Saturday, Dec. 12 marked the five-year anniversary of the world coming together to sign on to the Paris Agreement and the College of Saint Benedict  marked the moment by committing to a national mobilization for a clean energy economy and centering their own operations in pursuit of climate action.

In doing so, CSB joined over a thousand leaders from local governments, businesses, universities and other institutions across the country as part of the “America Is All In” multi-sector statement.

This multi-sector statement was delivered to the incoming Biden-Harris administration, as well as to United Nations officials and global heads of state at the Climate Ambition Summit hosted by the United Kingdom, on Dec. 12.

“As we look to recover from the dual public health and economic crises brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, we also look to the looming threat of the climate crisis,” said Rachel Brodeur, sustainability coordinator for CSB and Saint John’s University. “This is a moment to foster innovation, increase national security and protect the health and well-being of present and future generations. In our commitment to addressing the climate crisis, we are all in and welcome the opportunity to do our part to achieve these goals and push for bold climate action across the United States.”

The “America Is All In” declaration is organized by We Are Still In, a coalition in support for climate action and a pledge to uphold the United States commitments to reduce emissions under the Paris Agreement. With more than 3,900 organizations and institutions across all sectors of the United States, these leaders represent over half of the national population, nearly two-thirds of the economy, and more than half of the country’s emissions. While the United States officially exited the Paris Agreement on Nov. 4, the incoming Biden-Harris administration has committed to reentering the unprecedented global agreement.

“Dec. 12 is more than an anniversary of an agreement, it represents a critical turning point for the future of U.S. and global climate action,” said Elan Strait, Director of U.S. Climate Campaigns at World Wildlife Fund (WWF). “Nationally, we have stumbled in our leadership on climate action. But We Are Still In shows that there was a commitment to change in the United States that never faltered. This statement from Saint Ben’s and hundreds of groups like it across the country sends a clear message that, moving forward, we need a unified national response to the climate crisis.”

To date, the new statement has been signed by cities across the United States including St. Louis, Milwaukee and Washington, D.C., Fortune 100 businesses including Intel, HP Inc., and McDonalds, and Commonwealth of Virginia Governor Ralph Northam.

You can view the statement and signatories at AmericaIsAllIn.com and learn more at WeAreStillIn.com.