PRESS INFORMATION

Press Kit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 13, 2022

Contact: Karen Feridun, Better Path Coalition

Debra Smit, Breathe Project

300 People Marched on the Capitol at the First Pennsylvania Climate Convergence 2022

Grassroots Activists Call on Leaders Monday to Take Action on Climate Change, Install a 6' Climate Clock in the East Rotunda of the Capitol to Remind Harrisburg Leaders We Can't Wait

Harrisburg, Pa. – It's time for our Pennsylvania elected leaders to take decisive action on climate change.

At noon on Monday, the Pennsylvania Climate Conference installed a Climate Clock designed by Greg Schwedock that is designed to communicate what must be done to tackle the climate crisis and by when.

The window to take action is ticking away.

The Climate Clock displays three lifelines in blue-green. One lifeline is the percentage of energy produced worldwide from renewable sources. Another is the amount of money committed to the Green Climate Fund, a global fund to support developing countries in limiting the effects of climate change. The third lifeline is the amount of land protected by Indigenous people worldwide. More information on the clock can be found at www.ClimateClock.WORLD

More than 300 people attended a 3-day event in Harrisburg this weekend, June 11-13, culminating in a rally and march around the Capitol on Sunday. Today, Monday June 13, individuals and groups held face-to-face meetings with elected leaders and delivered a 16-foot scrolled petition with 6,000 signatures to Gov. Tom Wolf demanding that our government do more for Pennsylvania to be a part of the solution to one of the biggest crises faced by the planet. The petition will also go out to House and Senate leaders and agency chiefs.

The petition demands that our government STOP:

· Denying climate change;

· Subsidizing fossil fuel production;

· Ignoring hazards to communities from fossil fuel production;

· Prioritizing jobs in a dying industry rather than training for a new generation of jobs in clean, renewable energy;

· Talking about cutting greenhouse gas emissions while ramping up fracked-gas extraction, production and pipelines.

The 6-foot Climate Clock will be installed in the Capitol's East Rotunda to continually remind elected leaders that time is quickly ticking away on climate change. People have been hearing excuses about gas as a bridge fuel for over a decade. It's time that we are across that bridge to renewable energy, not fossil fuel band-aids.

“In a system that benefits from our disengagement, education and hope are key to empowering young people to advocate for change in their communities," says Elise Silvestri (she/her) of Sunrise Pittsburgh.

"Our demand is simple, inspired by the singular clear demand for action made by climate leaders like Greta Thunberg." said Karen Feridun, lead organizer for the PCC 2022. "Our message is one that allowed us to bring together people representing a wide array of climate issues who, individually, have many demands, but can speak this message with one voice. This will be the first in a series of sustained actions until we get the climate action we demand."

NOON, Monday June 13, 2022

Installation of the 6' Climate Clock

East Rotunda, Harrisburg Capitol

In Person and Live Streamed on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/pennsylvaniaclimateconvergence

HASHTAG #PAClimate2022