A place for all generations

A once in a lifetime opportunity – to create a global agreement on climate change…

This statement, this vision, has been achieved, at least to some degree, at the conclusion of the 21st Conference of the Parties. The true work begins the day after this agreement, however, as the challenge and urgency of implementation, beckons.

But, is that all? Was there more to COP 21 than just the negotiations and that final, dramatic agreement?

If my experience was any indication, the answer is a resounding, yes! “More” came in the form of the many side events, exhibits, press conference, civil society actions and media frenzy that was spread generously across what the “blue zone” at COP 21, accessible only to those accredited with a badge denoting as such.

But there was something else, too. A grand, colourful, strangely familiar yet unique space existed for those both accredited and non-accredited – in fact all members of the public were welcome. This space, the “green zone”, was given the prophetic title of the Climate Generations Areas.

Open from December 1st-11th (with the exception of December 6th), the Climate Generations Areas, or CGA (sorry, I love acronyms) was described by organizers as a space designed to “provide a huge space for debates, knowledge-sharing, discussions and conviviality.” It certainly seemed to deliver!

For those who didn’t have a chance to explore the CGA, or could not be in Paris, let me take you on a quick tour. The CGA space can be broken down into six key areas:

• Exhibit spaces – Organizations ranging from youth groups to international NGO’s, groups showcasing new technology, sustainable materials, art in different forms (spoken word, visual, interactive) and even UN bodies, such as UNEP, could be find in this space, divided into three wings spread across the site.
• Pavilion spaces – Grand and extremely popular, these pavilions – the Indigenous Pavilion, the Government of France Pavilion, the Cities and Regions Pavilion and the Rio Conventions Pavilion compliment many more pavilions (representing countries, groups and NGO’s) found in the Blue Zone. Each one acts as it’s own “conference within a conference” with a separate schedule, seating and space for interactive media, art and discussion. One could find themselves exploring just a single pavilion for the duration of the CGA!
• Screening spaces – In a sense this space could be considered a film festival running daily, for 10 days! Incredible films, TV shows (such as Years of Living Dangerously, a must-see series) were broadcast in this comfortable 500-seat theatre. For every screening there was an opportunity to hear from the creators/organizers in-person, be it with a Q&A, discussion of the topics and opportunities to stay connected and support the project. To the surprise of many who may have expected big names, celebrities and iconic NGO leaders/organizers to stay within the confines of the accredited, security-rich Blue Zone, many came to the CGA, too!
• Conferences/debate spaces – In many respects the core of the CGA, these were some of the most crowded and frantic spaces on site, tucked within a small corner yet absolutely jam-packed with panels, debates, presentations and “learning sessions”, with plenty of time for discussion and Q&A, too. Presentations were often led by a mix of experts in policy and leaders or representatives from government, NGO’s, academia, business and international bodies, such as branches of the UN. There was also a strong presence of advocacy/civil society groups, as well as community and indigenous leaders from all over the world. A healthy learning experience was the inevitable result!
• Open thought/discussion spaces – spread throughout the central “hall” that connects all the other spaces, these proved to be an invaluable refuge for attendees, with spaces separated with wooden barriers for noise control, plenty of comfortable seats and lots and lots of outlets! The result was a mix of spaces where one could hear an impromptu presentation, a group furiously preparing a blog post or media storm or just a scattering of people enjoying a snack, reflecting on the day or taking a nap!
• Food spaces – a little bit of everything happened here, but especially staying energized! Verdict: good food, decent to high prices and rapid service – surprisingly efficient considering the thousands which streamed through this space daily!
• As a note, a number of additional mini day-conferences and special events took place throughout the duration of the CGA, with the majority of these located in the Nelson Mandela Auditorium. Unfortunately we weren’t able to take part in these due to our overflowing schedules!

Armed with this general understanding of the site, here are some highlights from my experience exploring the Climate Generations Areas, mostly during week 2:

The nexus of the CGA, a space to share our thoughts, hopes, fears and dreams for climate action at COP21.

Among the hustle and bustle of the CGA, you can occasionally find a sporadic gathering like this, be it a presentation, protest, display of art or, in this case, a screening of An Inconvenient Truth.

