With the presidential election less than 15 days away, some issues are coming to the forefront while others have faded into the background. Issues like climate change have been discussed less in recent election news, but some organizations are trying to make sure the issue isn’t forgotten.

1Sky is “a new national campaign to pass strong and effective climate legislation in the United States,” according the organization’s Web site, www.1sky.org.
Presently, the non-partisan 1Sky campaign is focused on calling attention to climate issues in the 2008 election and keeping the issue in the spotlight as the new administration and the new Congress take office.

1Sky traces its origins back to April 2007, when a group of climate issue leaders met with leaders from many other areas, including faith, human rights, communication experts and climate scientists.

The campaign was established not as another new institution, but as a place for like-minded people to stand together as one united group, raising awareness for climate issues.

This campaign became 1Sky, which characterizes itself as “a campaign aimed at bringing hundreds of diverse organizations together in support of a unified platform for transformative change,” according to the organization’s Web site.
1Sky is based on three imperatives related to climate change.
First, climate change legislation and policy must commit to the realization of strong short-term targets for the reduction of global warming emissions. This includes cutting carbon emissions by up to 80 percent of the emission levels of 1990 by the year 2050.

Second, climate change legislation and policy must benefit the public, jumpstart a clean energy economy, and protect vulnerable populations. This imperative argues that funds generated from the sale of pollution allowances or taxes should be returned to the public in an attempt to offset potential rises in energy costs.
In addition, the funds could be invested in accelerating the country’s transition to a clean energy future or to provide funding for vulnerable communities that depend on the fossil fuel sector for their livelihoods – potentially some of the communities in North Dakota which have seen population booms due to recent oil activity.

Third, climate change policy must transform the country’s energy priorities. This would require a legitimate shift from fossil fuel independence to a clean energy future and incentives for energy efficiency and renewable forms of energy.
While 1Sky encompasses more than 100 different organizations and has even received support from former President Bill Clinton, the base of the organization is made up of average citizens concerned about the future of the environment.

“I’ve always been interested in making positive social change, particularly dealing with environmental issues,”  Pete Williams, a 2008 graduate of St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. and 1Sky intern, said. “During my time as an undergrad at St. Olaf College, I participated in various groups and causes dealing with making social change, including leading the campus peace and justice chapter.”

“I graduated in 2008 and got into an amazing program called Green Corps, which I’m currently in. It’s a year-long field school for environmental campaign organizers, training the next generation of environmental and social change leaders,” Williams said. His internship with 1Sky is part of his work with Green Corps.

“1Sky was the internship I chose because I wanted to make a difference at the top level of government – the next president,” he said.

“1Sky is pushing for bold federal legislation to solve the climate crisis, and I personally believe that we need these structural changes to the system in which we live.”