UN Climate Change Conference Cancun - COP16

GEN-Europe is bringing a Call for an international dialogue on the concept of 'Ecovillage' to Cancun.

Summary

Ecovillages are gaining global recognition for the innovative and practical tools they offer to simultaneously tackle the many social, environmental, cultural and economic challenges in the face of climate change. In the context of development cooperation, the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) is in an excellent position to establish partnerships between sustainable living projects in the North and South. This is a letter to express and share the vision of GEN to deepen and broaden its role as a platform for South-North and South-South exchange of knowledge and experience. The good intentions and creativity of citizens, and their willingness to make a difference, is one of the most underutilised resources we have today. The power of human communities to come together and co-design their own pathway into the future is seen as a major driving force for positive change. Through sharing of best practices within the wider network, while honouring deep-rooted traditional knowledge and local cultures, we move towards a diverse yet shared pool of wisdom for sustainable living at a global scale.

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The GEN delegation will during the next two weeks be attending the several meetings and events taking place in and around Cancun, both to disseminate information on GEN and GEN's activities and projects, as well as to network and connect with existing and potential new partners who have come to Cancun from all over the world, many with a similar vision and mission to that of GEN.

For the six officially registered GEN delegates, this will mean being able to attend the official COP16 meetings as NGO observers, as well as to join the other active GEN supporters and other interest groups in the several other side events organised by grassroots movements. These include the Klimaforum10, the Climate Change Village, the Conference of Youth, and many more.

Aili Pyhala from Finland is in Cancun for a few days, as GEN-Europe representative, spreading the Call for an international dialogue on the concept of 'Ecovillages'