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Peoples’ World Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth

5 January 2010

Considering that climate change poses a genuine threat to the existence of humankind, living beings and our Mother Earth as we now know it;
Noting the grave danger to islands; coastal areas; glaciers in the Himalayas, the Andes and mountains worldwide; the Earth’s poles; warm regions such as Africa; water sources; populations affected by growing numbers of natural disasters; and plants, animals and ecosystems in general;
Pointing out that the people most seriously affected by climate change will be the world’s poorest, who will see their homes and livelihoods destroyed and will be forced to migrate and seek refuge;
Confirming that, historically, 75 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions have originated in the irrationally industrialized countries of the North;
Noting that climate change is a product of the capitalist system;
Regretting the failure of the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Copenhagen, owing to the so-called “developed” countries’ refusal to acknowledge their climate debt that they owe to developing countries, future generations and Mother Earth;
Affirming that in order to ensure the full enjoyment of human rights in the twenty-first century, it is necessary to recognize and respect the rights of Mother Earth;
Reaffirming the need to fight for climate justice;
Recognizing the need to take urgent action to spare humanity and Mother Earth from further damage and suffering and to restore harmony with nature;
Certain that the peoples of the world, guided by the principles of solidarity, justice and respect for life, will be able to save humanity and Mother Earth; and
In celebration of International Mother Earth Day,
The Government of the Plurinational State of Bolivia calls on the world’s peoples, social movements and advocates of Mother Earth and invites scientists, academics, legal experts and governments that wish to work with their citizens to attend the Peoples’ World Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth, to be held from 20 to 22 April 2010 in the city of Cochabamba, Bolivia.
The goals of the Peoples’ World Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth are:
1. To analyse the structural and systemic causes of climate change and propose radical measures that will ensure the well-being of all humankind in harmony with nature;
2. To discuss and reach agreement on a draft universal declaration of the rights of Mother Earth;
3. To agree on proposals for new commitments under the Kyoto Protocol and for draft decisions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change that will guide the actions of governments that are committed to life during climate change negotiations and in all United Nations forums, with respect to:
(a) Climate debt;
(b) Climate-change migrants and refugees;
(c) Emissions reductions;
(d) Adaptation;
(e) Technology transfer;
(f) Financing;
(g) Forests and climate change;
(h) Shared vision;
(i) Indigenous peoples; and
(j) Other matters;
4. To work within the United Nations on a world peoples’ referendum on climate change;
5. To consider and formulate a plan of action with a view to establishment of a tribunal for climate change justice; and
6. To develop strategies for action and mobilization in order to protect life from climate change and promote the rights of Mother Earth.

(Signed) Evo Morales Ayma
President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia