Congress programme

ACC entrance 

Registration opens for all participants.

Room 11B 

Moderator:

• Evelyne Huytebroeck (Belgium)

Speakers:

• Lawrence Brown (United Kingdom)
• Bénédicte Linard (Belgium)
• Zahid Iqbal (Pakistan)
• Silvia Vazquez (Argentina)

Elected Green Party politicians from across the world are making changes in their communities, either on the regional or local levels. ‘Think Global, Act Local’ is a concept that is very much at the heart of the Green movement. This is why we consider politics on all levels, from the local to international, as equally crucial elements in building a brighter, Greener future.

In this session, local councillors from across the world will showcase some of their successes and exchange with other Greens about the reality of doing Green politics on the local level. Participants will be given an opportunity to exchange with the presenters and others who attend the session to discuss various topical issues that are presented during the session.

Room 4A 
Convenor: Frank Habineza, President of the African Greens Federation

A Governance meeting for the African Green Federation.

Room 4B 
Convenor: Liaquat Ali Shaikh, Co-Convenor of the Asia Pacific Greens Federation

A strategic planning meeting for the Asia Pacific Greens Federation.

Room 11A 
Convenors: Patricia Maldonado, Fabiano Carnevale, Carlos Ramón González, Federación de Partidos Verdes de las Américas Delegates to the GGC 

A meeting of the Federación de Partidos Verdes de las Américas (FPVA).

Room 11C

In this meeting, we establish the GGWN's strategy between now and the next Congress. The meeting is open for all women who wish to participate in Global Greens Women’s Network.

We want to adopt an action plan for five years until the next Congress. We are planning trainings, online webinars and a mentorship programme. You can propose actions to be added to the plan.

To elect the Coordination of the network. The Coordination consists of six nominated representatives and as many volunteers as wish to participate. A Convenor, one representative of the women’s network of each Federation and members will be elected.

To choose a host party to support the network’s activities. The host party supports the activities of the network and helps it ensure its continuity.

Room 13 

Speakers:

• Gösta Lyngå
• Tove Engvall

The aim of traditional policy has been to achieve a growth of Gross Domestic Product rather than to prioritise environmental and social values. This basic problem has been recognised by many organisations and since the 1970s a number of very good proposals have been made to amend the situation by using alternative measures such as GPI, Genuine Progress Indicator, SEEA, System of Environmental-Economic Accounts, HPI, Happy Planet Index, Better Life Index (OECD) and several others. 

So, why has almost nothing happened in practical politics and why is the world is still in the hands of GDP growth? It is an extremely important task to work for a change of this situation. Therefore we aim that the outcome of this session results in the creation of a resolution for the Global Greens on GPI.

Room 3

The Global Young Greens congress is gathering our fourth Congress! This session will include a welcome from the Young Greens of England and Wales, reports from the current Steering Committee, Adoption of Rules of Procedures, and introductions and networking for Young Greens attending the congress. 

All Young Greens are invited to attend this session.

Room 11B 

Moderator:

• Evelyne Huytebroeck (Belgium)

Speakers:

• Lawrence Brown (United Kingdom)
• Bénédicte Linard (Belgium)
• Zahid Iqbal (Pakistan)
• Silvia Vazquez (Argentina)

Elected Green Party politicians from across the world are making changes in their communities, either on the regional or local levels. ‘Think Global, Act Local’ is a concept that is very much at the heart of the Green movement. This is why we consider politics on all levels, from the local to international, as equally crucial elements in building a brighter, Greener future.

In this session, local councillors from across the world will showcase some of their successes and exchange with other Greens about the reality of doing Green politics on the local level. Participants will be given an opportunity to exchange with the presenters and others who attend the session to discuss various topical issues that are presented during the session.

Room 4A 
Convenor: Frank Habineza, President of the African Greens Federation

A Governance meeting for the African Green Federation.

Room 4B 
Convenor: Liaquat Ali Shaikh, Co-Convenor of the Asia Pacific Greens Federation

A strategic planning meeting for the Asia Pacific Greens Federation.

Room 11A 
Convenors: Patricia Maldonado, Fabiano Carnevale, Carlos Ramón González, Federación de Partidos Verdes de las Américas Delegates to the GGC 

A meeting of the Federación de Partidos Verdes de las Américas (FPVA).

Room 11C

• On the situation in Syria 
• On the war in Eastern Ukraine 
• Fighting Trump and the far right

Room 13

• On the Global Commons
• On greenwashing in energy production from fossil fuel
• On the integration of the European railway network
• On nuclear power
• Strengthening the pillar of social rights: an age perspective
• On an international recognition of the crime of ecocide
• On Eastern Partnership and Sustainable Tourism in the Black Sea Region 

Room 4B

A session for Young Greens from Europe to meet to discuss the state of their organisations, and make plans for the congress and for the future

All Young Greens from Europe are invited to attend this session

Room 5

A session for Young Greens from Africa to meet to discuss the state of their organisations, and make plans for the congress and for the future

All Young Greens from Africa are invited to attend this session

Room 8

A session for Young Greens from the Americas to meet to discuss the state of their organisations, and make plans for the congress and for the future

All Young Greens from the Americas are invited to attend this session

Room 9

A session for Young Greens from Asia Pacific to meet to discuss the state of their organisations, and make plans for the congress and for the future

All Young Greens from Asia Pacific are invited to attend this session

Auditorium  

Moderators:

• Meyrem Almaci (Belgium)
• Teo Comet (Finland)

The three organising parties would like to welcome you all to this special event, and celebrate the Green movement together, in all its colourful varieties. In this ceremony, we will meet all the Green parties in the world, and get to know what the four different federations have been working on. This ceremony is your chance to get to know the names, the faces and the parties you want to talk to. We’ll end the ceremony with a great musical exercise, which will prepare us for the upcoming three days!

ACC entrance 

Registration opens for all participants.

 Auditorium  

Moderator:

• Simone Peter (Germany)

Speakers:

• Carole Dieschbourg (Luxembourg)
• Papa Meissa Dieng (Senegal)
• Yeb Saño (Philippines)

As Greens we can see that global warming may be the challenge which unites the world. Every political party, member and supporter has a role to play. The Paris Agreement is a foundation but its momentum has to be sustained and hugely expanded. The effort has to be global as well as local and we will need to share resources, know-how, information, learn to work well together and effectively in the wider community - engaging the disaffected and restoring trust in democracy and its institutions. The Greens 2017 Congress is a critical moment. It is the threshold for the next steps at the international level on climate change: In 2018, progress on the Paris Agreement will be reviewed and the IPCC will present a special report on limiting warming to 1.5 degrees. There will be a series of important elections before 2020, including the European Election in 2019, and the implications of ‘Brexit’ will be clearer. The science is clear - we have no time to spare. Let’s act now.

Room 9

Moderator:

• Timur Delahaye

Speakers:

• Karine Daudicourt (France)
• Jean Rossiaud (Switzerland)
• David Westsson (Netherlands)
• Björn Stockhausen (germany)

With over 230 millions people living outside of their country of upbringing, expats are becoming a community increasingly active politically with some countries granting them special rights and new forms of representation. Organising your national expats is not only a way not to lose contact with your members going abroad for a given time, it is also an efficient way to strengthen your contacts with other Green parties and to be better informed about what is happening outside your country.

With over one hundred active members, a dozen "consular councillors", and even one member of the French Parliament, the "French Greens Abroad" are an increasingly important part of the French Green party. The French Green expats would be happy to share their experience with other green parties and
help them to organise their expats. During this session, the French Green Expats would make a presentation about how to organise green expats around the world, involve them in national politics and use them as contacts between green parties.

Room 11B

Around the world, the Young Green movement has never been stronger, and it has never been easier to organise on a international scale. In this workshop, we'll be developing a new structure for Global Young Greens.

