Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit

Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit

Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit

From October 19 - 22, 2021, the Sierra Club and Friends of the Earth US convened a Global Grassroots Leaders Summit, to engage the voices on the ground from grassroots and community leaders from countries across the globe who are far too often left out of international climate conversations.

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Background

After the success of the First Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit in June, Sierra Club and Friends of the Earth US are convening a second group of global grassroots leaders to participate in the Second Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit from October 19 - 22.

The grassroots summit comes ahead of the G20 leaders summit and the UN Climate Summit this Fall, where world leaders must raise their ambitions and make progress on global climate commitments. We believe grassroots voices are critical to this conversation and the measures taken by world leaders must be informed by the knowledge and demands of activists across the world who represent their communities.

During a global pandemic with inequitable access to vaccines and healthcare, burdensome travel restrictions, and costly barriers to participation, world leaders must make a more concerted effort to be accessible to grassroots voices. All too often, their viewpoints aren't sufficiently represented at convenings like the G20 and UN Climate summits where critical decisions are made.

The Second Global Grassroots Climate Summit is an attempt to bridge that gap—to bring grassroots climate leaders together with U.S. decision-makers prior to these critical international summits so their voices can be heard. Like the first summit, participants will partake in a series of private discussions with decision makers, as well as public-facing conversations about their campaigns and the actions they want to see taken by world leaders.

Participants

44 grassroots organizations from across 20 countries in the Global South are participating in this second summit. Listed below are some of the participating organizations:

  • deCOALonize Kenya - Kenya
  • Centre for Citizens Conserving Environment &Management (CECIC) - Uganda
  • Foundation for Environmental Management and CampaignAgainst Poverty - Tanzania
  • Laudato Si Movement-Africa - Kenya
  • World Vision Ghana - Ghana
  • Lamu Youth Alliance - Coast, Kenya
  • Alliance for Empowering Rural Communities - Ghana
  • HEDA Resource Centre - Nigeria
  • FEMAPO - Arusha, Tanzania
  • Net Educational Advancement Initiative - Nigeria
  • Inter-Religious Council of Kenya - Kenya
  • Jeda Iklim - Indonesia
  • Center for Energy, Ecology and Development - Asia/Philippines
  • Sustainable Development Institute (SDI) - Liberia
  • Zero Hour Asia - Philippines, Asia
  • Net Educational Advancement Initiative - Nigeria
  • 350 Ghana Reducing Our Carbon - Ghana
  • AJECC - TOGO
  • Centre for Natural Resource Governance - Zimbabwe
  • Youth for Environment and Sustainable Development (YSD Malawi) - Malawi
  • Action for Nature - Zambia
  • National Youth Network on Climate Change (NYNCC - Malawi
  • AJECC - Togo
  • Alliance for Empowering Rural Communities - Africa/Ghana
  • Lekeh Development Foundation - Niger Delta, Nigeria
  • CIMA ONG Ambiental - Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • PLATAFORMA MOCAMBICANA DA MULHER E RAPARIGA COOPERATIVISTAS/AMPCM - Mozambique
  • El Puente- Latino Climate Action Network - Puerto Rico
  • Friends of the Earth India - India
  • Natural Justice - Guinea
  • Justiça Ambiental (JA!)/ Friends of the Earth Mozambique - Mozambique
  • Justice Institute Guyana
  • Trend Asia, Indonesia

Agenda

Oct. 19 - 22, Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit Agenda: Public facing webinars - to be recorded and shared live

On Tuesday, October 19, at 10 - 11 AM EST, join us as we open the second Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit, discuss the importance of engaging grassroots voices and climate leaders at the table when world leaders are making decisions that will impact their countries and communities and lay out some of the opportunities for the US and the Biden Administration at the upcoming G20 summit and COP 26.

Grassroots Participants will also be joining a separate meeting earlier in the day to plan for the week and engage through the summit.

Watch the webinar below on Tuesday, October 19:

WEBINAR: Global Grassroots Demands for the US going into COP26

On Wednesday, October 20 at 8 - 9:30 AM EST, join the public facing Facebook Live webinar of the Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit. During this webinar, speakers will share and discuss demands as we collectively prepare for the 26th Conference of Parties, including on the following topics:

  • Effective tools for accelerating the transition away from coal and the importance of engaging the interests of workers and communities in this transition
  • Highlight projects in your countries financed in part by U.S. entities and efforts to hold financiers accountable
  • Identify key asks of the Biden administration include putting an immediate end to financing of overseas fossil fuel projects, especially not moving forward harmful gas projects
  • Discuss the important impacts of climate change on livelihoods and the need for adaptation funding and climate investment particularly from wealthy nations, like the US
  • Follow the Sierra Club on Instagram to catch an important Live conversation through the week of the Summit!

Watch the livestream:

Private Meetings and Dialogue to be held with Grassroots Organizations

  • Meeting with the Office of the US Special Envoy for Climate, John Kerry
    • This private session of the Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit will provide an opportunity for participating grassroots leaders to have a dialogue with Special Envoy for Clmiate, John Kerry and his team. They will continue to discuss ways the Biden administration can be constructive partners in global climate efforts and specific ways the administration can benefit their campaigns.
  • Meeting with United States COP26 Negotiators
    • This private session of the Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit will provide an opportunity for participating grassroots leaders to have a dialogue with negotiators who will be leading on behalf of the US at COP26 in Glasgow.
  • Other US Agency meetings as requested by Grassroots Leaders

Articles

Global Grassroots Leaders Prepare to Convene Ahead of International Climate Negotiations - Read the article.

Why a Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit? - Read the article.

Global Grassroots Advocates Are Leading the Way - Read the article.

Press Releases

ADVISORY: Sierra Club and Friends of the Earth US Convene Second Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit Ahead of International Climate TalksRead the press release.

International Grassroots Leaders Call On Treasury Department To Center Their Voices - Read the press release.

ADVISORY: Sierra Club And Friends Of The Earth US To Convene A Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit - Read the press release.

ADVISORY: Inaugural Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit To Begin June 2 - Read the press release.

TODAY: Inaugural Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit Begins - Read the press release.

Inaugural Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit Concludes - Read the press release.

Sierra Club and Friends of the Earth US React to G7 Summit Climate Commitments - Read the press release.

Summit organized by the Sierra Club and Friends of the Earth US.

Questions? Send them to Neha Mathew-Shah: neha.mathew@sierraclub.org.

Photo at the top of the page courtesy of Otuo-Akyampong Boakye, Eco Warriors Movement - Ghana.