SustainUS COP Delegation Brings Frontline Experience and Expertise

SustainUS is a youth-led organization advancing justice and sustainability by empowering young people to engage in advocacy at the domestic and international levels. 

Earth Rising is proud to have supported the delegation of six BIPOC environmental activists and organizers that SustainUS sent to COP30. COP30 took place in Belém, Brazil and represented a unique opportunity to engage at the epicenter of international climate policy. For the SustainUS delegation, the conference was an opportunity to educate, support Indigenous activists and challenge the false solutions.

Prior to attending COP, the delegation prepared by collaborating with the International Indigenous Forum on Climate Change on their Just Transition position paper. They also worked with the 5F Fossil Fuel Phase-out Campaign and contributed to the Indigenous Youth position paper. 

During the conference, the delegation engaged in actions, marches, panels, press conferences, side events, observed negotiations, contributed to working groups, participated in meetings with negotiators and dialogues with the COP presidency. Additionally, due to the suppression of Indigenous Peoples at COP30, the delegation organized with other activists to ensure local indigenous voices were heard, including by helping indigenous activists gain access to the conference. As a BIPOC, youth-centered delegation, the team’s perspectives and firsthand experiences provide crucial information to climate conversations that can feel very removed from their impact. 

The delegation also participated in the Peoples COP which is a parallel conference focused on the real-life needs of frontline communities. The outcomes from the COP30 Peoples COP were then used to guide advocacy during the 1st Transitioning away from Fossil Fuels Conference in Santa Marta, Colombia this past April. 

The international climate conference space is crucial for bringing together people across space and borders to take action. However, crucial to the success of these conferences is ensuring the people most directly impacted and most knowledgeable about the impacts of the climate crisis are in attendance and given a platform. 

To learn more about SustainUS visit their website here.