on the companies that do the right thing...Brands are quickly concluding they must proactively and intentionally step up -- or else risk even greater ire from a new generation of consumers. ...The scale has irrevocably tipped. There’s risk in standing up, but it’s far riskier to stay seated."

Corporations had once sailed under the radar on polarizing social issues but a new era has dawned where it is no longer possible to avoid public declarations.

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Green New Deal: The Moonshot of Our Generation

Democrats are proposing a Green New Deal to confront climate change. Newly elected legislators are joining forces with venerable law makers to promote government support for climate action. On December 10th more than 1000 young people went to the Capitol to support the proposed deal. A number of high profile supporters were present for an online town hall that drew thousands of viewers. There is widespread support from both progressive politicians and organizations, there are already 38 Congresspeople who have stood up to support Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) proposal for a Select Committee for a Green New Deal.

This is a high-profile bid to shift debate over climate change toward policy on the scale of the crisis. So far 311 state and local officials including forty-four mayors, 63 county and state legislators and 116 city council members are among the officials from 40 states who signed an open letter that calls for the phaseout of fossil fuels and adoption of serious climate policies. There has even been some support from some top oil and gas producers. 

Progressive Democrats are looking to pass the deal in 2020 when it is hoped that more responsible leadership will take the place of the Trump administration and the current slate of Republicans that control the Senate.

Bernie Sanders and others have repeatedly emphasized that climate action is largely about reducing our use of fossil fuels. This entails transforming our energy system by ramping up renewables. According to supporters this will translate to an economic boom. Such investments could save the planet and create millions of good-paying jobs.

Ocasio-Cortez compared climate action to the moonshot and called it, the civil rights movement of our generation. Van Jones and Bill McKibben were also present on the panel. This initiative is particularly timely in the wake of David Attenborough's warning that in the absence of consorted action we face the collapse of civilization.

To bring the idea to fruition Ocasio-Cortez is proposing a bipartisan Select Committee composed of 15 members that will be established once Democrats take control of the House early in 2019. They will draft legislation to help the US to achieve carbon neutrality and to significantly draw down and capture greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and oceans and to promote economic and environmental justice and equality.

The legislation will be crafted in close consultation with experts and leaders from business, labor, state and local governments, academia and broadly representative civil society groups and communities. It will provide opportunities for high-income work, entrepreneurship and cooperative and public ownership

The select committee will have the authority to investigate, study, hold hearings, make findings and convene experts and leaders.  The goals of the deal are as follows:

• 100% of national power generation from renewable sources;
• building a national, energy-efficient, “smart” grid;
• upgrading every residential and industrial building for state-of-the-art energy efficiency, comfort and safety;
• decarbonizing the manufacturing, agricultural and other industries;
• decarbonizing, repairing and improving transportation and other infrastructure;
• funding massive investment in the drawdown and capture of greenhouse gases;
• making “green” technology, industry, expertise, products and services a major export of the United States, with the aim of becoming the undisputed international leader in helping other countries transition to completely carbon neutral economies and bringing about a global Green New Deal.

The proposal acknowledges that we need more than just regulation, subsidies and taxation, if we are to quickly and smoothly transform the economy. We will need to stop using fossil fuels and invest in building retrofits to maximize energy efficiency, building a carbon-neutral power generation system, decarbonizing industry and agriculture and more. Investment capital is required to scale these types of projects in a timely fashion. According to some estimates we are talking about an investment of $1 trillion over 10 years (according to the most recent UN report there is a $26 trillion opportunity).

This is entirely consistent with the role that governments have played in the past. Governments have historically taken a leadership role in new tech and R&D that have subsequently spurred private sector boons. Examples include DARPA projects, the internet and Tesla motors.

Funding of these programs can include credit from the Federal Reserve which can extend credit to power these projects and investments, taxation tools (including taxes on carbon and other emissions and progressive wealth taxes) can also be employed.and the government can take an equity role in projects.

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Fashion Industry's Leadership at COP24

The fashion industry was on hand at COP24 and  they are working to transform the industry from an environmental Luddite to and environmental leader.  The industry has a well earned reputation for being environmentally destructive. Despite valient attempts from some clothing manufacturers to clean up their act, the industry is often wasteful and highly polluting.

The fashion industry, especially fast fashion, is among the dirtiest industries on earth.  Dozens of fashion brands came together at COP24, in Katowice Poland to sign a Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action under the auspices of the UN Climate Change Convention secretariat, UNFCCC.  This document is aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement and is targeting net-zero emissions by 2050.

Signatories include Adidas, Burberry, Esprit, Guess, Gap, Hugo Boss, H&M, Levi Strauss & Co., Puma, Inditex - which owns brands like Zara and Bershka, as well as retailer Target.

