In addition to the official delegations civil society organizations have participated as observers in climate negotiations for many years. While in the beginning the vast majority consisted of environmental organizations, in recent years developing organizations, social movements and globalization critics have appeared on the scene and interfered with the negotiations. For the summit in Copenhagen we can expect a mass mobilization of civil society. The alternative summit Klimaforum09 will accompany the COP15 with a great number of activities in the Danish capital. For December 12 civil society organisations call for a Global Day of Action with demonstrations worldwide, with the biggest among them expected in Copenhagen.
However, the overall increasing pace and the political pressure in the negotiations have led to cumulative tensions and conflicts within these organizations. This is what threatens to allay the influence of civil society. As the civil society has always been the watchdog for the governments, this development can be considered to be disquieting.
We will give an overview on the most important networks and NGOs, which participate at the negotiations:
- Climate Action Network (CAN) is a global network with more than 450 NGOs dealing with impacts of climate change. During the negotiations CAN publishes its own newsletter, organizes press conferences and side events and awards the “Fossil of the Day Award” to states which undermined the progress in the negotiations.
- Climate Justice Now: The global network has more than 160 members and was founded in Bali to work in the field of climate-related development cooperation, especially with indigenous communities.
- Global Campaign for Climate Action organized a global campaign for climate protection
- Aprodev is a Christian network with member of humanitarian organizations and developing NGOs. Members are Christian Aid, Bred for the World or Norwegian Church Aid.
- Friends of the Earth is a network of environmental organizations from over 70 countries. The network is represented through common actions and events at the COPs.
- Greenpeace
- Oxfam
- Two networks are working in the field of gender and climate finance: Gendercc and Global Gender and Climate Alliance (GGCA).
GGCA is funded by the gender departments of UNDP, UNEP, WEDO and IUCN. The organisation’s aim was to create an awareness for gender adequate language among the delegations of the climate negotiations, and to acquaint the delegations, especially those from Africa, with gender topics.