Universal Appeal for Climate Justice

H.E.Mr. Kofi Annan and the members of the Founding Board of the Global Humanitarian Forum

The third meeting of the Founding Board of the Global Humanitarian Forum (GHF) was held in Geneva on June 22nd 2009, under the presidency of H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan.

Mrs. Vardinoyannis, who is one of the Founding members of the GHF, attended the meeting. The meeting was also attended by the Director of the GHF Mr. Walter Fust, H.R.H. Princess Haya of Jordan, Mrs. Mary Robinson, Mr. Ivan Pictet, Mrs. Barbara Stocking, Dr Mary Chinery-Hesse, and other founding members.

H.E.Mr. Kofi Annan and Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis

During the meeting, Mr. Annan presented the international Campaign for Climate Justice that was toΒ be launched on June 26th 2009 in Cannes, in order to support the newly-established International Coalition for Climate Justice, to empower its programs and co-ordinate their implementation. The campaign is also presenting a human clock on-line, counting backwards until the UN Summit in Copenhagen in December 2009.

Mr. Annan also congratulated Mrs. Vardinoyannis on her initiative to organize the International Conference β€�Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generationsβ€� held in Athens (2-3 June 2009), under the auspices of UNESCO and in co-operation with the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Dr. Rajendra Pachauir, who is also Founding Member of the GHF.

Mrs. Vardinoyannis informed the members about the outcome of the Athens Conference and about the Declaration on Vulnerable Children and Climate Change that was launched during the Conference. She also presented some ideas for action, supporting that Greek people is very much sensitized on climate issues and is ready to help and contribute to the GHF campaign.

Following the Founding Board Meeting, the 2009 Forum was held Β on 23-24 June 2009 organized around the theme "Human Impact of Climate Change."

The event brought together over 400 representatives from governments, UN agencies, the private sector and NGOs, six months ahead of the UN Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen.

Three key themes emerged from the discussions at this yearβ€™s meeting:

First, individuals must play their part. Consumers have the power to make the right choices and put pressure on manufacturers and companies. It will involve difficult decisions and, in some cases, significant sacrifices, but it is necessary.
Second, there is a need for concerted action. The Forum will be publishing the outcomes of its meeting to help public and private sector actors to co-ordinate a response to the human impact of climate change.
Ultimately, the most urgent action lies with world leaders, who have the responsibility and power to put in a place a new framework for reducing carbon emissions in Copenhagen this December.

Mr. Kofi Annan opened the plenary session of the 2009 Forum by noting that the Global Humanitarian Forum (GHF) has succeeded in bringing both β€�climate justiceβ€� and weather's impact on humanitarian issues to the fore of national and international agendas. But, added Mr. Annan, we have no time to congratulate ourselves. The GHF's Human Impact Report, The Anatomy of A Silent Crisis, confirms that a deep injustice at the heart of the environmental crisis: β€�It is not just that climate change is going to hit hardest those who already face the biggest disadvantages and challenges. It is also that this additional burden falls on those who have done so little to cause the problem.β€�

H.E.Mr. Kofi Annan, Mrs. Marianna V. Vardinoyannis and H.R.H. Princess Haya of Jordan

Although developing countries account for less than 1% of greenhouse gases, they can expect to experience the maximum damage. And while political leaders play an important role, Mr. Annan said, the responsibility is shared by everyone. β€�We all need to show vision and courage,β€� he said. β€�We cannot rest. There is too much at stake.β€�

Switzerlandβ€™s foreign minister, Micheline Calmy-Rey, emphasized that humanitarian challenges cannot be dealt with in isolation. β€�Itβ€™s not possible,β€� she said, β€�for 7 billion people to have a Western standard of living.β€� Fundamental human rights have to take precedence.

Moderator Nick Gowing of the BBC introduced Weather Information for Africa, a GHF initiative that will eventually have 5,000 weather stations in place across the African continent. The plan is to have 490 stations by the end of next year. Africa currently has only 200 such stations, and Southern Africa rates as a black hole for meteorological information.

Agnes Kijazi of the Tanzania Meteorological Agency, reported that the program has not yet had any local impact because weather data is still not being received in real time. David Rogers of the Health and Climate Foundation noted that the issue is not simply producing data but also teaching people how to use data. Carl-Henric Svanberg, president and CEO of Ericsson, reported that one new cell phone tower is going online every hour in Africa and that it costs next to nothing to install weather equipment in the towers.

Walter Fust of the GHF noted that the Forumβ€™s studies show that deaths due to climate change, as well as the numbers of those affected, will increase from 50% to 100% over the next 15 to 20 years.

β€�The report indicates that nobody is safe,β€� said Fust. Four billion people live in affected zones. Environmental, social and economic vulnerability intersect at their peaks for 500 million people who are at especially high risk. While monetary losses are greatest in wealthy countries, Fust pointed out that β€�all but 1% of the economic losses in developing countries are totally uninsured.β€�

β€�The figures tell us that the human impact is huge,β€� Fust said, β€�and that it is happening now, and not 20 years from now.β€�

Barbara Stocking, CEO of Oxfam-GB, stressed that people need to understand climate change, so they can gain some control over their lives and so they can make critical decisions.

