On April 22, US Earth Day 2021, US President Biden convened world leaders for a virtual climate summit to discuss global strategies to combat climate change.
From June 2-4, 2021, Sierra Club and Friends of the Earth US convened a Global Grassroots Leaders Summit, to engage the voices on the ground from grassroots and community leaders from countries across the globe who are far too often left out of international climate conversations.
About Our Summit
- A series of virtual conversations and meetings that bring together activists and leaders from around the world specifically to elevate their asks & demands at the US Government for accountability and action.
- Meetings with US Government Agency officials and Grassroots Leaders.
- A report that outlines various country asks for US Government decision-makers.
- An opportunity for global grassroots leaders to workshop together.
The U.S. government provides billions of dollars annually to energy projects overseas. In 2020, US Export-Import Bank provided over $5 billion and US International Development Finance Cooperation close to $2 billion for fossil fuel projects in Argentina, Mexico, and Mozambique, among other places. They are currently considering supporting fossil fuel projects that will have few benefits for local communities and create few U.S. jobs, such as gas development in Bahrain and LNG terminals in Vietnam. In response to President Biden’s executive order requiring these agencies to end their support for “carbon-intensive” energy, nearly 450 groups from around the world sent a letter to the administration providing recommendations on the scope and timing of these agencies ending these investments.
It is essential that we bring attention to the voices and asks of global grassroots leaders who were not present during the April 22 Climate Summit.
This is the first such summit where we are working to emphasize the importance of decision makers engaging and listening to the voices of grassroots leaders and climate activists from around the world. While not every country was able to be represented at this summit, this is only the first one. We look forward to hosting future summits, meetings and accountability-focused dialogues to engage global grassroots leaders.
Thank You and Watch!
Thank you to all who participated in our Global Grassroots Summit! If you missed anything, take a look at the agenda, watch our videos of the livestreams, and learn more about our international climate work.
Agenda
Wednesday, June 2, 2021
8 AM - 8:30 AM EST / 5 AM - 5:30 AM PST - Welcome to the Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit (Brief Context and Introduction):
Join us as we open the Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit. We'll walk through why it's important for climate leaders to be at the table when world leaders are making decisions that will impact their countries and communities. We'll also lay out some of the opportunities for the Biden administration to lead on climate action through its diplomacy.
Join us to hear from leaders around the world participating in the Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit. From Ghana to India to Vietnam and beyond, you'll hear from leaders who are driving key efforts in their countries to oppose destructive fossil fuel projects, lead the transition to clean energy, and protect air, water, and lands. They will detail the work they are doing and emphasize areas where the U.S. government and the Biden administration can be constructive allies in their efforts.
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM EST / 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM PST - US Overseas Fossil Fuel Finance (Pre-Recorded: See video below):
This public session of the Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit will focus on the role of United States governmental agencies in financing destructive fossil fuel projects overseas. Speakers will highlight projects in their countries financed in part by U.S. entities and efforts to hold financiers accountable. Some key asks of the Biden administration include putting an immediate end to financing of overseas fossil fuel projects, taking responsibility for previously financed projects and being accountable to impacted communities, and urging leaders of G7 countries to take these same measures at their upcoming summit.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EST / 10 AM - 12 PM PST - US Renewable Energy Finance (Pre-Recorded: See video below):
This public session of the Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit will focus on the role of United States governmental agencies in financing renewable energy projects overseas. Speakers will highlight the opportunities for renewable energy development in their countries, the constructive role U.S. agencies can play in financing these projects, and how global efforts like the Green Climate Fund can help compensate for decades of wealthy countries financing destructive fossil fuel projects overseas.
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM EST / 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM PST - Shutting down coal and just transition (Pre-Recorded: See video below):
This public session of the Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit will focus on the role of the United States government in phasing out coal projects overseas and ensuring a just transition. Speakers will highlight the opportunities for the U.S. to play a constructive role in retiring existing coal projects and providing support for workers and communities impacted by these closures.
Thursday, June 3, 2021
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM EST / 5:30 AM - 6:30 AM PST - Grassroots Leaders meet with Senior Advisor (Lauren Sanchez) to Special Envoy for Climate, John Kerry
This private session of the Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit will provide an opportunity for participating grassroots leaders to have a dialogue with Special Envoy for Clmiate, John Kerry and his team. They will discuss ways the Biden administration can be constructive partners in global climate efforts and specific ways the administration can benefit their campaigns.
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM EST / 6:30 AM - 7:30 AM PST - Grassroots Leaders meet with Development Finance Corporation:
This private session of the Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit will provide an opportunity for participating grassroots leaders to have a dialogue with the Development Finance Corporation. Participants will encourage the Development Finance Corporation to end its financing of overseas fossil fuel projects, be accountable to those communities impacted by projects it financed in the past, and pivot to play a constructive role in financing just transition and renewable energy overseas.
Friday, June 4, 2021
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM EST / 5 AM - 6 AM PST - Grassroots Leaders meet with US Treasury Dept Staff:
This private session of the Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit will provide an opportunity for participating grassroots leaders to have a dialogue with staff at the Department of Treasury that oversees the World Bank Group (WBG), African Development Bank (AfDB), Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), International Monetary Fund (IMF).
9 AM - 10 AM EST / 6 AM - 7 AM PST - Workshop for Grassroots Leaders:
This private session of the Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit is a workshopping space for grassroots leaders to collaboratively discuss outcomes of the summit and actions for accountability moving toward the G7 and beyond.
10 AM - 11 AM EST / 7 AM - 8 AM PST - Grassroots Leaders meet with US Export-Import Bank:
This private session of the Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit will provide an opportunity for participating grassroots leaders to have a dialogue with the US Export-Import Bank. Participants will encourage the US Export-Import Bank to end its financing of overseas fossil fuel projects, be accountable to those communities impacted by projects it financed in the past, and pivot to play a constructive role in financing just transition and renewable energy overseas.
11:30 AM - 12PM EST / 8:30 AM - 9 AM PST - Tentative Press Briefing:
This is an opportunity for press to hear about outcomes and plans ahead from the Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit.
Participants and Partners
- Green Innovation and Development Centre (Green ID) - Vietnam
- Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN) - Bangladesh
- Bangladesh Working Group on External Debts (BWGED) - Bangladesh
- Greater Whange Residents Trust - Zimbabwe
- Global Catholic Climate Movement - Africa wide
- NGO 350 CÔTE D’IVOIRE - CÔTE D’IVOIRE
- Centre for Citizens Conserving (CECIC) - Uganda
- Strategic Youth Network for Development - Ghana
- Foundation for Environmental Management and CampaignAgainst Poverty, Tanzania
- Climate Action Network (CAN) Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe
- Climate Action Network (CAN) Tanzania - Tanzania
- Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) - Pakistan
- Eco Warriors Movement - Ghana
- Northern Advocacy Center for Peace and Climate Change - Ghana
- World Vision Ghana - Ghana
- Youth in Natural Resources and Environmental Governance - Ghana
- Alliance for Empowering Rural Communities - Ghana
- Green Carbon Ghana - Ghana
- Ngo forum on ADB - Pakistan
- Lekeh Development Foundation (LEDEF) - Nigeria
- Botswana Climate Change Network - Botswana
- Environics Trust - India
- Justiça Amiental/ Friends of the Earth Mozambique - Mozambique
- A Fair Deal for Guyana - A Fair Deal for the Planet - Guyana
- Zero Hour / Zero Hour Asia - Philippines
- Trend Asia - Indonesia
- DeCOALonize - Kenya
- Human and Environmental Development Agenda - Nigeria