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The Declaration, A Mandate for Action on Climate Change OUR MANDATE COMES FROM THE DECLARATION OF THE 60TH DPI/NGO CONFERENCE Climate Change Threats - An NGO Framework for Action
For the first time in the sixty year history of the UN DPI/NGO
conferences, a Declaration was adopted at the 60th
Conference. This Declaration was first proposed by the
NetWorking Sub-Committee of the Planning Committee and approved
for submission to the Conference by the Executive Committee of
DPI/NGO. Coordinating the Declaration during the conference
were Larry Roeder, William Gellermann and Moki Kokoris. The
Declaration was adopted by acclamation Friday, 7 September 2007,
during the closing session and then endorsed by
Mr.
Rajendra Pachauri, the Chairman of the IPCC (The
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), who called the
Declaration inspiring and doable.
During the Conference, a number of
key topics were recommended for inclusion in the Declaration
that are to form an initial set of chapters in a Report to the
Secretary General of the United Nations by December 1, 2008.
Additional topics might also be entertained. this concept was
agreed to by the Executive Committee prior to the Conference and
after, in consultation with the Chairperson of CONGO, the
Committee of NGOs in Consultative Status with the United
Nations.. These bodies also agreed that an Editorial Committee
would manage the development of the Report. It's members are
listed in
management.htm.
The Declaration envisaged that the participating NGO’s and
others in association with the UN Department of Public
Information or ECOSOC (as well as civil society at large) would
continue the discussion begun during the conference, take action
and report on how they would recommend solving the climate
change crisis.
60th
Annual DPI/NGO Conference
Declaration
Climate Change Threats - An NGO
Framework for Action
We, over 1726 participants
representing over 500 Non-Governmental Organizations from more
than 62 countries,
q
recognizing that we share one
planet and its environment, as well as a responsibility to
protect future generations,
q
recognizing the special
vulnerabilities of the indigenous, poor, coastal and rural
populations,
q
having met at the 60th Annual UN
Department of Public Information Conference for NGOs at UN
Headquarters from 5-7 September, 2007, with representatives of
Member States, UN agencies and programs, the scientific
community, the private sector, media and civil society, and
q
having reviewed the latest
scientific evidence from a wide variety of experts as well as
hearing about the experiences of indigenous peoples to better
understand climate change, its threats and how NGOs can broaden
the base for knowledge and action to reduce those threats; make
the following declaration:
1. We affirm that climate change is
mainly anthropogenic and is one of the most serious threats
humanity and our environment have ever faced which if not
addressed will cause:
a. catastrophic effects to Earth’s
ecosystems, biodiversity and infrastructure;
b. significantly reduced
availability of food, water, energy and transport;
c. massive migration of populations
and the possible destruction of entire cultures and small island
nations,
d. significant damage to our
economic, political, cultural, social and spiritual structures,
e. increased local, national and
international violence,
f. significant psychological and
emotional distress to individuals and communities
g. irreversible harm to the
lifestyles of indigenous peoples,
h. increased spread of vector-borne
diseases such as malaria and dengue fever, and
i. negative impacts on human health
and life expectancy.
2. We commit ourselves over the
next 12 months to a Framework for Action that will propose NGO
solutions to these threats before they become irreversible:
a. unify behind a common vision of
collaboration – even if we disagree on tactics – to develop and
implement plans for adaptation and mitigation[1]
taking into account the full range of consequences;
b. act as vocal, active partners
for change with the UN, governments at all levels, NGOs and
other members of our global community;
c. develop, implement and publicize
individual and collaborative action plans for personal, economic
and political change.
3. We commend Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon’s leadership in highlighting climate change as a major
priority. We urge government, industry, and UN leaders, in
partnership with the NGO community to emphasize proactive
climate change priorities for the greater good in preparation
for the UN Climate Change Conference in
4. We strongly recommend, for the
sake of future generations, that government and industry
leaders, the UN, other international organizations and the whole
of civil society partner behind and implement concrete
solutions, taking into account recommendations that emerge from
the Framework for Action.
5. We also strongly recommend that:
a. all governments and civil
society foster an ethical, moral foundation for ongoing
sustainable development in our interdependent world making the
well-being of all of humankind our priority.
b. all educational institutions and
media organizations more effectively educate about the issue of
climate change with special emphasis on youth,
c. governmental authorities
consider penalties for excessive consumption and pollution as a
method of financing climate change improvements, as well as
financial incentives to foster climate-friendly technologies so
that fossil fuel and nuclear based technologies can be phased
out.
d. governments recognize that war
is damaging to the climate.
e. all governments ratify UN
conventions on climate change, the
6. Finally, in order to implement
the Framework for Action – recognizing that our views on
challenges and opportunities will evolve as this process
continues – we request that:
a. the NGO/DPI Executive Committee
and the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the
United Nations (CONGO) foster a plan as soon as possible to
implement the Framework as a tool for the NGO community to
participate in an open, practical and transparent collaborative
approach based on networking;
b. the Framework discussion
culminate in an internet-based progress report to be submitted
to the Secretary-General in one year and that a long-term
dialogue for future action be fostered thereafter;
c. the Framework process should
network NGO’s that might not otherwise typically collaborate by
bridging the spectrum of NGO concerns interconnected by climate
change, such as sustainable development, agriculture, forestry,
the specific situation of Indigenous Peoples, biodiversity,
livestock and animal welfare, nuclear proliferation, the end of
war, justice, ethnic groups, multigenerational issues, youth,
gender equality, education, poverty, food and water security,
culture of peace, interfaith cooperation, national global
security and economic justice, as well as mental, spiritual and
physical health.
Declaration Process
Climate Change Threats – An NGO
Framework for Action
(adoption process used at
conference)
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