Fighting Climate Change Through local projects

Wednesday 10 December, 9.00 – Archaeological museum, Poznan

A GREEN BELT MOVEMENT project in partnership with the BASQUE GOVERNMENT. Community-Based Tree Planting and Natural Resource Management Initiatives in Southern Mt.Kenya.

TERI-The Energy and Resources Institute and BC3-Basque Centre for Climate Change-Klima Aldaketa Ikergai, project spreading and transference of knowledge

The Green Belt Movement (GBM) was founded over thirty years ago by Professor Wangari Maathai (Nobel Laureate 2004). Through a rights-based and environmental education approach GBM has mobilized rural women in Kenya to plant over 40 million trees. More than simply protecting the environment, the Green Belt Movement’s strategy is to secure and strengthen the very basis for ecologically sustainable development. Prof. Wangari Maathai and her work at GBM are an example and source of inspiration for Communities worldwide facing the challenges of Climate Change. Prof Wangari Maathai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace.

Professor Rajendra K. Pachauri is the chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) since 2002, and is also the director general of the The Energy and Resources Institute in New Delhi, an institution devoted to researching and promoting sustainable development. He stands out for his high contributions to the environment, for what he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award, and also for the defence and the recognition for reaching a sustainable development also for the neediest.

The Basque Government believes the best investment we can make is to devote our efforts now to reducing the effects of Climate Change and that Prof. Maathai is a strong voice speaking for the best forces in Africa to promote peace and good living conditions on that continent. Only by making a significant commitment now can we hope to avoid paying the huge economic, environmental and social costs climate change will bring in the future. The Basque Government understands this and has made the fight against this phenomenon one of the main priorities of its environment policy, which includes a partnership with GBM to restore the forests of southern Mount Kenyan, the approval of the Basque Climate Change Action Plan 2008-2012 and the creation of the Basque Center on Climate Change (BC3).

The speakers of the conference are:

Prof. Wangari Maathai
Nobel Peace Prize for 2004 for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace.

Prof. Rajendra K. Pachauri
Nobel Peace Prize for 2007 shared with Al Gore for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change

Ms. Esther Larrañaga
Minister for Environment and Land Use, Basque Country
Seats are limited, to secure your place please click here