WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — American activists at international climate talks in Bonn, Germany have delivered a petition signed by more than 1 million Americans who want the United States to uphold the Paris climate agreement.
"Today, members of the US People’s Delegation delivered more than 1 million signatures from the 'I Am Still In' petition, signaling to the international community that people across America will lead on climate regardless of federal inaction," the Center for American Progress has announced.
The US People's Delegation is a grassroots movement of activists who are attending the 23d annual Conference of the Parties (COP23) to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change in Bonn.
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The United States has sent an official delegation to the talks, but activists decided to send one of their own after President Donald Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the Paris climate deal in a move criticized at home and by a number of foreign powers, including Paris.
"The United States will continue to stand up for climate action in the absence of federal leadership," Center for American Progress Vice President of Energy and Environment Policy Christy Goldfuss has stated.
"Today, we are bringing those voices to the international community and we will continue to support the governors; mayors; and tribal and local officials who are leading the way."
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On Tuesday, the Center for American Progress, Organizing for Action, League of Conservation Voters, Sierra Club and other activist groups hosted 38 events at various locations across the United States in support of local climate action to offset inaction at the federal government level.
The Paris agreement, which has so far been ratified by 162 signatories out of a total of 197, serves to outline the participants' ambitions and plans for reducing emissions, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and sets the goal to keep the increase in average global temperature at below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit).
Most recently, Syria has voiced its intention to join the deal, leaving the US as the only country in the world that remains opposed to the Paris accord.