Many fashion brands are already sourcing environmentally sustainable materials. They are supporting low-carbon transport while raising consumer awareness.  These brands are looking at scalable solutions through resource and political mobilization. They are also exploring ways of extending the life expectancy of their products as well as recycling. 

"I congratulate the signatories of this important charter, which represents a unique commitment and collaboration from an array of fashion leaders. The Charter, like the renowned fashion runways of the world, sets an example that I hope others will follow," said UNFCCC chief Patricia Espinosa.

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The Achievements and Shortcomings of COP24

"We will all have to give in order to gain. We will all have to be courageous to look into the future and make yet another step for the sake of humanity."

Michal Kurtyka, senior Polish official

After 12 days of intense negotiations in Katowice Poland almost two hundred countries signed an agreement that keeps the Paris Agreement alive.  As has become habitual at the annual UN climate meetings known as the Conference of the Parties, officials had to work overtime to come to an agreement.

The crowning achievement of COP24 is the rulebook for the implementation of the Paris Agreement. This detailed set of rules includes a uniform approach to transparency that standardizes both carbon tracking and the reporting process.

Poorer nations received assurances that they would receive climate financing to help them reduce emissions and countries agreed to consider the issue of increasing emissions reduction ambitions next year in New York. Norway, Chile, and Vietnam have already started a review process to ratchet-up their ambitions.

As quoted in the the New York Times.Canada’s environment minister, Catherine McKenna, stressed the importance of the subnational governments and the private sector to solve the climate crisis.

"Of course it’s important to have these rules, but a lot of the real action is happening by entrepreneurs; it’s happening by business people; it’s happening by the finance sector; by the money flowing; it’s happening at the city and state level," McKenna said. 

At this year's conference of the parties we saw initiatives from business groups and international organizations including global development banks.  More than a dozen international organizations * have committed to climate neutrality. Many of these organizations are already tracking and reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. This one project alone stands to eliminate two million tons of carbon emissions each year. Perhaps most importantly they can inspire other organizations to do the same.

The United Nations has been working on making itself carbon neutral for eleven years and they expect to achieve their target by 2020. Over half of the UN system entities are currently climate neutral including UN headquarters in New York. 

Although there are some notable achievements, there were many ways in which the final agreement signed at COP24 fell short.  Delegates could not agree on the details to ratchet up ambitions nor could they agree on how to structure a carbon trading market. Brazil's resistance forced negotiators to punt the issue.  

Officials were not even able to agree on the scientific basis for action. Rather than endorse the the UN report prepared for the summit, the US, Russia and Saudi Arabia demanded changes to the wording in the final agreement to belittle the report. Now that the session is over we are forced to concede that COP24 was manipulated by fraudulent economic arguments from a handful of nations who are intent on protecting their fossil fuel interests.

Reports consistently indicate that we need to radically reduce the amount of fossil fuels we burn. The benefits of renewables are driving countries like China to move ahead with clean energy independent of geopolitical trends.

The omissions in the final COP24 document must be understood in the context of Brexit woes in the UK, and the gilets jaunes that are tormenting France. The fact that the United States signed on to the agreement is somewhat astonishing given the proclivities of the current president.  

"Particularly given the broader geopolitical context, this is a pretty solid outcome," said Elliot Diringer, executive vice president of the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. "It delivers what we need to get the Paris Agreement off the ground."

In the context of our increasingly polarized societies, the outcome of COP24 gives us cause to hope.

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*Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Secretariat, Common Markets for Eastern and Southern Africa Secretariat (COMESA), Eastern Africa Development Bank (EADB), Western Africa Development Bank (BOAD), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Pacific Community, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, European Investment Bank (EIB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE), World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)

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Event - Conference on Sustainable Development (ICSD 2019)

The 7th International Conference on Sustainable Development (ICSD 2019) will take place on September 4, 2019 09:00 - September 5, 2019 19:30, in Rome, Italy. The Conference theme is: "Creating a unified foundation for the Sustainable Development: research, practice and education".

The 2019 Conference will once again provide a forum for the sharing of ideas, presentation of research findings, and discussion of professional issues relevant to Sustainability Science.

This ambition will proceed in a multidisciplinary way across the various fields and perspectives, through which we can address the fundamental and related questions of Sustainable Development. This interdisciplinary forum is for scholars, teachers, and practitioners from any professional discipline who share an interest in—and concern for— sustainability in an holistic perspective, where environmental, cultural, economic and social concerns intersect.

ICSD 2019 is an excellent opportunity to share your ideas and research findings relevant to the Sustainability Science,through the European network of academics Papers will be published in EJSD Journal(Thompson Reuters) and Proceedings

Your are invited to submit an abstract in the range of the following streams within the ICSD 2019 program:

1. Economic Sustainability:
Financial Sustainability, SME, MicroFinance,
Emerging Countries, International Trade,
2. Environmental Sustainability:
Water and Soil conservation, Healthcare,
Renewable Energies, Food and Environmental Legislation
3. Socio-Cultural Sustainability:
Sustainable Urbanism, Education, Human
Development, Psychology, Sociology

Speakers

Prof. Gian Paolo Caselli University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Prof. Leonardo Varvaro University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy.
Prof. Yee Keong Choy Keio University, Tokyo, Japan.

Proposals for paper presentations, posters/exhibits, or virtual presentation are welcom. Proposal ideas that extend beyond these thematic areas will also be considered. For more information about the ideas and themes underlying this community send an e-mail at: icsd@ecsdev.org

Virtual participation is available for those who are unable to attend the conference in person. All conference registrants (in-person and virtual) will be published in the European Journal of Sustainable Development, Special Issue ICSD 2019 Deadlines

Mar 10 2019 Oral abstracts deadline Mar 30 2019 Poster abstract deadline Apr 14 2019 Early bird registration deadline Jun 16 2019 Standard registration deadline Jul 15 2019 ICSD 2019 deadline

For more information click hereTo register click here.

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What Businesses are Doing at COP24

Members of the business community were present at 24th Conference of Parties (COP24). The UN climate talks in Katowice, Poland showcased a wide range of private sector accomplishments. They also supported a number of studies which indicate that adopting less environmentally harmful practices is good for business.

The business community is vulnerable to climate change. As explained by ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO., "a failure to address climate change will hurt us all."

Business is present because climate change is a very real and ominous threat to commerce of all kinds. The business community also brings the experience and expertise necessary to craft solutions. They are also present because they also know they have a lot to gain.

Shattering myths

One of the themes to surface at COP24 is that business leaders do not need to chose between profits and the health of the planet. All sectors, even those that are viewed as major producers of greenhouse gases are deriving value from new technologies and new business models. This fact shatters the myth that climate action is incompatible with economic growth.  The businesses cases are piling up proving that sustainability benefits the bottom line.

The biggest single detractor to climate action is the United States and like other nations the ruling government uses an economic argument to justify inaction. The argument that the cost is too high is a ruse that is not supported by factual analysis. A number of cost benefit studies make it clear that the benefits of action far outweigh the costs. In simple language we cannot afford to ignore the costs of climate change.  Yet the ruling US government refuses to consider math that factors the costs.

Climate change is a serious threat but it can also be a tremendous opportunity. A UN report indicated that by 2030 there will be $26 trillion in economic benefits associated with climate action. The costs of climate inaction will be much greater.

Paris Rulebook

The primary goal of COP24 is the so called Paris Rulebook. This is a framework that is intended to provide businesses and others with a way forward that is capable of meeting the Paris objectives. Other objectives involve ratcheting up ambitions and encouraging progressive policy decisions by government.

In many respects these objectives are interrelated. Widespread adoption of the Paris Rulebook would support long-term climate policies and much needed investments. Companies have a vested interest as climate policies affect companies’ domestic and international operations, supply chains, planning and investments. For businesses this translates to increasing investments in innovation, research, infrastructure and new tech.

ICC

The International Chamber of Commerce ICC sees business as a key agent of change and they have supported the inclusion of business in developing climate change policy.

"While business is participating in the implementation of the Paris Agreement, the dialogue could be much more effective. In the spirit of the Talanoa Dialogue – the Fijian tradition of inclusive, participatory and transparent decision-making – ICC urges Parties to include business in developing climate change policy, to accelerate and encourage private sector innovation in game-changing technologies through appropriate fiscal policies and de-risking flows of private capital into climate change adaptation and mitigation investment opportunities."

The ICC has recently launched a new paper setting out the global business community’s principles for a just transition. This is an approach that safeguards the economic and social viability of communities as we shift tow zero net emissions.

Global Compact

Representatives of the Global Compact were also at COP24 and they encourage business to adopt science based targets. This network of 9,500 small and large private companies are committed to investing in sustainable development. They lead by example and encourage other businesses to reduce emissions and adopt transparent reporting practices to align with the Paris accord and the SDGs. "We are calling on all companies across sectors and regions, to set their science-based targets to a new level of ambition, one that aligns with the 1.5°C target," said Lise Kingo, who heads the UN Global Compact. "This is the only way we can reach the ambition of the Paris Agreement and the UN sustainable goals by 2030" Kingo said.