Artwork like this is a treasure to witness, especially when you can take part! This beautiful mural, guided by Indigenous leaders at the Indigenous Pavilion invited youth of all stripes to share their vision for a sustainable future, in a way creating a shared story whose inspiration knows no boundaries.

Some might think there remains a divide between the young and old, activist and policy-maker, NGO and business, but many of those lines become blurred, if not entirely removed, for the common goals that this conference presented to all of us. One particularly joyful example was the Grandparents Climate Campaign Norway, which caroled throughout the CGA, sharing their stories of bearing witness to climate change, demanding action and exploring the role they hope to play connecting with younger generations, while demanding leadership from their own.

Leaders didn’t shy away from the relatively open, informal and community-oriented space that was the CGA. They seemed to welcome the opportunity for discussion, engaging the public and, sometimes, making new announcements, in this case action by sub-national governments (states) in the US.

The leadership of indigenous youth – and the harrowing tales of neglect, abuse and isolation overcome, brought many to tears, myself included. “We are still here” – and we are here with you! #idlenomore

The next big CEO? Let’s hope future generations, inspired by the use of technology to empower citizens, working with leaders across disciplines to take climate action, become climate champs in their own right! Education is key.

While there were indeed cases highlighted by media of “false solutions” and “greenwashing” at COP21, the CGA showcased many ideas (such as this food wall) which are practical and feasible for citizens to use today. Other highlights included attractive, sturdy furniture built from waste materials (“upcycled”) and new innovations in land/air/sea monitoring using autonomous/semi-autonomous machines, powered independently for long-range and low-emission data collection.

Indigenous leaders – from elders to youth – had a strong and deeply moving presence witnessed by thousands at the CGA, centered at the Indigenous Pavilion. The stories of hardship, renewal and leadership – in this case among northern and Inuit communities in the Arctic – left me with a sense of pain, wonder and promise to learn more. It was a humbling experience to learn about so many cultures and the role they play to empower their communities to be climate leaders at/with all levels of government and, most importantly, for future generations.

The spoken word, dances and songs of indigenous communities present at the CGA was complimented by a display that was anything but a museum. Rather, one could learn about materials and technology used today that allow indigenous communities to live connected to the land and sea, sustainably. The challenges and opportunities in these communities was highlighted, too in visual art as well as information/research by a number of organizations and initiatives led by indigenous peoples.

One of many examples of leaders from across the board finding common ground on solutions we can all support – activists, authors, academia, journalists, heads of NGO’s, entrepreneurs, policy experts, the list goes on! In this case, leaders focused on the issue of divestment and tackling our current energy dilemma. I left with best practices on the challenges and success of divestment and effective communication of this issue, plus a snap with the great Bill McKibben himself!

This was no unusual gathering. The CGA was a generous space – perhaps even encouraging – for leaders, citizens and organizations to give their perspective, their voice and make loud and clear their concerns about our current disparity between the issue of climate change and the proposed solutions. Indeed, as the media highlighted, we are still far from a perfect agreement post-COP21, but the progress and momentum we have seen can be thanked in part to the strength of “the people” – those that represent, support and empower citizens – to hold our governments to account!

If we want to get moving, we need to respect, support and learn from indiginous peoples, from all walks of life, around the world. The celebratory atmosphere found in the CGA came with a plethora of lessons on where we could foster new relationships among previously disparate communities, voices…peoples. I am hopeful the excitement and media such interventions generated will evolve into a more meaningful dialogue and place on the table for indigenous peoples from around the world.

Thoughts for our future. Art, engagement and reflection around every corner at CGA.

Wrapping up a brilliant week, the connections and relationships built seem more meaningful than any at conference I have attended before…The urgency, passion and community was palpable – we’ll see where it leads!

Did you go to the CGA? What was your experience like? Please share in the comments below and stay in touch online using #UWCOP21 – thanks for joining us!

This piece was written by Rahul Mehta (right)

Rahul is in his final year of Planning (Master of Environmental Studies), studying to become a Professional Planner. As part of the UW COP21 delegation, Rahul hopes to build connections across disciplines focusing on climate education, de-growth, the cryosphere and urban/regional planning.