Issue in Focus: U.N. Climate Negotiations
Dominic participates in U.N. Climate Negotiations in Copenhagen and Bali
Dominic is active in the growing international youth climate movement, and
was a U.S. youth delegate to the United Nations climate negotiations in 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark and in 2007 in Bali, Indonesia. The Kyoto Protocol is slated to expire in 2012, and international leaders are grappling over an agreement which will slow the accelerating deterioration of the atmosphere.
As a member of the International Youth Delegation, Dominic helped advocate for bold and comprehensive action to start the transition to a clean energy economy.
"America can lead the transition to clean energy and ensure a safe, abundant, and majestic world for our generation and generations to come," Dominic said. "It is critical for young people to have a strong voice in the international policy which will define our lives."
In Copenhagen, as an "Agent of Change" with SustainUS, Dominic worked closely with a team of youth from the U.S. and around the world on developing policy recommendations, engaging media, and building a network of U.S. youth. During the negotiations, Dominic worked with youth from the U.S. and around the world, met with the U.S. State Department and senior Obama administration officials, and coordinated a statement of over 100 young elected officials from 30 states calling for American leadership in transitioning the world to clean energy. In Bali, Dominic coordinated the writing of the high-level speech to assembled government ministers and delegates.
Dominic wilth members of SustainUS at the United Nations
SustainUS is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization run entirely by volunteers 26 years of age or younger. Founded in 2001 to prepare U.S. youth for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the organization has since expanded to include local chapters in six cities, as well as two national programs engaging young scientists and future policymakers. Through these efforts, SustainUS has developed and maintained strong working relationships with the U.S. State Department, national and international organizations, and youth leaders from around the world. SustainUS is online at
www.sustainus.org.