Conn Is All In

Connecticut College President Katherine Bergeron has joined more than 1,600 college and university presidents, mayors, business leaders and faith groups in signing an open letter, “America Is All In,” pledging support for national action on climate change.

The statement calls for the U.S. to drive economic growth across every sector of the economy through job-creating sustainable investments; expand U.S. leadership at home and abroad; and reimagine community partnerships to advance just and equitable climate solutions and build resilience to climate change.

“COVID-19 has concurrently created a national health and economic crisis,” the letter reads. “Tackling the climate crisis is essential to help our nation recover from these crises by creating good paying jobs for millions of Americans, fostering U.S. energy innovation, increasing our national security, and protecting the health and well-being of present and future generations.

“We urge the Biden-Harris Administration and Congress alike to adopt a similar whole-of-government approach to tackling this crisis, and look forward to working in close partnership and dialogue—public and private collaboration across all levers of power—to achieve our shared vision.”

This collective statement was organized by the We Are Still In initiative, launched in 2017 to maintain America’s promise to tackle climate change. Bergeron was a signatory of the initiative’s first open letter, reaffirming a commitment to the 2015 Paris climate accord. In 2020, the College went further and adopted a new ambitious goal to achieve a 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. 

“Connecticut College has a longstanding history of environmental stewardship, a legacy we are continuing to build on through the goals of our strategic plan,” Bergeron said. “I am pleased that national leaders across all sectors are mobilizing to preserve our planet for future generations."