This week, from July 15-18th, the “Social Pre-COP on climate change“ will commence on Isla Margarita in Venezuela. “Buen Vivir: Sustainable Living and Climate Change”, as this preparatory meeting is called, will be the first of two stages of meeting where through exchange of ideas and dialogue between local governments and global social movements, the draft of the First Social Pre-COP Declaration (2014) will be generated. Multiple roundtables will cover a wide range of topics related to the climate crisis and the solutions to it. The Declaration is supposed to be concluded at the second stage meeting of social movements at the beginning of November of this year, once again in Venezuela.
The “Social Pre-COP” is a meeting of great importance for social movements because it will provide a space for civil society and global climate movements to come together, build stronger relations, and express common demands. Governments and communities will be in direct communication so as to bridge the gap between grassroots and decision makers in the run up for this year’s COP20 in Lima, and the 2015 COP21 in Paris, where a global binding climate agreement is to be reached.
Our YFoEE activists Simona and Silje will be attending this first stage meeting on Isla Margarita, so hit them up for more information, to provide suggestions, or just to wish them good luck and safe travels! We’ll also be sending out a report of the outcomes and impressions from the meeting soon!