Defend Our Future Launches New Campus Climate Challenge at White House Event; Unveils New Website and Film
Campaign Goal: Mobilize Young Americans to Act on Climate Change
Campaign Goal: Mobilize Young Americans to Act on Climate Change
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With a goal of motivating more than one million young people to take action on climate change, Defend Our Future launched their new college campus campaign yesterday at the White House. At the "Universities Act on Climate" event which included commitments from more than 250 campuses, Defend Our Future student leaders, university presidents, and Obama administration officials gathered to showcase the innovative work that campuses are already doing to solve climate change.
Defend Our Future also showcased a short film at the event demonstrating the power of individual action to address climate change. #IWILLNOTWAIT, shows the importance of individuals taking action in the fight against climate change, instead of waiting for others to act first. The film is the first in a series of videos and events Defend Our Future will roll out over the remainder of the 2015-2016 school year.
"Students around the country are already finding innovative solutions to fight climate change," said Alicia Prevost, Director of Defend Our Future. "By amplifying the work that students and universities are already doing, this campaign will give young people across the country a platform to show policymakers how important climate change is to them, and that they are not waiting around for policymakers to take action."
"Defend Our Future is empowering the next generation of leaders to act on climate change," said Academy Award nominated actress Jessica Chastain. "Through their campus initiative, young people who will inherit the effects of climate change are demanding our elected officials take action. I applaud every person who joins this campaign and does their part to protect the planet."
"Young people care deeply about addressing climate change, and are eager to advocate for decisive action where we can no longer wait for policymakers to act," said Thien Chau, student body president at University of Nebraska Lincoln. "Defend gives us a platform to elevate campus-led solutions to improve sustainability and confront energy challenges."
Starting yesterday, the new Defend Our Future website will feature the Campus Climate Challenge, which encourages students across the country to show their commitment to solving climate change by pledging to take action now. Challenges include using a reusable water bottle, sending a postcard to your governor, and pledging to bring a bike share program to your campus or community. CycleHop, a bike share company based in Santa Monica, CA, will partner with Defend our Future to deploy and expand bike share systems on college campuses across the country. For more information click here.
To learn more about the campaign, the challenges and to see and share the #IWillNotWait video, visit www.defendourfuture.org, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (DefendOurFuture).
About Defend Our Future
Defend Our Future, an initiative of Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), is dedicated to empowering young people to lead the fight against climate change. We are building a movement to show our elected leaders that we aren't just waiting for them to act on climate change – we are taking action ourselves: in our personal lives, in our communities and in our government. Learn more at www.defendourfuture.org.
Contact: Tiffany Edwards
(202) 331-0110, [email protected]
SOURCE Defend Our Future
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