Join Me on the Road to Copenhagen!

Click Join Me on the Road to Copenhagen! to donate to help send Paul to the UN Climate Convention in Cophenhagen, Denmark. Read on about what Paul plans to do while in Copenhagen.

Paul Thompson, Edina Energy and Environment Commissioner will be representing Edina at the UN Climate Convention in Copenhagen, Denmark Dec 7-18, 2009

The purpose of the Convention is to draft a new global treaty that will guide our planet away from the worst aspects of climate change by getting countries on course with building a sustainable energy system to lower CO2 emissions and develop policies that support the mitigation and adaptation of the damage already done by rising sea levels, famines, droughts and floods caused by unpredictable weather changes.

The focus of Thompson’s 3-week trip to Copenhagen will be to be the eyes and ears of the negotiations as an official delegate through ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability, http://www.iclei.org). He will be covering the myriad of actions and demonstrations planned during the convention to dramatize the urgency of people already suffering from the worst aspects of climate change.

At the ICLEI Local Government Lounge, Thompson will be sharing the work done by the Edina Energy and Environment Commission in measuring our carbon emissions and share our action plan that is engaging citizens to become “smart energy users” and having Edina lead the way as a newly designated “Green Step City” http://www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/greensteps

"Through my daily blogs and You Tube videos I am hoping to bring the energy of this historic convention into the homes and classrooms, churches and businesses of Edina and all over Minnesota. At the same time I will be gathering information and building partnerships with other cities from around the globe that are implementing leading edge thinking and technologies around reshaping our world towards 350 ppm of CO2 in our atmosphere."

According to the best science available, 350 ppm (parts per million) is the maximum safe level of CO2 in our air to continue life on our planet, as we have known it for the past 100 years. Currently our level is at 390 ppm and rising fast.

Having organized Edina’s successful 350.org Day of Climate Action event on 10/24 (Sun Current Oct. 29, page 17) as part of the Edina Day of Service, Thompson is well aware of the growing need and willingness of citizens to lower their carbon emissions and move towards a more renewable energy system. About 350’s October 24 th Day of Action Thompson said, "With over 5,200 actions in 181 countries and what CNN called the most widespread day of political action in the planet’s history, the citizen movement is fully engaged… we now challenge world governments to catch up with us."

Visit Thompson’s blog site at :

http://ptfydisc-onecoolplanet.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html

Action requests from Thompson:

1. To let Thompson know what message you want to carry to the delegates and world leaders at the UN Convention and what information you want sent back about the negotiations.

2. To make a donation to cover Thompson’s trip expenses and the work of the Edina Energy and Environment Commission go to http://www.edinacommunityfoundation.org/donate-now.html