Margaret Chan, director general of the World Health Organization, said that work needs to be done with affected peoples to build their resilience, adding, "It is clear that the impact of climate change has been underestimated."

When an audience member questioned the robustness of figures underlying the report, Barbara Stocking of Oxfam said that while the numbers might be slightly over or under, the fact remains that the world needs to be prepared.

Roger Martin, chairman of the Ultimate Population Trust, suggested that controlling population might be part of the solution. Stocking countered that regulating how many children a family has is a difficult proposition, especially when only a small part of the worldβ€™s population is responsible for climate change. But Stocking suggested that results in India have shown that if women are educated and allowed to use contraceptives, the reduction in population growth can be as impressive as forced population control in China.

In response, Dr. Chan of WHO said, β€�Educating girls and empowering women is the most important thing that you can do.β€�

Read the 2009 FORUM Report

2009: Global Campaign for the Climate Justice.; Inauguration of the new Acropolis Museum.; Declaration of the International Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations".; International Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations".; International Conference Β«Crossing Borders to Protect the Children of the WorldΒ» and the Cairo Declaration.; International Conference in Bahrain "Human Trafficking at the Crossroads of East- West" and the Manama Declaration.; Summer Deaflympics - Athens 2013.
2008: The Vienna Forum against human trafficking.; Mothers - Olympic Champions of Love.; Universal call for the Climate Change.; The 4th Global Youth Employment Summit on the fight against poverty and unemployment, in Azerbaijan and the Baku Declaration.; The appeal of Ancient Olympia.; The β€�Alexandria Center for Hellenistic Studiesβ€� in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.; Marianna V. Vardinoyannis "Great Lady of the Patriarchal Throne of Alexandria".
2007: 2nd Workshop on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts.; The Chart of Paris against cancer.; The first Oncological Hospital for children in Greece.; Lecture of the H.E. Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak in Athens, Greece.; Fairuz Concert in Athens, Greece.; International Youth Forum for Peace in Sharm El Sheikh.; Global Humanitarian Forum.; Makistos smiles again.
2006: Round Table " The Business Community against Human Trafficking".; Fundraising Dinner to support the β€�End Human Trafficking Nowβ€� global campaign.; The "Athens Principles" in Davos.; International Center for Peace Studies.; Protecting youth from drugs.; The Multicultural Children Centre β€�Athinaβ€� in Belgrade.; 1st Workshop on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts.; Marianna V. Vardinoyannis β€“ Chevalier de la Legion dβ€™Honneur.
2005: Helping the children of Palestine- Fundraising dinner in Cairo.; The UN Millennium Development Goals and Civil Society.; The Declaration of 22 Greek organisations on the UN Millennium Development Goals.
2004: Exhibition of Traditional and Contemporary Handicrafts from Jordan.; International Conference β€�Women in the Service of Peaceβ€� in Paris.; International Conference β€�Women defending Peaceβ€� in Geneva.
2003: 2nd European Conference of Legal Practitioners on juvenile matters.; Exhibition "Breaking the Veils", Exhibition of women artists from the Islamic World, at UNESCO.; Exhibition β€�The Unity of an Unique Monument: the Parthenonβ€�, at UNESCO.; The Mentor Awards.; Awards to mothers.
2002: Bibliotheca Alexandrina. A wonder of the modern world.; Mother: A Symbol of life, hope and peace.; Speak Truth to Power: Human Rights Defenders who change our world.; Contemporary Societies - Multicultural Co-existence- The position of the child.; The protection of the World Cultural nad Natural Heritage.
2001: The child: victim of war and messenger of peace.
2000: A Model Area for creative activities in the Municipality of Ano Liosia.; Mother: A Symbol of life, hope and peace.; Children: Symbol of hope, will, courage.; The Meeting of Athens and Delphi on Children and Peace.; The Declaration of Delphi on Children and Peace.; 1st International Conference for the Culture of Peace.; Early Childhood Resource and Training Center in Bethlehem.
1999: By the side of mothers and children behind bars.; Juvenile disappearance and abduction.; The Hague Appeal for Peace.; International Conference β€�Family and Children in the European society of the 21st Centuryβ€� in Paris.; Support for the children - victims of war in the Balkans.; By the side of the earthquake victims.; International Conference β€�Sexual abuse of children and paedophilia in the Internetβ€�.
1998: A three-point shot for a life.; European Forum "FAMILY - EUROPE - 21ST CENTURY: Vision and Institutions".; Family and the mass media.; Presentation of the Minutes of the European Forum "FAMILY - EUROPE - 21ST CENTURY: Vision and Institutions"
1997: International Conference β€�Priority to the Dignity and Safety of the children in Europeβ€�.; By the side of the children of Xanthi.; Embracing children suffering from AIDS.; The International Convention on Children's Rights and the role of the European Union.

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Universal Appeal for Climate Justice