Call for Initiatives: Council of Europe World Forum for Democracy 2020

Deadline: June 30, 2020

The World Forum for Democracy calls for expression of interests in presenting innovative initiatives aiming at solving environmental problems and enhancing democracy from all over the world.

The World Forum for Democracy is a platform for global dialogue and democratic participation which brings new ideas into the work of the Council of Europe and promotes its principles across the world.

A unique event of its kind, it deals with challenges facing democracy, taking innovative initiatives and practices as a starting point and fostering constructive debate to find solutions. A democratic exercise, the Forum aims at giving the people – demos – their rightful place in political decision-making. It thus contributes to the evolution of democracy towards more participatory and inclusive structures and institutions.

About the World Forum for Democracy

Our societies have been tested by an extreme and unexpected global challenge in 2020, but while an essential battle is fought against the Covid-19 pandemic, humanity’s greatest existential threat looms ever larger. Environmental damage and climate change have not gone away. The poisoning of our land and pollution in our air and water is still killing plants, animals and humans alike. Rising temperatures and sea levels are on course to render lands uninhabitable and force people to leave their homes and seek new lives.

The time to act is now. Yet recent polling indicates the highest ever recorded levels of dissatisfaction and mistrust with democracy as a system of government. Its response to a whole series of recent challenges – economic, pandemic, and indeed environmental – have disappointed millions of people. Many are questioning the capacity, competence and even legitimacy of democratic governance to address their greatest needs.

The ambition of the 9th World Forum for Democracy is to propose and discuss differing answers to the question of what it really takes to get the job done when it comes to stopping and reversing the devastating damage done to our environment.

Cost

• One presenter for the selected initiatives will be invited to Strasbourg to take part in the World Forum. Travel and accommodation expenses may be covered by the Council of Europe if required.

Eligibility

• Any public or private organisation is eligible to apply.
• Initiatives should be addressing topics including, but not limited to:
  • Climate activism
  • Participatory practices for the environment
  • Defending the defenders of the environment
  • Local partnerships guiding behaviour change within communities
  • Deliberative democracy and public policy
  • Environmental entrepreneurship
  • Global environmental justice
  • Public-private partnerships for environmental protection
  • Inequality and intersectionality facing climate change
  • Digitalisation at the service of the environment
  • Innovations in youth activism, youth mobilisation for the environment
  • Environmental education, training and awareness-raising
  • Use of new technologies to combat climate change
  • Protecting biodiversity, ecosystems
  • Sustainable development
  • Green lobbying

Application

Submissions should be made by answering the questionnaire in the appendix here and sending it to [email protected] by June 30, 2020.

For more information, visit World Forum for Democracy.