This session is open to registered Global Young Greens delegates

Room 4B

Compromise Amendment Session for the delegates of the European Green Party.

Room 13

Compromise Amendment Session for the delegates of the European Green Party.

Room 3

Moderator:

• David Jay Morris, Co-Press Officer of the St Helens chapter GPEW

Speakers:

• Richard Di Natale, Senator and Green Party Leader (Australia)
• Marie Toussaint, European Affairs for Europe Ecologie Les Verts (France)
• Josef Šmída, International Team Strana Zelených (Czech Republic)
• David Raby, Green Party Councillor for Town Close ward in Norwish (UK)
• Dr. Bahar Baser, Research Fellow, Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University (UK)

What is the nature and depth of the threat we now face from the cults of Trump, Erdogan and Putin and growing right-wing "populism" around the world?  Is nuclear war more likely?  Can the (limited) progress made at the Paris Climate Conference be preserved or are we now headed full-speed towards the edge of the cliff? Is all of the social progress made in the last 30 years (or more) on issues such as racism, sexism, anti-gay discrimination about to be thrown out the window? Is liberal democracy doomed?

This session will look at these questions from the perspective of Green Party members and others from key countries around the world and will discuss what actions we can take that might most effectively fight against these trends.

Background reading: Authoritarian Politics in Turkey | A Slow Motion Coup d'Etat | Green Action in the Age of Trump, Erdogan, Putin and right-wing 'populism'

Room 12

The Global Alliance for Real Democracy (GARD) includes Australia, Canada, India, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Taiwan, the UK and the USA. This is the beginning of an alliance which we hope will help us to grow all the national campaigns and support each other to move towards better democracy as quickly as possible. The session will feature key speakers from a few countries about their campaigns for PR and better democracy, sharing successes and learnings that could be helpful to other attendees. Then there will be a workshop in which participants can directly share best practice with and learn from their peers, and plan together how best to move their campaigns forward, with a focus on ways in which we can support each other to achieve our goals.

Room 1C

Moderator:

• Tomas Jungwirth (Czech Republic)

Speakers:

• Michiel van de Kasteelen (Netherlands)
• Bodil Valero (Sweden)
• Kennedy Graham (New Zealand)

The United Nations, set up after World War II to safeguard peace, development and human rights on behalf of all of us ("We, the people, .."), is on the one hand 'taken for granted', and on the other hand 'ignored or forgotten'. Even in our own Green movement, the interest in the United Nations as such is close to none. The European Green Parties are fighting to keep the dream of the European project alive, but who is keeping the dream of this global intergovernmental platform alive? No doubt the UN suffers from a lot of deficiencies and faults, in its structures, in its decision-making, in its bureaucracy. But do we - as global Green movement - really care about it? Yes, we use (parts of) it, when it is handy, we acknowledge the role it has played in the climate-negotiations or in distributing aid or in maintaining refugee-camps. But do we care about the organisation as such? And do we (want to) relate to it? In the first part of this session – after a very short crash course on history and structure of the United Nations – we want to look at the (actual and potential) role of the United Nations in regard to three major areas: Environment and Climate change; Human Rights and/or Refugees; and (the UN’s core-business) Peacekeeping. In the second part of the session we want to discuss our common approach to the UN-system, possible ideas for structural reform, as well as ways in which we – as Green Movement – can relate to and interact with the UN-system.

Room 9

Moderator:

• Christoph Becker-Schaum (Germany)

Speaker:

• Sara Parkin

About eight years ago the five green party archives in Europe co-operate to collect public and private files, party documents and audio-visual materials of the Green parties in Austria, Belgium (Wallonia), France, Germany and Italy. Since then they have formed the International Ecology Archives Network, that is more than solely a network of party archives. 
The goal of the session is threefold, first to introduce these five archives to the Green public, second to explain what Green archivists are really doing with documents and folders included recent developments in the field of digitalization, and third to present a common oral history project on Green party history.

Room 12

In the aftermath of the triggering of article 50, in this session we wish to discuss the upcoming Brexit negotiations from both a UK and EU perspective, and we will discuss how Greens contribute to ensure the quality of the Brexit deal. Moreover, we will discuss the recent Rome Declaration on the future of Europe, drafted jointly by EGP and by the Green group (link to the declaration).

Room 4A

Moderator:

• Stiófan Nutty (Ireland)

The ‘Green Institutes and Foundations Meeting’ will be an interactive workshop with the participation of Green organisations from all over the globe and will feature two main parts. The first session will allow the foundations representatives to get to know each-other and provide a space to exchange on their achievements and challenges in their daily work. It will also function as a capacity building since it enables the participants to exchange concrete experiences and best practices on several aspects of their work (e.g. fundraising, relations with parties, organisational tips, strategic development, etc.). The second part of the workshop will allow for political discourse between the participants on specific topics of their choosing, with the intention of exploring the role of institutes and foundations in such issues as well as the potential for transnational collaboration in the future. It will provide an opportunity to develop common political campaigns or programmes.

Room 8

Women by Name (Open to self-defining women and gender variant members)

Room 10

Member-led workshop to discuss detail of motions and create reports before voting sessions (observers welcome, but contributions restricted to GPEW members)

11:00 - 11:45 A01 - SOC Report
11:45 - 12:00 A04 - Governance Review Group Report
12:00 - 12:15 A02 - Policy Development Committee report
12:15 - 12:30 A03 - Disputes Resolution Committee report

Room 11A

Member-led workshop to discuss detail of motions and create reports before voting sessions (observers welcome, but contributions restricted to GPEW members)

11:00 - 11:20 C01 - Animal Abusers Register
11:20 - 11:40 C05 - Wildlife Management
11:40 - 12:00 C03 - Blue-Rich White Light Pollution
12:00 - 12:20 C02 - Intersex Rights Policy

Room 11C

Member-led workshop to discuss detail of motions and create reports before voting sessions (observers welcome, but contributions restricted to GPEW members)

11:00 - 11:20 C04 - Home Education
11:20 - 11:55 E01 - Post Referendum Priorities
11:55 - 12:15 E02 - Citizens Income
12:15 - 12:30 E03 - Include Paris 1.5 degree target 

Room 11B

Around the world, the Young Green movement has never been stronger, and it has never been easier to organise on a international scale. In this workshop, we'll be developing a new structure for Global Young Greens.

This session is open to registered Global Young Greens delegates

Room 5: Agriculture
Room 9: Forestry and Woodlands
Room 10: Climate Change
Room 11C: Green Economics

Room 11C

Come and meet the GPEW Executive, the CEO - organisational plan Q&A

Room 13

Led by Terry Reintke MEP, this workshop will focus on women's participation in politics and on instruments for developing female leadership in political activism.

This session is open to women and non-binary Global Young Greens delegates

 Auditorium  

Introduction by:

• Reinhard Bütikofer (Germany)

Speakers:

• Caroline Lucas (United Kingdom)
• Jonathan Bartley (United Kingdom)

Auditorium  

Moderator:

• Hélène Ryckmans (Belgium - French)

Speakers:

• Stina Bergström (Sweden)
• Benedikt Haerlin (Germany)
• Tim Lang (UK)
• Sanya Smith (Switzerland)

This plenary will discuss the problems of concentration and monopolisation of the seed market by big multinational companies, as well as addressing EU agricultural policy, the global impact of free trade agreements, and the implementation of good food and public health policies. Green proposals for agricultural transformation will be discussed from national and European perspectives. 

Room 4A

Moderator:

• Stiófan Nutty (Ireland)

The ‘Green Institutes and Foundations Meeting’ will be an interactive workshop with the participation of Green organisations from all over the globe and will feature two main parts. The first session will allow the foundations representatives to get to know each-other and provide a space to exchange on their achievements and challenges in their daily work. It will also function as a capacity building since it enables the participants to exchange concrete experiences and best practices on several aspects of their work (e.g. fundraising, relations with parties, organisational tips, strategic development, etc.). The second part of the workshop will allow for political discourse between the participants on specific topics of their choosing, with the intention of exploring the role of institutes and foundations in such issues as well as the potential for transnational collaboration in the future. It will provide an opportunity to develop common political campaigns or programmes.

