PNND and COP23 Climate Change conference

PNND Council member  Senator Nan Orrock (Georgia, U.S) and PNND Global Coordinator  Alyn Ware, are participating in the Inter-Parliamentary Union Special parliamentary meeting at COP23 Climate Conference in Bonn, Germany, November 12, 2017.

Senator Orrock, a leading member of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, will inform the meeting on the commitment and actions being taken by over 550 State legislators in the United States to uphold and implement the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, despite its rejection by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Senator Orrock will highlight the Statement from State Legislators Supporting Climate Action and Opposing President Trump's Withdrawal From the Paris Climate Agreement.

'We are state legislators representing 45 states with a total population of over 298 million United States citizens and we stand united in opposition to the president’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement.'

We stand with the 292 United States mayors representing more than 60 million Americans, the governors of 12 states with a total population of over 102 million, and 194 countries committed to upholding the ambitious goals adopted in the Paris Agreement.'

'As state legislators, we declare our commitment to work with our legislative colleagues, our governors, and our constituents to ensure that we continue this country’s leadership role to build a 21st century clean energy economy and that we meet or exceed all of the deliverables in the Paris Agreement.'

'With or without the president’s leadership, our country must continue to lead the fight for climate action. Working together across multiple states, we will ensure our great nation does not go backward and meets or exceeds the Paris Agreement.'

Nuclear disarmament and climate protection

Alyn Ware will highlight the connections between nuclear disarmament and sustainable development, including protection of the environment.

'Achievement of the SDGs and implementation of the COP 21 will depend on political will and the allocation of sufficient resources. Progress on nuclear disarmament would assist in achieving these goals in three key ways,' says Mr Ware.

'Firstly, thorugh a re-allocation of financial, scientific, intellectual, political and personnel resources from nuclear weapons to climate protection and SDG implementation.'

'Secondly, throught the reduction of tensions and conflicts currently perpetuated by nuclear threat postures, and the increased cooperation that would occur from joint verification of nuclear disarmament agreements, which would enhance the cooperation and trust required for implementing the Paris Agreement and SDGs.'

'Thirdly, the use of nuclear weapons in an armed conflict would likely cause catastrophic consequences to the climate, and would likely trigger a global nuclear holocaust from which there would be zero chance of achieving the SDGs.'

PNND has joined with World Future Council and the International Peace Bureau on an education and action initiative 'Move the Nuclear Weapons Money' which includes a focus on nuclear disarmament for sustainable development.