GLOBAL GREENS 2008 conference a great success: European Greens offer to hold next Global Greens in Europe in 2013
After 4 days of lively debates, working groups on a wide range of issues and policy areas and votes on several important declarations and resolutions, the Global Greens 2nd Congressin São Paulo, Brazil has ended. More than 1000 delegates from over 80 countries and from each continent, including considerable delegations from Africa and the Asia-Pacific Region as well as Europe and the Americas, took part in this exciting and groundbreaking meeting which focussed on how Greens can take the leading role in combatting the global challenge of climate change and make more political capital out of the widespread and growing concern about climate change and environmental challenges generally.
EGP Co-Spokesperson Ulrike Lunaceksaid: "This congress has been a huge success on so many levels and from the European Greens' perspective, there have been several significant practical achievements which will strengthen our position and that of Greens throughout the world. Our main objective was to establish a joint Green climate crisis action plan for the next decade, on which Green parties and movements around the world can work cooperatively, showing the way ahead for governments and communities alike and this was achieved. This plan focusses on Green solutions to climate change including greater energy efficiency, much more investment in clean and truly green renewables which by definition excludes nuclear and agro-fuels. The other key important declarations and resolutions adopted include statements on how best to protect biodiversity, a declaration on the future of the Global Greens and a Green Charter for big cities. One of the most significant texts which has been adopted is entitled "21 points for the 21st Century". This document sets out an action plan which Green Parties throughout the world can use to formulate policies on a wide range of issues, from environmental protection to promoting social justice, and from intercultural dialogue to food security."
EGP Co-Spokesperson Philippe Lambertscontinued: "Greens have always advocated "thinking and acting globally and locally" as an integral part of our way of doing politics and this Congress has ensured that Greens from all over the world will be able to work even more effectively together to combat global problems like climate change, rising food prices and the disparity between the world's rich and poor. Specifically, one of the Congress's most significant achievements was the unanimous adoption of an action plan called "the Future of the Global Greens". This plan aims to strengthen the position of the Global Greens and ensure we work effectively together and help each other win electoral support for our Green agenda and increase our presence in parliaments and local and national governments. If, as we are confident it will be, this plan is approved by the regional federations of the Global Greens and their member parties, the intention is to set up a secretariat approximately one year from now. The European Green Party has offered to hold the next Global Greens Congress, due to be held in 2013 and this proposal was very well received by the Congress. The Global Greens 2008 Congress was dedicated to INGRID BETANCOURT, the former leader and presidential candidate of the Colombian Green Party (Partido Verde Oxigeno), who has been held hostage by the FARC Guerrilla for more than 6 years . As part of a resolution adopted in support of her and all other hostages, Ingrid Betancourt has been made the Honorary President of the Global Greens. This decision was made in the presence of Ingrid's husband, Juan Carlos LeCompte, who had spoken very movingly to the Congress earlier this weekend. There was also a key resolution calling on the international community, including the International Olympic Committee, to put more pressure on the Chinese authorities to respect human and democratic rights in Tibet. Finally, on behalf of the European Greens, I would like to thank the Brazilian Green Party (Partido Verde do Brasil ) and the people of São Paulo for the incredibly warm welcome they have given us. I also want to thank the Global Greens 2008 organisers and international and Brazilian volunteers for all their hard work and organisation. We very much look forward to hosting the 3rd Global Greens congress in Europe in 2013. "