Room 1B

Renewable is no longer only an alternative energy source, rather it has become a major energy source in many developed and developing countries, from industrial scale to micro level renewable energy, community based initiatives are taking place across world. Renewable energy will be the largest employer in next 30 years as it will become more decentralized and more accessible. In this proposed session, we want to connect politicians with renewable energy initiatives/entrepreneurs to explore future micro/community based opportunities. We will share best practices and showcase initiatives in order to help to build new linkages and relations with communities.

Room 4B

Speakers:

• Max Andersson (Sweden)
• Jan Philipp Albrecht (Germany)
• Per Johansson (Sweden)
• Sabine Hauert (United Kingdom)
• Annika Hirvonen Falk (Sweden)

The impact of robotics in our society has long been debated as something belonging to science fiction. However, the latest development of both robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) has made several well-known scientists, among others Stephen Hawking, go out in the public and encourage a debate on how society will coop with these new developments. This poses the question; how we as a green global movement views these developments? How do we draw the benefits of robotics such as less working hours or creations of a general basic income, possibly through tax based on production made by robots, and how do we as politicians create innovation friendly regulation and policies that prevents vast unemployment? GREENS MEP Jan-Philipp Albrecht and Max Andersson will present a green policy paper on robotics where they outline some of the important issues which we as a green movement could both gain from the development of robotics and AI, but also the pitfalls which may come with them. This roundtable discussion will consist of MEPS:s Jan-Philipp Albrecht and Max Andersson,as well as (one researcher and one policy advisor). Welcome to very interesting discussion!

Room 11A

Moderator:

• Timur Delahaye (France)

Speaker:

• Alice Bah Kunke (Sweden)
• Flor de Maria Hurtado (Peru)
• Matilde Baján (Guatemala)
• Metiria Turei (New Zealand)

Pipelines in the US, mines in Scandinavia, dams in South America, in many places indigenous people are at the front line of the struggles supported by the Greens. Yet too few Green parties have taken action to enforce legal tools to defend indigenous peoples' rights from extractive industries, land use and other threats caused by our over-consumption worldwide.

This panel will be the opportunity to discuss with green politicians involved in the question of indigenous peoples' rights about the following topics

• 
overview of indigenous struggles against infrastructures and convergences with the Greens.
• the situation with the ratification of the ILO-169
• other tools to support the indigenous peoples

Room 11C (exclusively for women)

Moderators:

• Vesna Jusup (European Green Party)
• Veronica Juzgado (Global Greens Women's Network)

Speakers:

• Dorothy Nalubega (Uganda)
• Anita Nautiyal (India)
• Linnéa Engström (Sweden)
• Michelle Sheather (Australia)
• Terry Reintke (Germany)
• Mariana Perin (Brazil)

After detecting women’s challenges and obstacles in political life, we will work on approaches to overcome these challenges and obstacles and will introduce some practical keys to support women in the workshop. We will share all together some tools for empowering female politicians, which will allow women to keep working and to continue this work with other women in the different regions.

Co-organised by Green forum Sweden

Room 11B

Moderators:

• Scott Greer

Speakers:

• Dr Issam Hijjawi, chair of the Association of Palestinian Communities in Scotland and member of international Balfour centenary campaign
• Mossy Raz, Secretary General, Meretz
• Ayman Odeh, leader of Hadesh/Al-Jabha
• Representative of Palestine Green Party
• Representative of Green Party of Lebanon
• Dmitri Lascaris Green Party of Canada

Room 12

Moderators:

• Jean Lambert (United Kingdom)

Speakers:

• Antolin Polanco (Dominican Republic)
• Ska Keller (Germany)
• Kennedy Graham (New Zealand)
• Boussim Fatoumata (Burkina Fasso)

In a climate of growing uncertainty, politicians seem to pander to xenophobic discourses, especially towards migrants and refugees, exploiting fears, and fostering intolerance. Progressive forces seem to lag behind, being unable to build an effective counter narrative on migration which is both realistic and able to have an impact in the public debate. In this session we would like to discuss ideas and solutions on how we can indeed create a progressive, positive yet realistic discourse on migration, in order to revert this negative trend.

Room 3

Debate and voting on motions on the GPEW Conference Agenda (observers welcome, but voting restricted to GPEW members)

Section A and C motions

Room 1C

Debate and voting on motions on the GPEW Conference Agenda (observers welcome, but voting restricted to GPEW members)

Section A and C motions

Room 8

Stage fright before a presentation at school or university? Rapid heartbeat while making a statement during a debate? Afraid of delivering a political speech? Quite often it is often not that easy to encourage yourself to speaking in public. That’s why this workshop will focus on what opportunities you have in order to convince others of yourself and your point of view by means of your voice and body language. The aim is to find power in yourself and to feel encouraged to use your voice in public!

This session is open to Global Young Greens delegates who have prebooked. Please contact [email protected] for details

Room 9

Hosted by Liberty, this session will provide in depth training in cybersecurity for political activists, covering risk assesssing, encrypted communications and anonymity.

This session is open to Global Young Greens delegates who have prebooked. Please contact [email protected] for details

Room 10

Hosted by UNICEF, this session will discuss how youth have been involved in issues such as sustainable energy and policy advocacy, and how they can be further engaged and involved. 

This session is open to Global Young Greens delegates who have prebooked. Please contact [email protected] for details

Auditorium  

Moderator:

• Dave Keating (Germany)

Speakers:

• Reinhard Bütikofer (Germany)
• Richard Di Natale (Australia)
• Tanoh GyeKye (Ghana)
• Uiko Hasegawa (Japan)
• Caroline Lucas (UK)
• Elizabeth May (Canada)

Trade policy has rocketed into the political spotlight across the globe in recent times. Greens have found themselves at the centre of opposition movements against trade deals like TPP in the US, Australia and Japan, to the TTIP and CETA in Europe and Canada. Yet economic-nationalist forces are also pulling against the established model, from Trump to anti-EU forces in Europe. Trade policy is at a cross-roads and the changes could have a profound impact on relations between countries, capital and citizens for many years to come.
 
As Greens we are conscious of our global obligations and our local responsibilities. But what are our answers to the problems of today's trade policy? How can we protect local economies or the planet without being labelled 'protectionist'? What measures are required to take care of those people who feel left behind by globalisation? What would a Green trade policy look like?

Room 4B

Room 1B

Moderator:

• Dr. Rebecca Johnson, Spokesperson for Security, Peace and Defence, GPEW (UK)

Speakers:

• Dr. Bahram Zandi (USA)
• Kyung Lee (Korea)
• Bodil Valero, MEP Swedish Green Party (Sweden)

Nonviolence is one of the principles of the Global Greens Charter where it states that security should not rest mainly on military strength but on cooperation, sound economic and social development, environmental safety, and respect for human rights.  This requires removing the causes of war by understanding and respecting other cultures, eradicating racism and extremist ideologies, promoting
freedom and democracy, ending global poverty and injustice, as well as pursuing disarmament and detente in accordance with threat estimations.

The workshop will discuss the global devastations of structural poverty, climate change, refuge, and the carnage caused by wars and armed conflicts.  The role of the international community and principles for intervention will be examined as well as alternative measures to avoid militarization and wars, mitigate the consequences and build sustainable peace. 

Room 4A

Moderator:

• Christine Milne (Australia)

Speakers:

• Nicolò Wojewoda (Italy)
• Jeremy Burke

The movement for divesting from fossil fuels has gained enormous momentum all around the globe. It revitalized the struggle against climate change by giving it tangible targets and a clear goal. Institutions worth around $5.5 trillion have already withdrawn their money from fossil fuel-related investment. This, of course, also raises the question of investment alternatives and the role financial markets can play to push the transition towards a low-carbon economy.

