Today, more than 5,000 young people from all 50 states will converge on Washington, DC, for Power Shift, the first national youth summit aimed at reducing global warming and solving the climate crisis.

Over the weekend, the thousands of high school and college students will gather in College Park, Maryland, just outside the nation’s capital, to share ideas, learn new skills, and make connections with other young leaders from around the country. They will also hear from some of the nation’s leading scientists and policy experts; attend training sessions on organizing, advocacy and direct action; and take part in an “opportunities fair” featuring some of the country’s leading environmental employers. Energy Action Coalition, which organized the Power Shift conference, is a group of more than 40 leading youth environmental and social justice organizations working to strengthen the clean energy movement in North America.

A New Vision of America’s Energy and Environmental Future
The goal of the summit is to create a fresh and inspiring vision of America’s potential to build a clean energy economy, achieve energy independence, create millions of green jobs, increase global equity, and revitalize the economy. The young people who participate in Power Shift will develop strategies and solutions they can take back to their communities and campuses, and put into action in the political arena.

“Our world is at a crossroads," said Courtney Voss, a Power Shift organizer. “The actions we take today as a society to address the challenge of climate change will determine the future of our generation and generations to come. The time has come for us to make a change."

On Monday, the final day of the summit, Power Shift participants will rally on Capitol Hill to show members of Congress and candidates that the youth of America are looking for political leadership on the climate change issue. As part of that effort, the young people will lobby their congressional representatives to begin working toward bold and effective action on global warming and other environmental challenges of the 21st century.

Young Voters Gaining Political Clout
With voter registration among 18-29 year olds at its highest level in 30 years—and rising—there is a good chance political leaders will listen. Young voters are becoming an increasingly important demographic, and they understand the urgency of crafting a new energy policy that can help reduce global warming. In 2006, 47 percent of young voters said they cast their votes for candidates that were concerned about the U.S. energy policy.

On Saturday, November 3, the activities of the young people attending Power Shift 2007 will be amplified by the hundreds of activities taking place in communities nationwide, encouraging Congress to “Step It Up” in addressing the issue of climate change. The Energy Action Coalition and Step It Up are united in support of the 1Sky Climate Initiative, which calls for a bolder, broader direction in addressing climate change.