In April 2009, IRIS held an Ecojustice Conference: "How Will Disenfranchised Peoples Adapt to Climate Change?". This unique conference brought community activists and activist scientists from Brazil, India, South Africa and Arctic Canada to discuss climate justice. The conference presenters proposed that York University participate in the COPs. In August of 2009, York University officially secured United Nations Climate Change Conferences (UNFCCC) observer status. Since 2009, we have been attending the COPs and advocating for climate justice.
A delegation of students, staff and faculty attended COP 15 in Copenhagen Denmark in December 2009. York has continued to send delegations of faculty and/or students to attended the UNFCCC since then. During COP15 York and ECOAR launched the Global Climate Justice for Disenfranchised People Web Portal. The student body was engaged in developing presentation ideas for the conference, a banner of messages to COP15 delegates, and a movable mural. Students also prepared a video of thoughts on climate justice and climate change. The video features Prof. Jose Etcheverry. View the York Climate Justice Video here.
Visit our Climate Justice Website for more information on IRIS' delegations to the COPs.