In this session, we first want to explore the dynamics of the movement and the role that Greens already play and prospectively could play in it. Second, we want to discuss concrete policy options on how financial actors can be incentivized to invest capital into Green opportunities rather than fueling an industry that ruins our future.

Room 11B

Moderator:

• Luc Barbé (Belgium)

Speakers:

• Gustav Fridolin (Sweden)
• Shane Rattenbury (Australia)
• Silvia Vázquez (Argentina)

It happens too often: a Green party wins the elections, enters the majority with great people and a fantastic program, and two years later the party undergoes a big crisis. Party members are disappointed about the results, there are huge tensions between the Green Mayor or Minister and the Party Council and social media are full of critical messages. That’s what has happened in different countries, on a local, regional and national level.

In this session, we will hear from Luc Barbé who is a former Belgian MP, as chief of cabinet of a Secretary of State and has been working with and for Green politicians in coalitions for many years. In this workshop, he will analyze the challenges of Green parties in local, regional and national coalitions and give some concrete answers. Luc will talk about political strategy, internal party structure and casting of the political staff.

Room 13

Moderator:

• Rikiya (Ricky) Adachi (Japan)

Speakers:

• Victor Cavaco (Portugal)
• Mitsuko Sonoda (Japan)

The fight against nuclear energy was a crucial element to the founding of many Green Parties across the world. Yet despite that renewable energy is on the rise and the dangers of nuclear getting increasingly visible, nuclear energy is still being proposed and used across the world. In this session we will hear from the Japanese Greens and learn about the reality and fight to end nuclear after Fukushima as well as from the Portuguese Greens who are also campaigning against nuclear energy from neighboring Spain.

Room 11C (exclusively for women)

Moderators:

• Vesna Jusup (European Green Party)
• Veronica Juzgado (Global Greens Women's Network)

Speakers:

• Dorothy Nalubega (Uganda)
• Anita Nautiyal (India)
• Linnéa Engström (Sweden)
• Michelle Sheather (Australia)
• Terry Reintke (Germany)
• Mariana Perin (Brazil)

After detecting women’s challenges and obstacles in political life, we will work on approaches to overcome these challenges and obstacles and will introduce some practical keys to support women in the workshop. We will share all together some tools for empowering female politicians, which will allow women to keep working and to continue this work with other women in the different regions.

Co-organised by Green forum Sweden

Room 3

Debate and voting on motions on the GPEW Conference Agenda (observers welcome, but voting restricted to GPEW members)

Section C/E and Emergency Resolutions

Room 11C

Debate and voting on motions on the GPEW Conference Agenda (observers welcome, but voting restricted to GPEW members)

Section C/E and Emergency Resolutions

Room 8

Stage fright before a presentation at school or university? Rapid heartbeat while making a statement during a debate? Afraid of delivering a political speech? Quite often it is often not that easy to encourage yourself to speaking in public. That’s why this workshop will focus on what opportunities you have in order to convince others of yourself and your point of view by means of your voice and body language. The aim is to find power in yourself and to feel encouraged to use your voice in public!

This session is open to Global Young Greens delegates who have prebooked. Please contact [email protected] for details

Room 9

Hosted by Liberty, this session will provide in depth training in cybersecurity for political activists, covering risk assesssing, encrypted communications and anonymity.

This session is open to Global Young Greens delegates who have prebooked. Please contact [email protected] for details

Auditorium  

Moderator:

• Margaret Blakers

Speakers:

• Richard Di Natale (Australia)
• Susanne Nordling (Sweden)
• Ratafika Andriamalazamanga (Madagascar)

The health and well-being of human populations is inextricably linked with that of the living world around us. It is now widely accepted that we are entering a new epoch -- the Anthropocene -- where human actions influence the Earth as a whole and the systems on which all life depends. The consequences for human health are profound because the determinants of health are now global as well as local; environmental as well as social.

Socio-economic globalisation influences health by limiting the autonomy of governments and communities, for example through trade agreements affecting the price and availability of pharmaceuticals or preventing governments from regulating tobacco or labelling food; or through the power of corporations to evade national controls on materials like hazardous pesticides. Increased movement of people and goods leads to more rapid spread of disease but globalisation allows faster emergency responses and better communication and access to information.

Health and health governance plays a key role in politics. It was central in last year’s elections in the USA (Obamacare morphing into Trumpcare) and Australia (Medicare) and in the UK’s Brexit vote (promising to boost National Health Service funding). In India and China deadly air pollution is driving change in energy policies.

Health has individual, community and population dimensions. To improve health and well-being at all these levels we need to think and act both locally and globally and make some hard political decisions. The purpose of this plenary session is to explore the politics of health from a Green perspective at all levels from local to global.

class="fa fa-angle-right"Room 3[/icon]

For all information on the EGP council, please go to the EGP website.

Room 1B

Moderator:

• Stiofan Nutty (Ireland)

Speaker:

• Lars-Olof Karlsson (Green Forum, Sweden)
• Michelle Sheather (Australia)
• Danielle Cesarov-Zaugg (Switzerland)

Solidarity for Greens Globally began as a meeting at the 2012 Global Greens Congress in Dakar, Senegal, in which a group of Green activists agreed to form a network to support Green politics globally - a solidarity network.

The purpose is:

1) for Members of the Global Greens (Green Parties, Partners and individual activists) to share how they are already supporting the capacity building of Green Parties internationally;

2) to identify more practical ways to express solidarity with each other;

3) to identify what is needed within the Global Greens organisation to sustain and scale up this solidarity.

Room 1C

With Donald Trump in the White House the Transatlantic relationship is obviously not anymore what it used to be. Present Trump has announced he will withdraw from the climate obligations that the US have accepted under the Paris Agreement. He has signaled that he’s willing to go to measures that would amount to trade war in order to pursue his “America first” policy. He has supported Brexit with glee and signaled that he would encourage further exits. He has forged political alliances with extremist, populist right-wing forces in Europe. He has started a campaign to force NATO member countries to increase defense spending by tens of billions. He has time and again toyed with the idea of striking a deal with his colleague President Putin at the expense of Ukraine and possibly other Eastern and Central European countries. Quite some change!

What should we expect from the US Administration and the US Congress? Should we hope that Trump becomes more moderate as time goes by? Who could be our allies in the US, relevant players that side with us against Trump’s policies? How is Trump’s impact changing in a European dynamic? How will Europe deal with expectable changes in the US foreign policy vis-à-vis the Middle-East, Iran, China and other countries?

These questions we would like to discuss at the meeting of the Foreign Affairs WG.

Room 4A

Moderator:

• Marta Loja Neves, Editorial Board, Green European Journal

Speaker:

• Arne Jungjohann
• Christine Milne
• Gustav Fridolin (Sweden)

Parting from the experience of German Greens in coalition governments, we will have a discussion with representatives of two different Green parties with hands-on government experience. Be ready for input from Ireland, Germany and Australia, followed by a Q&A.

Room 4B

Moderator:

• Andrew Kroglund (Norway)

Speaker:

• Ciarán Cuffe (Ireland)
• Carlos Ramon Gonzalez Merchan (Colombia)
• Efi Xanthou (Cyprus)
• Anne Marie Bihirabake (Burundi)

Peace and reconciliation-processes are important, difficult and often fail. Through a dialogue involving the three cases of Northern Ireland, Colombia, Cyprus, and Burundi, we might learn why such processes succeed or fail and what could be a Green policy on the matter.

