The Voice of Civil Society in Global Negotiations

While the United Nations is predominantly focused on facilitating global governance with member states, non-governmental organisations and representatives of civil society play an increasingly important role in the formation and implementation of development and environment policy. Civil society groups not only help to ensure that national and international actors are held accountable, but they typically work within local communities, sharing experiences and giving a voice to the concerns of the marginalised.

During international negotiations, the participation of civil society is often limited and while they are not always able to engage formally in the negotiation process, they are able to hold demonstrations and actions to raise their concerns. The range of issues is immense, from climate change impacts, to biodiversity loss, to mercury poisoning, to attacks against human and environmental rights activists. These demonstrations are vitally important to the negotiation process – by highlighting the very real challenges being faced on the ground, they are able to remind delegates of our shared humanity and the urgency needed to create global sustainability.

This collection is part of my broader portfolio of work documenting the global negotiations on environment and development as part of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Reporting Services team, producing the Earth Negotiations Bulletin.

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COP21, Paris, 2015. Members of civil society demonstrate around the venue.
COP21, Paris, 2015. Members of civil society demonstrate around the venue.
COP21, Paris, 2015. Members of civil society call to 'kick big polluters out' of the climate negotiations.
COP21, Paris, 2015. Members of civil society call to ‘kick big polluters out’ of the climate negotiations.
COP21, Paris, 2015. Members of civil society participate in a demonstration calling for action to support the Climate Vulnerable Forum's declaration, full decarbonization and 100% renewable energy by 2050. Photo published on the cover of Climate Action Network (CAN) Annual Report, 2016.
COP21, Paris, 2015. Members of civil society participate in a demonstration calling for action to support the Climate Vulnerable Forum’s declaration, full decarbonization and 100% renewable energy by 2050. Photo published on the cover of Climate Action Network (CAN) Annual Report, 2016.
COP21, Paris, 2015. Members of civil society show their dissatisfaction about key issues being ‘cut’ from the negotiating text.
COP21, Paris, 2015. Members of civil society show their dissatisfaction about key issues being ‘cut’ from the negotiating text.
COP21, Paris, 2015. Canadian youth demonstrate the inevitable impact of climate change, and call on leaders to engage proactively with youth to promote social justice.
COP21, Paris, 2015. Canadian youth demonstrate the inevitable impact of climate change, and call on leaders to engage proactively with youth to promote social justice.
COP21, Paris, 2015. Members of civil society form a long human chain to lay down their 'red lines which cannot be crossed' as part of the climate negotiations.
COP21, Paris, 2015. Members of civil society form a long human chain to lay down their ‘red lines which cannot be crossed’ as part of the climate negotiations.
COP21. Paris. 2015. Members of civil society demonstrate against including big polluters in the climate negotiations
COP21. Paris. 2015. Members of civil society demonstrate against including big polluters in the climate negotiations
COP21, Paris, 2015. Handprints on a banner symbolise people’s commitment to climate action.
COP21, Paris, 2015. Handprints on a banner symbolise people’s commitment to climate action.
Bonn Climate Change Conference, 2015. Members of PETA hold a demonstration advocating for the protection of animals through a vegan diet.
Bonn Climate Change Conference, 2015. Members of PETA hold a demonstration advocating for the protection of animals through a vegan diet.
Geneva, 2017. Shinobu Sakamoto, a woman living with fetal Minamata disease, shares her story at the first COP of the Minamata Convention on Mercury
Geneva, 2017. Shinobu Sakamoto, a woman living with fetal Minamata disease, shares her story at the first COP of the Minamata Convention on Mercury
COP21, Paris, 2015. Members of civil society call on negotiators to ‘choose hope’ by limiting global temperature increase. At the largest civil society action at COP 21, Climate Action Network (CAN) advocate for crucial steps to be taken to avoid a doom scenario for the planet
COP21, Paris, 2015. Members of civil society call on negotiators to ‘choose hope’ by limiting global temperature increase. At the largest civil society action at COP 21, Climate Action Network (CAN) advocate for crucial steps to be taken to avoid a doom scenario for the planet
Manilla, 2017. At the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), delegates dress up as endangered shark species to raise awareness.
Manilla, 2017. At the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), delegates dress up as endangered shark species to raise awareness.
UNFCCC COP23, Bonn, 2017. A life-size copper polar bear, impaled 6-meter above the ground, depicts the “hockey-stick” graph of global CO2 emissions
UNFCCC COP23, Bonn, 2017. A life-size copper polar bear, impaled 6-meter above the ground, depicts the “hockey-stick” graph of global CO2 emissions
UNFCCC COP23, Bonn, 2017. Members of the Women's Group call for delegates to 'reach' for higher ambition
UNFCCC COP23, Bonn, 2017. Members of the Women’s Group call for delegates to ‘reach’ for higher ambition
UNFCCC COP23, Bonn, 2017. An art installation titled 'Unbearable' depicts the climate crisis, including a 'freedom to pollute' sculpture of the US Statue of Liberty
UNFCCC COP23, Bonn, 2017. An art installation titled ‘Unbearable’ depicts the climate crisis, including a ‘freedom to pollute’ sculpture of the US Statue of Liberty
UNFCCC COP23, Bonn, 2017. An art installation titled 'Unbearable' depicts the climate crisis, including bronze sculptures of climate refugees
UNFCCC COP23, Bonn, 2017. An art installation titled ‘Unbearable’ depicts the climate crisis, including bronze sculptures of climate refugees
UNFCCC COP23, Bonn. Members of Indigenous Peoples groups advocate for their rights to be respected in the climate negotiations.
UNFCCC COP23, Bonn. Members of Indigenous Peoples groups advocate for their rights to be respected in the climate negotiations.
UNFCCC COP23, Bonn, 2017. Members of civil society hand out chocolate coins, promoting the need for climate finance for adaptation.
UNFCCC COP23, Bonn, 2017. Members of civil society hand out chocolate coins, promoting the need for climate finance for adaptation.
UNFCCC COP23, Bonn, 2017. Civil society members put coins into a 'green' piggybank, reminding delegates of the need for the climate funding.
UNFCCC COP23, Bonn, 2017. Civil society members put coins into a ‘green’ piggybank, reminding delegates of the need for the climate funding.
UNFCCC COP23, Bonn, 2017. Activists against the use of fossil fuels
UNFCCC COP23, Bonn, 2017. Activists against the use of fossil fuels
 

 

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