Abigail Borah

American environmental activist

Abigail Borah is an American environmental activist who interrupted Todd Stern at the 2011 United Nations Climate Change Conference[1][2] and who co-founded Race to Replace Vermont Yankee.

Early life and education

Middlebury College

Borah grew up near Princeton and attended Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart.[3]

Borah studied at Middlebury College[1] where she majored in Conservation Biology.[4] While studying, she joined SustainUS, who sent her to the 2010 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Cancun (also known as COP-16.)[3]

Activism and career

Todd Stern at COP18 in Doha, 2012

In 2011, when she was 21 years old,[5][6] Borah interrupted US negotiator Todd Stern at the 2011 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-17) in Durban[3] to say:

“I am speaking on behalf of the United States of America because my negotiators cannot. I am scared for my future. 2020 is too late to wait.”[1][7]

Borah was met with applause from the audience[8][6] and had her credentials allowing her to attend the conference removed by guards.[5] Stern later conceded that he agreed with her points.[1] She was later dubbed as the "Durban Climate Hero" by Climate Progress.[9]

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant

Borah is the co-founder of Race to Replace Vermont Yankee, a campaign that aims to replace nuclear power in Vermont with clean energy.[10][11]

See also

  • Emily Cunningham
  • Julia Butterfly Hill
  • Nicole Hernandez Hammer

References

  1. ^ a b c d King, Ed (2015-11-13). "Stern discipline: The US climate envoy walking a fine line". Climate Home News. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  2. ^ Audrey (2012-01-09). "Abigail Borah '13 Ejected from COP 17 for Disrupting Speech | MiddBlog". Middblog. Archived from the original on 2012-01-09. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  3. ^ a b c Lemonick, Michael D. "Abigail Borah: COP-ping an Attitude on Climate Change". www.climatecentral.org. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  4. ^ "Abigail Borah | The Senior Admissions Fellows Blog". Retrieved 2022-02-22.
  5. ^ a b "Durban Climate Hero Abigail Borah: 'I Am Speaking On Behalf Of The USA Because My Negotiators Cannot'". 9 December 2011. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
  6. ^ a b Broder, John M. (2011-12-08). "U.S. Climate Envoy Seems to Shift Stance on Timetable for New Talks". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  7. ^ Roewe, Brian (2011-12-13). "Youth speak out in Durban: Get it done! (video)". National Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  8. ^ Goodman, Amy (8 Dec 2011). ""I'm Scared For My Future": Student Disrupts Speech By US Climate Envoy Todd Stern in Durban". Democracy Now!.
  9. ^ "Speaking Youth to Power". Commonwealth Club. Retrieved 2022-02-22.
  10. ^ Cohan, Ellen (2015-05-04). "Abigail Borah". Climate One. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  11. ^ "Getting to know the Residential Sustainability Coordinators". The Middlebury Campus. Retrieved 2022-02-20.


External links

  • YouTube video (via Democracy Now!) of Borah at COP-17