Room 11B

Moderator:

• Andrew Cooper, GPEW Energy Spokesperson

Speakers: 

• Tina Rothery, Founding Member of the Lancashire anti-fracking Nanas
• Boris Sandov, Bulgarian Green Party
• Greg Barber, MP, Leader of the Australian Greens in Victoria

The world remains divided over fracking. The experience of the US as highlighted by the award winning documentaries of Josh Fox with Gaslands, has shown the industry for what it can be – dangerous and deceitful – clinging onto fossil fuels despite the urgency of tackling climate change, damaging people’s health and land, corrupting democratic systems. With an outright ban in France and moratoriums in Scotland, Germany, many US states, greater international collaboration is needed to understand the industry and the future of our energy transitions. Across the world, from Algeria, to South Africa and Australia, citizens are facing the same challenges and are reclaiming their democratic rights and demanding accountability over the energy sector.

This panel will discuss these difficult questions but also look at some of the solutions which have been provided at local level, where community energy is bringing back local democracy and cleaner energy production.

Room 13

Moderators:

• Tamsin Lejeune, Founder of the Ethical Fashion Forum (EFF) and the CEO of Mysource.io
• Ben Ramsden, Founder Pants to Poverty

The central dilemma we face as a global society is that our basic operating system - capitalism - is at odds with a sustainability agenda.

Our current system dictates that the wellbeing of our society - our public services, schools, libraries, hospitals, care for the disabled and the vulnerable is all dependent on economic growth, on consuming more and more.

Yet, the pursuit of the very growth that "sustains" the well being of our society is driving climate change, global and national inequality and leading to crime, conflict and unrest. Mass consumption has created thousands of jobs globally, often in some of the world’s least developed countries. But are these good jobs? They are characterised by tedious work, long hours, unsafe and exploitative work for poverty wages.

Can business, done well, become a solution (rather than a cause of) the greatest challenges facing our global society and the planet? Using the fashion industry as a case study, this session explores the opportunities for better business - and how this is relevant to the role of the Green Party.

Room 11A

Member-led workshop to discuss detail of motions and create reports before voting sessions (observers welcome, but contributions restricted to GPEW members)

18:30 - 18:50 E05 - New Clean Air Act
18:50 - 19:10 E06 - Updating Sexual Orientation Policies
19:10 - 19:30 E08 - Precautionary Principle
19:30 - 19:50 E09 - Supporting Universal Suffrage

Room 11C

Member-led workshop to discuss detail of motions and create reports before voting sessions (observers welcome, but contributions restricted to GPEW members)

18:30 - 19:15 D01 - Electoral Alliances & D02 Local Progressive Alliances
19:15 - 19:30 D03 - Mental Health Manifesto
19:30 - 19:45 D04 - Allow Non-Binary Members...

Room 12

Member-led workshop to discuss detail of motions and create reports before voting sessions (observers welcome, but contributions restricted to GPEW members)

18:30 - 19:10 D10 - GPEX Standing Orders
19:10 - 19:30 D09 - Amend Parl Section By-Law 8

ACC entrance 

Registration opens for all participants.

Auditorium  

Moderator: 

• Natalie Bennett (United Kingdom)

Speakers: 

• Anne-Marie Bihirabake (Burundi)
• Tom Crone (United Kingdom)
• Metiria Turei (New Zealand)
• Alejandro San Martín (Chile)

 How can we promote democracy locally, regionally and internationally? Green Parties are diverse yet share the same core values. These can be summarised as ecological sustainability, social justice, non-violence and participatory democracy. Generally Greens believe in promoting popular democracy, involving citizens in greater participation than just voting every four or five years. Examples include the European Green Party’s 2015 European-wide Primary to select their leading candidate for the European elections. Participatory budgets are another example. Frustration amongst voters worldwide reflects the need for real participation and deeper democracy to give citizens a real say. The evolution of internetbased tools makes the practice of greater online participation possible.

Room 4A

Speakers: 

• Catherine Olier 
• Daniel Belling (Germany)

How can citizens, consumers and Greens elected officials participate in the fight for fair taxation and tax transparency? This session provides space for an exchange of ideas and experience on how to pressure corporations to pay their fair share to the society.

Some lessons and cases will be provided by different speakers on attempts/successes to ban companies exposed with tax dodging scandals from public procurement. It will also be discussed how to initiate local campaigns to make consumers, local clubs, schools and universities aware of the issue and which alternatives exist.

Room 4B

Moderator:

• Ioana Banach, Green European Foundation

E-learning has the potential to become a powerful tool in promoting Green ideas: it can respond to the knowledge and skills needs of Green activists, campaigners and politicians across the globe.  

During this workshop, we will share the experience of Green organisations who have developed e-learning programmes. Furthermore, the event will provide an interactive space for exploring ways in which green organisations and parties can make use of new (online) technologies in order to advance their capacity-building activities.

For more information, contact [email protected]

Room 10

Speakers:

• Andy Wightman, Member of Scottish Parliament, Scottish Green Party (Scotland)
• Ade Zuchri, Sercretary General Sarekat Hijau Indonesia (Indonesia Green Union)

This workshop will be an opportunity for colleagues in the Global Green family to share information and perspectives  on the challenges that face their communities and citizens in relation to land ownership and land governance. These may be in relation to land ownership for tax avoidance; land grabbing by companies as investment opportunities or for biofuels production; urbanisation competing for land for farming; trade agreements and their impact on land for farming and food sovereignty; land and climate change issues; common land and community ownership.  

Participants will hear from Andy Wightman MSP from the Scottish Green Party and Ade Indriani Zuchri, Secretary General of Sarekat Hijau Indonesia (Indonesia Green Union) both of whom are actively working on land issues. Roundtable discussions will also enable all to share information on what different Green Parties are doing on land related issues and learn from each other’s experience. The aim will be to identify potential opportunities for joint working on land issues going forward.

Room 11C 

Moderator:

• Oras Tynkkynen (Finland) 

Speakers:

• Bas Eickhout (Netherlands)
• Elizabeth May (Canada)
• Miriam Kennet (United Kingdom)
• Andrea Bauer (Germany)

This year’s COP 23 will take place under the Presidency of the Republic of Fiji in Bonn from 6 to 17 November. We as Greens have always played an active role in COP negotiations, be it as part of Governments or as an observer, trying to influence the outcome of the Conferences. COP 23 is supposed to be a big step towards the landmark of 2018, when the details of implementation of the Paris Climate agreement are supposed to be decided and the countries are supposed to commit to a raise of their ambition in reducing emissions. But COP 23 is also the first COP with a US President called Donald Trump and a Secretary of State called Rex Tillerson, the former Exxon Mobile CEO.
 
So, what is at stake at this year’s COP and how can we as Greens contribute to making it a success? How can the Greens counteract anti-science messages by the US and others, what should they push for and how? In this session, we will speak about the content of COP 23’s negotiations, but even more important talk about the political and strategic challenges for us as Greens. We will also discuss the very practical side on how we can ensure a transnational Green effort before and during the Conference – together with the Greens in Bonn who will report about the on-site preparations and the collaboration with civil society and the city.

Room 11A

Room 12

This is the main voting session of the Global Young Greens congress, which will see the adoption of new structures for Global Young Greens.

This session is open to registered Global Young Greens delegates

Auditorium  

Moderator:

• Elisabeth Whitebread (United Kingdom)

Speakers: 

• Alexis Georget (Leader, Madagascar Greens) 
• Mohamed Fares (Morocco)
• Linnéa Engström (Sweden)
• Judith Giblin (Fiji)
• Ernest Kolly (Solomon Islands)

The Global Greens Charter acknowledges that human society depends on the ecological resources of the planet, and must ensure the integrity of ecosystems and preserve biodiversity and the resilience of life-supporting systems. Our biodiverse oceans are one of the most threatened of the se systems. Oceans are not only important in their own right, but play a fundamental role in climate protection through heat absorption and as long-term sinks for atmospheric carbon dioxide. Around the world, ocean degradation is being driven by lack of marine protection, industrial and domestic overfishing and aquaculture. As Greens, we must urgently act together to protect this important part of the global commons.

