By Betsy López-Wagner
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Earlier this month, more than 60 groups joined forces to launch “I Am Still In,” reminding the world that President Donald Trump does not represent the American people on climate.
The League of Conservation Voters’ (LCV) Chispa, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Latino Victory Project, Hispanic Federation, National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), Voces Verdes, and GreenLatinos, among others, joined an already broad coalition of environmental and progressive groups to announce the launch of “Sigo en Paris,” a Spanish-language version of the “I Am Still In” petition.
The petition sends a clear message to the international community that people across this country, and specifically Latinos, are essential in the effort to make sure that the United States remains a climate leader—regardless of inaction by the Trump administration.
Communities, states, cities, businesses, investors, colleges and universities, and others have stepped up in massive numbers to reject the president’s reckless move to withdraw from the climate agreement. Today, various leading Latino groups sign their name to “Sigo en Paris” in hopes of reminding the rest of the world that meeting the Paris Agreement’s climate goals cannot be achieved without Latino participation—an important segment of the American population.
To build on the success of the first petition, today, LCV’s Chispa, LULAC, Latino Victory, Hispanic Federation, Voces Verdes, GreenLatinos, Azul, National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), Climate Parents, Climate Caretakers, Greenpeace, Rock the Vote, Dosomething.org, Environmental Defense Center, and Surfrider Foundation are partnering with the Center for American Progress, the Sierra Club, the League of Conservation Voters, 350.org, Environment America, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Oxfam, Climate Nexus, the Environmental Defense Fund, The Climate Reality Project, Organizing for Action, the Union of Concerned Scientists, Interfaith Power and Light, the World Wildlife Fund, Resistance Manual, Chicago Women Take Action, National Health Law Program, Moms Clean Air Force, Defend Our Future, ProgressNow, Public Citizen, An Inconvenient Sequel, Hip Hop Caucus, Pantsuit Nation, 5 Calls, Ohio Environmental Council, Wall of Us, ProgressOhio, and many others asking the Latino community to become citizen supporters of the Paris Agreement and say “Sigo en Paris.”
“Sigo en Paris because it is the right thing to do on behalf of people across the globe, especially communities of color, Latinos, who are directly affected and feel the consequences of climate change,” said Ernesto Vargas, LCV’s Chispa national director. “Latinos have an overwhelming desire for bold action on climate, and we want our government to go all in to protect Madre Tierra. For us, this is a justice issue, a public health issue, a safety issue, and an economic issue—we cannot afford to give up. We must protect the health of our families, our community, and the environment.”
Visitors to the Sigo en Paris website will be able to sign a petition to say they are “still in” and commit to reducing their own emissions; supporting action by states, cities, and businesses; and holding members of Congress accountable.
Betsy López-Wagner is bilingual communication director for CHISPA/League of Conservation Voters.
