World People’s Conference on Climate Change

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World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of The Mother Earth

Between the 20th and 22nd of April 2010 a mass gathering of all peoples from all over the world occurred in Bolivia. Hosted by the Bolivian Government and thier progressive president Evo Morales, representatives and delgations from over 146 countries participated in 18 different workshops (17 official 1 unofficial) focuesd on addressing the issue of climate change and the Rights of the Mother Earth.

(some of the workshops included: Climate Debt, Adaptation, Rights of the Mother Earth, Rights of the Idigenous Peoples, Dangers of a Carbon Market, Kyoto Protocol, Shared Vision, Action Strategies and More…)

Unlike what happened at the UN conference on climate change, (where only government officials were really involved in the decision making) the People’s Conference on Climate Change was a place where all peoples could attend a workshop and voice thier opinion on the topic at hand.

No one was excluded from the conversations, People of color, Indigenous, Urbanites, Activists, Environmentalists, Scientist and Politicians were all involved in greating solid Action Plans, Agreements, and a Declaration of the Rights of the Mother Earth. Here are some of the Highlights from those workshops.

World People’s Conference on Climate Change

and the Rights of Mother Earth

April 22nd, Cochabamba, Bolivia

PEOPLES AGREEMENT

“We propose to the peoples of the world the recovery, revalorization, and strengthening of the knowledge, wisdom, and ancestral practices of Indigenous Peoples, which are affirmed in the thought and practices of “Living Well,” recognizing Mother Earth as a living being with which we have an indivisible, interdependent, complementary and spiritual relationship.   To face climate change, we must recognize Mother Earth as the source of life and forge a new system based on the principles of:”

* harmony and balance among all and with all things;

* complementarity, solidarity, and equality;

* collective well-being and the satisfaction of the basic necessities of all;

* people in harmony with nature;

* recognition of human beings for what they are, not what they own;

* elimination of all forms of colonialism, imperialism and interventionism;

* peace among the peoples and with Mother Earth;

Actions agreed upon during

the meeting of the delegation that presented the conclusions

of the CMPCC at the UN on May 7, 2010

1)         Build support for the 26 of April Submission (People’s Agreement and Declaration on the Rights of Mother Earth).

2)         Key messages:

* 50% emission reduction under the Kyoto Protocol in Cancun
* Rights of Mother Earth

3)         Produce common statement framing outcomes of May 7th UN meeting.

4)         Analysis of the AWG-LCA Chairs Text (by May 18th).

5)         Comparative textual analysis of the Copenhagen Accord and the People’s Agreement (by May 25th).

6)         Conference Call – after the analysis, on Friday, May 21st to discuss a common response to the Chair’s text and agree on general next steps.

7)         Lobby and target different countries that can support the People’s Agreement.

8)         Build a common position in the G77.

* emission reduction in Cancun, preserve Kyoto Protocol, stabilize between 1.5° and 1° C and 350 to 300 ppm, climate debt, Rights of Mother Earth.
* Procedures: two tracks, comprehensive outcome in Cancun, inclusiveness, transparency, member-driven, bottom-up approach, sovereignty, equity, no innovative measures like 40 countries negotiating instead of 192 and/or dilution of AWG-KP and AWG-LCA.

9)         Events in different cities and countries during the next round of negotiation in Bonn (May 31 – June 11) to promote the People’s Agreement.

10)      Development of actions during the U.S. Social Forum (June 22 – 26), the meeting of the G8 (June 25 – 27) and other events.

11)      Improve and develop website of cmpcc.org in English and Spanish.

12)      Coordination with Mexican committee to help in the preparation of Cancun COP16.

13)      Regional conference calls and a World conference call after Bonn round of negotiation (possible June 18).

14)      Letter to the Member states of the UN, the President of the GA and the SG supporting the initiative for beginning a discussion on the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth.

15)      Explanatory note on the Universal Declaration on the Rights of Mother Earth.

16)      Working Group on the Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth to follow up actions and develop strategy.

17)      Development of a technical proposal for the International Climate and Environmental Justice Tribunal.

18)      Preparation of a demand to Annex 1 Countries that fail to comply with the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol, to be presented if there are no substantive commitments for greenhouse gas emission reduction in Cancun.

19)      Begin lobbying in order to obtain co-sponsors for the UN resolution on the human right to water.

For more information on what happened in Bolivia and what was agreed upon during the World People’s Conference on Climate Change click here