A Transitioner’s Guide to COP21 in Paris.
By rob hopkins 20th November 2015
COP21 is the international climate negotiations which, it is hoped, will produce a global binding agreement on carbon emissions. It’s a moment in history, and many Transitioners are feeling drawn to being there. Sadly, following the recent violence in Paris, there is some uncertainty around a few of the planned events. Please treat this guide as a living document – we will add new information as we get it and recommend that you check back here regularly. Here is an overview of what follows, you can click on these links or just scroll down:
- An Introduction: why we’re going to Paris
- Our daily COP21 check-ins
- Come and find us at Le Bourget conference centre
- Hang out with us at the Place to B
- Saturday November 28th, 12.30 – 23.00. Transition Day, including launch of ’21 Histoires de Transition’.
- Sunday November 29th. The Peoples’ Climate March.
- Other events/Share your events.
An Introduction: why we’re going to Paris
Transition Network represents the global communities who daily reimagine the world around them to be more inclusive, caring for people, the earth and the environment. As a global network we work towards local solutions to local issues, whether they be related to climate change, economic transformation or social justice. Our preparation for the upcoming COP21 climate talks in Paris has been to harvest stories from across our network that highlight the hugely positive impacts of acting locally on carbon, on communities and on individuals. We will be launching the book based on that, 21 Stories of Transition, in both English and French, on the evening of 28 November in Paris.
The terrible events on Friday night in Paris as well as continued tragedies in Bagdad, Beirut and other places of conflict around the world have brought some of our planned activities into question. The COP21 conference is still going ahead, as governments around the globe have agreed it is too important to delay or cancel. The French Government has also made clear its support for the many fringe events that are being put on by civil society organisations.
As a global movement with community initiatives in 56 countries, we consider ourselves a truly international group. Our movement stands with the people of Paris, as well as those in other places around the world that perhaps are not covered by mainstream press but who suffer violence and injustice. We offer our deepest sympathies to all victims of violence globally, and we hold you in our hearts.
We also stand in solidarity with all those who want to see a better world, a more climate secure world, one in which we live within our limits and create an abundant, nourishing world which future generations will celebrate. For that reason, we are continuing with our plans to bring Transition voices and stories to Paris during COP21. We are looking forward to launching our book, 21 Stories of Transition and to the launch of Demain, Le Film, by Cyril Dion, which explores the communities globally that are working to create a brighter future for all. Rob Hopkins and other Transition Network representatives will be participating in a number of additional COP21 related events over the COP21 period.
We hope you can join us in Paris either in person at our book launch, or virtually by following us on Twitter and Facebook with the #COP21TT. As any changes to our schedule become apparent we will publish them on our website.
We’d like to extend our best wishes to the world at a time when we need to be thoughtful, kind, respectful of other cultures, and inclusive and welcoming, working towards the best outcome for all humanity.
Our COP21 daily check in
There will be a small team of Transition Network people in Paris for most of the COP21 period – telling inspiring stories of Transition, celebrating what communities are already doing across the world and connecting with others who are working to create positive change. We’re looking forward to putting on events alongside our colleagues from Transition France and Réseau Transition Wallonia-Brussels and to meeting up with many other Transitioners.
Our team will get together at 10am Central European Time each morning to reflect on what’s been happening, check-out how we’re all doing and gather our energy for the day ahead. It would be great to know that others are sharing our moment of reflection – we can all draw strength from the knowledge that there are thousands of people across our network who care about what’s happening in the world and who are doing something within their community to make the place where they live just a little bit better. Doesn’t matter whether you’re optimistic or sceptical about the COP21 talks – this is about us celebrating connections across and beyond the global Transition movement. We’re reporting each day on what we’re doing in Paris – you can add your thoughts and feelings, share information or send us questions by using the comments function or tweeting with the hashtags #COP21 #TT.
Come and find us at Le Bourget conference centre
Transition Network is one of the founder members of ECOLISE a broad coalition of European organisations supporting community-led action for sustainability. We’ve got a stall in the Climate Generations area at the official COP21 exhibition where we’ll be drawing on experience from across the Ecovillage, Permaculture and Transition movements and beyond to highlight the power and potential of community. If you’re visiting the exhibition, make sure you come and say hello!
By the way, you can follow the formal COP21 negotiations online here –
http://unfccc6.meta-fusion.com/cop21/.
Hang out with us at the Place to B
Saturday November 28th, 12.30 – 23.00. Transition Day, including launch of ’21 Histoires de Transition’.
Location: La Générale, 14, avenue Parmentier, 75011 Paris. Metro: Voltaire or Richard Lenoir
This is the main Transition event taking place during COP21, and you are very welcome. It is expected that there will be a lot of demand for this event, so booking is essential here. We have the space from 12:30 and are exploring the scope to offer workshops and possibly an Inner Transition process. Then between 18.45 – 20.30pm, the launch of ’21 Histoires de Transition’, with Rob Hopkins and others followed by a party.
Sunday November 29th. The Peoples’ Climate March.
You can find information about climate marches around the world here. In some places Transition groups are marching together. For example, at the London march there will be a Transition Bloc. If you are going on that and you’d like to march with other Transition folks, you’ll find all the info you need here.
Other events/Share your events
There are a number of other events happening during COP21, which we will be adding here. So watch this space, and check back regularly! Also, if you have events you think would be of interest to Transitioners, please contact robhopkins@transitionnetwork.org. Thank you. Some of those below are events organised as general public events, and others, as noted, as ‘mycelium’ events, self-organising things happening at the community scale across Paris.
Monday November 30th. Place to Be. 18.00-20.00.
Transition Network’s Rob Hopkins will take place in an event called ‘How shall we learn from the past?’. You can find out more here.
Monday, November 30th. 12h00, Paris 15th [A ‘mycelium’ event]
Lunch with Chris Bird, author of “Local Sustainable Homes” in the Transition book series. Only 10 spots, sign up here: inscrire ici.
Between November 30 and December 12th. 1000 Fruit Trees for the Climate. [A ‘mycelium’ event]
The association Vergers Urbains invites you to participate in trees plantings throughout Paris. Full schedule of times and places ( in French): http://1000arbrespourleclimat.paris/
5 – 6 December. Transition stand and workshops at the Global Alternative Village. 10h00 – 19h00. Montreuil (outskirts of Paris)
And next to this will be held the Climate Forum, organized by Coalition Climat 21, with conferences, workshops, films and theatre.
Websites: https://alternatiba.eu/en/global-village-of-alternatives/
and (in French) : http://coalitionclimat21.org/fr/contenu/le-sommet-citoyen-pour-le-climat
Tuesday 8 December from 14:00 to 18:00, Paris 15th. [A ‘mycelium’ event]
“Mend-a-thon” – we will get together to mend clothing so it can be given away to charities. Coffee, tea and cakes will be provided! Only 10 spots, sign up here inscrire ici.