Room 1C

Moderator:

• Monica Frassoni (Italy)

Speaker: 

• Tatiana Bazzichelli (Italy)

In this session we would like to discuss on the emergence of the role of social media within the political debate. In particular, we will focus on how social media can be both used as a means of resistance against authoritarian forces (as it was during the Arab Spring revolutions), or as a tool exploited by those same authoritarian forces.

Room 3

Moderator:

• Caroline Lucas (UK)

Speakers: 

• Neal Lawson, Compass thinktank
• Tommy Sheppard MP
• Andree Frieze, Richmond and Twickenham Green Party
• Jonathon Porritt, More United

The GPEW co-leaders will be joined by Neal Lawson from the thinktank Compass, Guardian journalist John Harris, Andree Frieze from Richmond Park Green Party, and Tommy Shepherd MP to discuss the strategic case for electoral alliances. The political climate in the UK is undergoing seismic shifts and there is a growing demand from the grassroots up for progressive political parties to be less tribal. The panellists will argue that regressive politics currently has the upper hand and that the case for co-operation in some key marginal constituencies where there are candidates that share our commitment to a fair voting system is overwhelming.

Room 1B

Moderator:

• Saraswati Matthieu (Belgium)

Speaker:

• Robert Luschnick (Austria)

Despite some very challenging political losses in the past year, we have also had some very inspiring political wins for the Greens! Namely the election of the first Green President, Alexander van der Bellen and the very successful legislative campaign of the Dutch Greens. In this session we will hear from the Austrian Greens who worked on this campaign and learn about the challenges and realities of running a campaign in today’s difficult political landscape.  This will include technical aspects of running a campaign such as how to use technology as well as political framing.

Room 4A 

Moderator:

• Eva Goës (Sweden)

Speakers: 

• Pekka Haavisto (Finland)
• Anne Marie Bihirabake (Burundi)

All Friends of Global Greens, FROGG´s, and all other participants, are very welcome to this seminar about peacebuilding, especially you who have got experience from refugee crisis.  What are the roots of the refugee crises? How can we build peace?

Come and have an interactive dialogue about peace on Earth - a real challenge!

Pekka Haavisto, the lecturer, is an MP in Finland and newly he was appointed as President of European Institute of Peace, EIP. 1999-2005 he was the the Chairman of UNEP’s post-conflict work. He has worked as the European Union Special Representative in Sudan and Darfur 2005-2007 and as a Special Advisor for the UN in Darfur peace process 2007. 2014 he was the Foreign Minister’s Special Representative for African Crises.

Anne Marie Bihirabake from Burundi, will give her opinion of this topic from her perspective. She is a gender specialist and international consultant. She is the vice president of Burundi Green Movement, vice president of Eastern Africa Greens Federation and a former representative of Greens Women in Africa. The context of refugees is very similar to the situation in Burundi, where almost 330 000 people are in neighbouring countries.

In all those situations, women and children are the most victims. They are the most populated in the refugee life, they are the ones to suffer a lot and being the subject of a diversity of many sort of treatments. A quick solution, human and sustainable - is a need!

Room 13

Moderator:

• Monika Baunach (United Kingdom)

Speakers: 

• Jean Lambert (United Kingdom)
• Keith Taylor (United Kingdom)
• Molly Scot Cato (United Kingdom)
• Terry Reintke (Germany)
• Bas Eickhout (Netherlands)
• Ulrike Lunacek (Austria)

Jean, Molly and Keith traditionally take GPEW conference attendees on a whirlwind tour and discussion of their work. To mark this year’s special event, bringing together Greens from all over Europe and the world, they will be joined by their Greens/EFA colleagues Ulrike Lunacek, Vice-President of the European Parliament and member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (Austria), Terry Reintke, member of the Committee on Regional Development and Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (Germany) as well as Bas Eickhout, member of the Committee of Inquiry into Emission Measurements in the Automotive Sector and the Delegation for relations with the United States (Netherlands). From supporting the clean energy revolution, to tackling tax evasion, addressing air quality and pressing for action on green jobs, hear how MEPs are making the Green voice heard in Europe and fighting for an open and united Europe.

Room 8

The Green Seniors

Room 11A

Member-led workshop to discuss detail of motions and create reports before voting sessions (observers welcome, but contributions restricted to GPEW members)

11:00 - 11:30 D07 Subs Review & D08 Capitations REview recommendations
11:35 - 12:10 D05 - Limited Liability
12:15 - 12:30 D06 - Selecting More Diverse Candidates

Room 11B

Member-led workshop to discuss detail of motions and create reports before voting sessions (observers welcome, but contributions restricted to GPEW members)

11:00 - 11:50 F1 - DVP on Climate Change
11:50 - 12:30 F2 - DVP on Forestry and Woodlands

Room 12

This is the main voting session of the Global Young Greens congress, which will see the adoption of new structures for Global Young Greens.

This session is open to registered Global Young Greens delegates

Room 4A: Transport
Room 5: Rural Affairs (Countryside)
Room 9: Education
Room 10: Health and wellbeing
Room 11A: Energy
Room 13: Citizens Income

Room 4B

Room 8

Room 11C

Come and meet the GPEW Executive and GP Regional Council - Political Strategy Q&A

Dressing room 3

Come and meet the GPEW Membership Team (Open to LP/Regional Membership Officers)

Auditorium  

Moderator:

• Reinhard Bütikofer (Germany)

Speakers:

• Liz Kennedy (United States)
• Adam Ostolski (Poland)
• Jens Siegert (Germany)
• Suzanne Kröger (Netherlands)

Speakers will discuss the primary causes of the rise of authoritarianism in Europe and United States and examine the main factors that influence citizens of well-established democratic countries to shift towards “illiberal democracies”, as well as looking at possible ways to reverse this trend.

Room 13

EGP Compromise Amendment Session on emergency resolutions.

The amendments and latest text (with line numbering) are available online. 

Room 4B

EGP Compromise Amendment Session on emergency resolutions

The proposed compromised text - by German and French Greens - and the proposal for CAS amendments are available online. Please note that only the amendments in italic have been incoorporated in the CAS proposal. 

There will be some copies available in the room.

You will find several of the CAS outcome texts and amendments uploaded online HERE. 

Room 1B

Moderators:

• Keith Taylor, MEP Green Party of England and Wales (UK)
• Molly Scott Cato, MEP Green Party of England and Wales (UK)
• Cllr Lawrence Brown

Speakers:

• Florent Marcellesi, MEP EQUO (Spain)
• Dr Joanna Swabe, Executive Director Humane Society International/Europe
• Dr Jens Thomas, Co-founder of Farm Urban
• Samantha Jones, co-director of Homebaked Community Land Trust
• Robinah K. Nanyunja, Secretary General, Eastern Africa Greens Federation

Greens believe we need to move away from the industrialised and intensive farming systems that dominate the agriculture sector today. Livestock production accounts for 14.5% of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions globally and even greater percentages of potent emissions, such as methane (35-40%) and nitrous oxide (65%). Today’s farm animal sector is a major consumer of scarce water and protein-rich grains which could be used to feed humans. Furthermore, animal welfare standards are often very poor, including during the transport of animals to the abattoir. In the European Union alone, 8 billion land animals are slaughtered on an annual basis. Increasing the current level of meat consumption is likely to exacerbate these problems as well as counteract efforts to tackle diet-related diseases such as obesity and type-2 diabetes. The biotech industry and some governments are promoting genetically modified organisms as a solution to address the global challenge of food insecurity and population growth, despite huge concerns about public health risks, the contamination of other plants and biodiversity loss connected to GMOs. Further, a misplaced focus on increasing production fails to recognise that one of the key causes of food insecurity is in fact food wastage, with the World Food Programme estimating that one third of all food produced is never consumed.
 
