Climate change never affected my daily life until I lived for a decade on a Philippine island ...
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Where plastic pollution from trillions of detergent ‘sachets’ dams up waterways;
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Where tires and car batteries, complete with acid, are disposed of in the green forests of the jungle, polluting quietly and effectively while hidden from sight by the rapidly growing vines;
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Where the ocean’s temperature and acidity rose to the point that coral reefs died – first the corals, then the tropical fish, then the seafood. Still beautiful above the surf, but dead below.
When I returned to the U.S. in 2020, I encountered a blatant refusal to recognize that our way of life was killing the planet. Climate change denial is astounding. We understand intellectually, but it doesn’t affect us personally. As Palawan in the Philippines we are blinded, often by our systems. Here in the U.S., we urbanely discard our segregated trash into barrels which are picked up and transported out of our sight. Snorkeling reefs on vacation doesn’t enlighten you much.
When I became a board member of ICUUW in June 2022, I asked (begged) the board to designate me as their delegate for the 27th UN Climate Summit (COP 27) in Egypt, November 6-20, 2022, and they agreed.Participation in this event will create opportunities to align ourselves with those at the frontlines working to address this ‘great multiplier’ affecting every aspect of our lives.
Just in time, the United States Congress has approved the Inflation Reduction Act – again hiding from the true issue, since it is really a Climate Change Act. And a big one. The law will provide direct consumer rebates and tax credits to purchase more efficient appliances, provide up to $7,500 in tax credits for people to purchase electric vehicles, and create millions of good-paying jobs making and deploying clean energy in the U.S. How insulting it would have been to attend COP 27 without action from the historically largest polluter – the U.S.
My aim is to find organizations that share our values and understand the crisis that climate change presents, as well as seek opportunities for collaborative action. The climate crisis is now – not something in the future. After decades of cries for help, Pacific Island countries are leaving their ancestral homes because their lands are flooded and uninhabitable. They are the ones who can speak to solutions on adaptation – we are beyond mitigation. We need to act, not hide.
Climate summits are dominated by governments and corporations with vested interests; profits seem to outweigh sustaining life. That is why it is imperative for civil society and people who have lived experience to attend COP27. This will be the biggest networking event of my life and I am hoping to meet that first week with many different UN constituencies (faith, business, environmental, women and gender, and youth NGOs). I’ve got my IWC business cards and flyers, and my HOKA tennis shoes – wish me luck!
If you want to message Deb before or during the event, she can be reached at