Colorado activists to rally at capitol ahead of Cancun climate talks

Colorado climate-change activists will converge on the west steps of the state capitol building in Denver Wednesday evening in conjunction with a national demonstration in Washington D.C. aimed at urging President Barack Obama to take a stronger leadership role heading into United Nations climate talks in Cancun, Mexico, next month.

Scheduled for 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, activists will hold a rally and candlelight march around the capitol in Denver simultaneous to a national event at the White House. The goal is to highlight the need for a stronger U.S. leadership role leading up to the Cancun talks.

Colorado co-sponsors include: 1Sky, Colorado Interfaith Power and Light, Colorado Public Interest Research Group, Earth Guardians, Eco-Justice Ministries, Greenpeace, Grow Local Colorado, Protect Our Winters and Transition Denver.

“To make sure President Obama hears a powerful grassroots message about the need to reduce carbon emissions and support strong climate finance measures, 1Sky and the above partners are coming together for a national day of action during the first week of the Cancun talks,” 1Sky organizers said in a release.

The group went on to point out pending promises from U.N. climate talks last year in Copenhagen, which critics have blasted as largely a failure for U.S. policy, in part because of congressional gridlock on any sort of meaningful climate change legislation.

“At last year’s U.N. climate talks in Copenhagen, the U.S. agreed to reduce carbon pollution at home and help raise $100 billion a year by 2020 to help developing countries cope with climate chaos, protect their forests and transition to clean energy,” 1Sky wrote.

“The U.S. must lead developed nations by setting up a global climate fund, similar to the current global HIV/AIDS fund, and mobilizing public funds to support and protect the world’s poor. In addition, as the world’s second largest carbon emitting country, the U.S. must keep commitments to reduce carbon emissions and transition to clean energy.”

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