COP16 Wednesday

When people ask me how I can do any good in a UN meeting, they are often surprised to find that being a Green places me in an influential group of Parliamentarians.  Greens around the world are in their governments, in Parliament and in negotiations.

At an early meeting this AM, the largest grouping of Greens so far at this meeting met to strategize.  Brussels Capital Region's government has a minister for Environment, Energy Policy, Urban Renewal and Welfare.  Minister Evelyne Huytebroeck is in the thick of negotiations.  And she is a green. So is EU Member of Parliament from Germany, Rebecca Harms.  A great cheer went up when Marina da Silva, Green Presidential candidate in Brazil, joined us.  She won 20% of the popular vote, nearly 20 million votes in the most recent election!

The breakfast meeting heard voices of Green MPs from Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Sweden, Brazil, Mexico, elected municipal leaders from Australia, the US, and Greens from other countries as well.

Ideas to break dead-locks were discussed, debated, and my colleagues will take these ideas to places I cannot go. They rushed right back into the small groups attempting to hammer out workable text for a COP16 agreement.

I have no access to influence the Canadian government in these meetings.  But, thanks to the growing global influence of the Green Party, Canadians who are fully committed to climate action, do have a role in these negotiations.  Greens elected anywhere represent shared values and principles everywhere.