At COP24, science based targets enjoyed the public support of Danish shipping giant Maersk, confectionery king Mars and French waste management conglomerate Suez. Almost half of Fortune 500 companies have set clear climate targets according to the Global Compact and in 2016 the efforts of 190 companies this resulted in a US$3.7 billion in savings.

WBCSD

Another sustainability initiative for COP24 comes from World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). On December 3, 2018, WBCSD released key policy recommendations for COP24 negotiators on behalf of nearly 200 global businesses.

"If we want to avoid the most devastating impacts of climate change, we have no choice: we must limit global warming to well-below 2°C, with 1.5°C as the new North Star. There’s no room for complacency. The science is clear: If we don’t act now, the world will surpass 3°C as early as 2100,with devastating consequences," the opening statement of the policy document reads.

This document acknowledges that while technologies and business models exist but it calls for urgent action as their uptake is far too slow to keep the planet from warming above the upper threshold limits. The WBCSD is calling for companies to commit to sustainability and summon the political will to address the climate crisis.

There are three key themes increased ambition, clear rules and strong enablers – which include effective carbon pricing mechanisms and ambitious resilience efforts.

Since the signing of the Paris Agreement over 800 companies with USD $16.9 trillion in market capital have made over 1,300 commitments to address global warming through the climate challenge which is part of the We Mean Business Take Action platform which is also calling for strong climate policies.

"Business is at the forefront," said María Mendiluce, Managing Director of Climate and Energy at WBCSD, adding we are, "calling on policymakers to step up".

Through the WBCSD’s Low Carbon Technology Partnerships initiative (LCTPi), hundreds of businesses are taking concrete action to implement their climate commitments on the ground.

As explained by the WBCSD, "Key businesses believe it’s time to go further, faster and stand ready to support global leaders in demonstrating the will to accelerate [reductions in] greenhouse gas emissions."

Solar Impulse Foundation

In an effort to bridge the gap between ecology and economy, the NGO Solar Impulse Foundation has put together 1,000 climate solutions. The idea is to assess their environmental impacts and their profitability.

As explained by the organizations founder Bertrand Piccard, "This is where can make a big difference for the protection of the environment… showing that it is profitable, that people can create jobs and make money with it". Picard is first person ever to circumnavigate the globe in a solar powered airplane. More than 1,500 companies have joined the initiative and there are 600 projects in the pipeline.

Some of the solutions include carbon-neutral homes, cleaner cooling systems, and more efficient and economical production of stainless steel.

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Economic Arguments as a Pretext to Torpedo Climate Action

National governments and conservative commentators commonly invoke economic arguments to justify climate inaction. However, a slew of studies flatly contradict the contention that the cost of climate action outweighs the benefits. Upon closer inspection it becomes clear that the economic argument is a ruse. There are a couple of factors driving this fraudulent economic argument. The first is the politics of conservative governments, the second is industry, particularly fossil fuels.

President Donald Trump tried to hide his own government's report because it concluded that the US economy will incur astronomical costs due to climate change. The economics of climate action are clear even though some nations play politics with the facts.

Factual assessments reveal that the benefits of climate action far outweigh the costs. When we analyze costs alongside benefits we find that climate change is a very serious economic threat, but climate action is also a tremendous opportunity. The recent UN report indicated that by 2030 there will be $26 trillion in economic benefits associated with climate action.

Clean energy has already created more jobs than the fossil fuel industry and there are far more substantial job opportunities on the horizon. Even if we ignore job creation and other economic spin offs associated with climate action, we simply cannot afford to ignore the astronomical costs of climate change. Yet the ruling US administration refuses to consider the math or factor the costs.

One of the biggest hurdles at COP24 is the dearth of leadership. No one has been able to fill the shoes of former president Barack Obama who played a critical role in securing the Paris Accord. French President Emmanuel Macron has been a climate leader in many ways, but his hand is now weakened by domestic protests.

The automotive sector and the coal industry are encouraging governments to put the brakes on climate action. Spain's automotive industry is pushing back against the government's proposed ban on fossil fuel powered cars after 2040. The German automotive industry is slowing climate action in that country and Germany is among the countries that continue to burn coal. The US, Australia and Poland are some of the other countries where coal continues to be in the energy mix.

As the dirtiest form of dirty energy there is global agreement that our burning of coal must come to an end. Coal contributes more greenhouse gases per unit than any other form of electricity generation which is why eliminating it is a top priority. Many have erroneously claimed that it is impossible to make the transition to cleaner forms of energy. If we want to dispel this myth we need look no further than the UK where the government has succeeded in reducing their coal based electrical generation from 42 percent down to 7 percent in just five years.

The economic argument is as bereft of veracity as climate science denial masquerading as skepticism. These fraudulent arguments are not about the facts, they are about the subversion of a truth which urgently calls us to act.

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