We believe that we need a good agriculture and food policy that includes the right of the poor to feed themselves; that supports our commitment to tackling climate change, that reflects the sustainability and diversity of European and global food cultures and that shares responsibilities between farmers, fishers and consumers for fair prices and fair trade. Through this session we want to provoke public debate and action on these issues as well as showcase best practice examples that aim to promote a healthy diet, reduce food transport and preserve the natural environment.

Room 4A

Room 5

Room 9

Meet with Green Parties from this federation. Learn about the politics in the countries of the region, ask questions and get to know the people in the Green parties.

African Greens Federation (AGF)

Room 10

Moderator:

• Richard Black (United Kingdom)

Speakers:

• Margrete Auken (Denmark)
• Nina Springle (Australia)
• Louise Edge (United Kingdom
• Richard Thompson (United Kingdom)
• James Mackenzie (United Kingdom)

Since Bangladesh became the first country to ban plastic bags in 2002, the issue of excessive plastic consumption and its devastating impact on oceans and marine life has gained substantial political traction. More than 50 national or sub-national initiatives around the world have tackled the problem, with generally high levels of public support and success in reducing usage and pollution. But significant challenges remain. Research needs to be better funded and communicated to effectively undermine pro-plastic narratives. World-class policy and campaign initiatives need to be shared and built on to and there’s huge potential for more collaborative work through the Global Greens that could make a real difference.

Bringing together high level panelists from across politics, academia and environmental organisations, this panel will consider: 

• the evidence base and key gaps in research,
• viable alternatives to plastics, 
• policy options and challenges, 
• the impact of existing initiatives, 
• strategic insights, and 
• unintended consequences

Room 11B

Moderator:

• Elizabeth May (Canada)
• Kennedy Graham (New Zealand)

The Global Greens’ 2012 Congress in Dakar resolved to establish a Global Greens Parliamentarians Association which:

1. supports the plans to establish a Green Parliamentarians Association as an international network for parliamentarians and elected representatives at national, supra-national, state, regional or local level who are connected to the Global Greens.
2. endorses the need for such Green parliamentarians to work together to promote the implementation of the Global Greens Charter in parliaments and in international forums.
3. endorses the need for Green parliamentarians to share information about policy successes, support Green parliamentary candidates in emerging democracies and work across national borders where this can help to realise Greens policy goals.
4. acknowledges that the Parliamentarians Association will work closely and coordinate with the Global Greens Coordination.

We rarely have an opportunity to meet.  As Parliamentarians, we must navigate our relationship with our own party and its goals while seeking the most strategic leverage to improve policies and laws within our legislatures and parliaments.  The primary objective of the session is to learn from each other and support each other.

Room 11C

Speakers:

• June Cho (Korea)
• Barb Jacobson (United Kingdom)
• Janine Alm Ericson (Sweden)

In this workshop, we'd like to discuss to which global challenges transforming the world of work and social security basic income could be an important part of the Green answer – such as automation, rise of precarious employment, or the neoliberal assault on the welfare state. To help the discussion, we will begin the workshop with a clarification of the concept of universal basic income and an overview of what we can learn from basic income experiments.

Room 3

Debate and voting on motions on the GPEW Conference Agenda (observers welcome, but voting restricted to GPEW members)

Section D motions

Room 1C

Debate and voting on motions on the GPEW Conference Agenda (observers welcome, but voting restricted to GPEW members)

Section D motions

Room 12

In this session, Young Greens will develop plans for international collaboration and organising.

This session is open to registered Global Young Greens delegates

Auditorium  

Moderator:

• Molly Scott Cato (United Kingdom)

Speakers:

• Kennedy Graham (New Zealand)
• Flor de Maria Hurtado (Peru, Spanish)
• Philippe Lamberts (Belgium)
• Adama Sere (Burkina Faso)

Countries are competing with each other to attract corporations by offering low tax rates. The wealthy shop the world looking to avoid their taxes, while others continue to pay their fair share. The publication of the Panama Papers has unmistakably highlighted that we should continue our fight against inequality, and tax evasion being one of the decisive battles in this. Today the rules are fixed by the OECD, which is made up of the wealthiest countries, leaving those who are not at the table losing more in unpaid tax than they ever gain from aid. The EU also struggles to achieve the kind of tax cooperation which could prevent corporations from playing countries against each other.

In this session we will discuss this trend and how to reverse it.

Room 13

EGP Compromise Amendment Session, emergency resolutions

Room 4A

Is there a Green approach to security, and if so - what is it? Leading Green figures from across Europe discuss measures, policies and the narrative that could constitute an effective approach to security. How can Greens respond to the concerns and fears of citizens today while providing a positive and hopeful message? A panel debate around the 15th edition of the Green European Journal “Fear and Trembling. Perspectives on Security in Europe”.

Room 4B

The claims of disabled people still remain often unrecognized, even though they are manifested by the UN in the Convention of Rights of People of Disabilities. Therefore we want to raise awareness of this issue, and of the struggles disabled people are fighting all over the world.    

Room 9

Meet with Green Parties from this federation. Learn about the politics in the countries of the region, ask questions and get to know the people in the Green parties.

Asia Pacific Greens Federation

Room 11A

Moderator:

• Christine Milne, Australia

Speakers:

• Greg Barber, Australia
• Ade Zuchri, Indonesia
• Ewa Sufin-Jacquemart, Poland

The Global Greens Charter recognises that we acknowledge that human society depends on the ecological resources of the planet, and must ensure the integrity of ecosystems and preserve biodiversity and the resilience of life-supporting systems. One of those systems that is most under threat are our biodiverse natural forests. Natural forests are not only important in their own right, they play a critical role in climate protection by storing carbon and by mediating local and global weather systems. Around the world, deforestation and degradation are driven by brazen and unchecked logging, mining, roading and resources development. As Greens, we must urgently act together to protect this important part of the global commons.

This session asks how best this goal can be achieved:

What are the primary forest protection issues in each region represented?
What have Greens done so far to raise awareness and address threats to forest conservation?
How can the Global Greens work together to protect these regions? How can a collective approach increase our capacity to achieve positive outcomes for our forests?

Room 1B

Moderator:

• Saraswati Matthieu (Belgium)

Speakers:

• Dirk van den Bosch (Netherlands)
• Sybren Kooistra (Netherlands)

Despite some very challenging political losses in the past year, we have also had some very inspiring political wins for the Greens! Namely the election of the first Green President, Alexander van der Bellen and the very successful legislative campaign of the Dutch Greens. In this session we will hear from the Dutch Greens who worked on the campaign and learn about the challenges and realities of running a campaign in today’s difficult political landscape. This will include technical aspects of running a campaign such as how to use technology as well as political framing.

Room 11C

Moderator:

• Diane Sharp (UK)
• Claire Waghorn-Lees (New Zealand)

This workshop is designed for International Secretaries and Coordinators, to encourage better communications and the ability to share connections and resources between our global Green parties.

Many Green parties have a person working in a globally focused role - the idea is to get all of these people together, and figure out what shared roles we have, and what support we might be able to offer one another. Often when you’re looking to learn from another Green party’s experience for the benefit of your own party, it helps to know who to ask. This workshop is about learning who is out there, finding shared goals, and figuring out how to connect one another to expand the shared global knowledge.

Room 10

Moderator:

• Olivia Hanks

Speakers:

• Ed Gillespie, Co Founder of We Are Futerra
• Tom Crompton, Founder of Common Cause
• Jamie Clare, Climate Outreach Network
• Christine Berry, New Economics Foundation

Talks and discussion on the major communications challenges facing Greens globally: how to trump fear with hope and to explain our vision of a post-growth economy and society. 

Political communications faces a major challenge. On the one hand is the need to trump fear with hope, to bring credibility, positivity, and inclusivity back into politics. For Greens, there is a second challenge: how do we find a way to explain to voters in an engaging way why we need a stable, sustainable economy, not one built on endless growth. This session will draw on the experiences and expertise of our panel members and look to find some lessons that we as Greens can take forwards on a global scale to promote a future that is secure and bright.

Room 3

Debate and voting on motions on the GPEW Conference Agenda (observers welcome, but voting restricted to GPEW members)

Section E and Emergency motions

Room 1C

Debate and voting on motions on the GPEW Conference Agenda (observers welcome, but voting restricted to GPEW members)

Section E and Emergency motions

Room 12

Who will lead the Global Young Greens? This is your chance to question the candidates for the new Global Young Greens Steering Committee.

All Young Greens are invited to attend this session.

Auditorium  

Moderator:

• Oras Tynkkynen (Finland)

Speakers:

• Per Bolund (Sweden)
• Matthias Buck (Germany)
• Sandrine Rousseau (France)
• Ward Mosmuller (Netherlands)

This plenary will discuss green economic transformation from different angles: civil society; business or politics and highlight practical examples of how it is being implemented. Our speakers will present successful examples of how green industrial transformation is achieved and will discuss priorities for EU economic policy changes which would better support it.

Room 12

Room 1B

Moderator:

• Amelia Womack

Speakers:

• Molly Scott Cato (United Kingdom)
• Ross Greer
• Christine Milne 
• Philippe Lamberts (Belgium)

Brexit has fallen like a bombshell into the lives of progressives across Europe. While many of us are still feeling grief we need to oppose the right-wing power grab that hard Brexit represents. We also need to oppose the race to the bottom on social and environmental standards and ensure that Brexit is not used as a Trojan Horse to undermine European achievements that challenge corporate power. While the large majority of Greens supported continued membership of the EU, Greens have long been critical of the pro-growth, neoclassical ideology that dominates the EU and so there is a hope that Brexit might challenge the domination of corporations and provide the impetus for positive change.

Lounge (on invitation only)

Speakers:

• Jonathan Bartley
• Caroline Lucas
• Richard Di Natale

An informal private gathering of Green Party leaders to discuss topics of shared interest and explore ways to connect, coordinate and campaign more effectively. Green Parties are invited to this meeting before congress and in this invitation they are asked what topics they wish to discuss & desired outcomes from this meeting. This will enable us to devise prompt questions for each group discussion.

Riverside Balcony (on invitation only)

Room 4B

Speakers:

• Adam Ostolski (Poland)

Since the Brexit vote, it is clear that Greens and eco-socialists in the world need to urgently participate in wider debates about the future of environmental and economic policy. It is more than ever important for us throughout the world to co-operate on issues such as an alternative economic strategy, climate change and GMOs, and human rights and social justice concerns, including assistance to refugees, protection of workers’ rights and the rights of minorities, as well as to campaign against the potentially damaging environmental impact of CETA. This meeting will look at the strategies and structures we should support in this endeavour.

Room 11C

Informal general debate on the public attitude to growing older. Congress provides the opportunity to compare Global, European and UK attitudes to older people. Increasing numbers of seniors causing strain on economic resources. Are we to blame?

Room 9

Meet with Green Parties from this federation. Learn about the politics in the countries of the region, ask questions and get to know the people in the Green parties.

Federations of the Green Parties of the Americas

Room 13

Speakers:

• Aimee Challenor (UK)
• Sean Mulcahy (Australia)

The inaugural meeting of the Global Greens LGBT+ Network at the largest gathering of Green parties globally is an opportunity to expand engagement with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and sexual and gender diverse (LGBT+) Green activists worldwide.

This meeting will include, ratifying the draft constitution of the Global Greens LGBT+ Network, electing a steering committee, and providing an opportunity for attendees to report on the work their party is doing to progress LGBT+ rights in their country.

Room 8

Greens of Colour AGM

Room 11A

Member-led workshop to discuss detail of motions and create reports before voting sessions (observers welcome, but contributions restricted to GPEW members)

18:30 - 19:15 Report from Party Treasurer
19:15 - 20:00 Reform of COnference Working Group Report

Room 11B

An update on the ongoing GPEW Governance Review process.

Room 1C

GPEW hustings for vacant committee posts.

Auditorium 

 Global Greens Member Party Delegates vote on amendments and on adopting resolutions proposed before Congress and as emergency resolutions. Decisions made in this session shall produce formal policies and political positions which represent the views of the 2017 Global Greens Congress. This session is chaired by the Global Greens Resolutions Committee.

Voting session for EGP delegates

Room 11A + 11B

Room 4A

Moderator:

• Tim Hollo, Executive Director The Green Institute (Australia)

Speakers: 

• Tom Crompton, Founder Common Cause Foundation (UK)

This 90 minute skill-share session will introduce Common Cause, an evidence-based framework for understanding how values underpin our attitudes and behaviours, and train attendees in how to work with values to stimulate environmentally and socially responsible behaviours, from recycling to volunteering to voting Green.

The workshop will help attendees identify values and learn how to appeal to values which support our goals. It will propose that Greens around the world adopt the Common Cause framework and roll out training to MPs, candidates, campaigners and volunteers.

Room 4B

Moderator: 

• Dr Amanda Shea Hart (Australia)

Extensive global research from different scientific fields reveals how in the modern capitalist world, humans are adversely affecting the health and wellbeing of, and sustainability for people and other creatures and the environment upon which we are dependent. UNESCO’s international research (2013) calls for urgent social change for eco-sustainability and human well being.

To effectively address the root cause, which is dysfunctional human behaviour that has been normalized in this modern commercialized era, people, communities and societies need to be motivated and enabled to take steps towards a more sustainable future. To facilitate such change it is important to know how to apply psychological and social strategies to help lead and inspire people from all cultures and societies to undertake the much needed urgent transformation. Having awareness of the new revolutionary psychosocial concept of Dominant Species Syndrome (DSS), that names and defines the problems and provides practical psychosocial approaches, is fundamental to facilitating such change at all levels in societies. This is the missing link as it names and defines the problems, and provides a way forward for a more sustainable future for humankind, the environment, and other life forms on planet Earth

Room 10

Moderator: 

• Sue Lewis (Australia)

The Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia (WELA) program was a first for Australia in 2016 - a leadership program designed by and for women environmentalists working in a range of paid and volunteer campaign positions around the country. While developed for environmentalists the gender issues underpinning this program will be familiar to women and men in Green politics across the globe.

This participatory workshop will cover:

·      Experience of gender and leadership in countries of the workshop participants

·      Experience of gender harm from established densely masculine industries during campaigns

·      Outline of the WELA model as an Australian response and other strategies and programs across the globe (workshop participants)

WELA aims to address the ways in which women's crucial leadership in the environment movement is undervalued and often not reflected in formal leadership positions. In the Australian context WELA recognises that this dynamic is not limited to gender and women from other marginalised constituencies (such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women of colour, culturally and linguistically diverse women, working class and regional women) are encouraged to enrol.

Room 6

Room 13

Room 12

This session will include skill sharing and the adoption of a strategy for the future of Global Young Greens

This session is open to registered Global Young Greens delegates

Auditorium

In this session we will reflect on the political and personal significance of the #Greens2017 Congress. We will mobilise our heads, hearts and hands towards committed actions that continue progress globally.

Voting session for EGP delegates

Room 11A + 11B

Room 3A + B

Debate and voting on motions on the GPEW Conference Agenda (observers welcome, but voting restricted to GPEW members)

Room 12

This session will include skill sharing and the adoption of a strategy for the future of Global Young Greens

This session is open to registered Global Young Greens delegates

Room 12

At this closing session, Global Young Greens will announce the new Steering Committee, as well as hearing from the keynote speaker of the congress. 

All Young Greens are invited to attend this session