*[Enwl-eng] Invitation to August Free-flowing Rivers Strategy Discussions and Climate Declaration Update

[ENWL]

                        Dear colleagues,



                        We hope this message finds you well. We are reaching out because your organization endorsed the Rivers for Climate Declaration last year ahead of COP26 asking the U.N. to reject harmful dams as a climate solution. On behalf of the organizations that drafted the declaration, thank you for your support!



                        We are writing to provide an update about the impact the Declaration has had (see update below) and to invite you to participate in a planning discussion to support free-flowing rivers around the world. 



                        The goals of this strategic discussion will be to: 



                          a.. amplify the voices and demands of river-dependent communities in global climate policy, particularly during the upcoming UNFCCC COP27 in November, 
                          b.. develop common positions and approaches to the use of hydropower in countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and international climate finance, 
                          c.. develop strategies to prevent and remove harmful dams and water diversions, focusing on strategies that benefit multiple countries  


                        To this end, we will host separate online meetings in Spanish and English:



                          a.. English Free Flowing Rivers Discussion, August 24, 2022, 3pm CET via Zoom (Register here)
                          b.. Spanish Free Flowing Rivers Discussion, August 31, 2022, 9am PST via Zoom (Register here)


                        If you would like to host a similar strategy meeting in another language or have questions or suggestions, please email us at rivers4climate at gmail.com. 



                        Background & Update about the Declaration  

                        If you’ll recall, the Declaration was signed by 350 civil society organizations from around the world. The Declaration fed into and was supported by an accompanying petition signed by over 2000 individuals (see UnDam.org).

                         

                        Prior to COP26, we launched the declaration during a press conference in September ahead of the International Hydropower Association publishing its own pro-hydro declaration. At COP26 itself in Glasgow, we presented the Declaration to the UNFCCC secretariat, the head of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the CEO of the International Hydropower Association (IHA) during their marquee event, and the head of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) sustainability division. As a follow-up, a group of us met the IEA to educate them about why their calls to double hydropower capacity would in fact worsen the climate crisis.   



                        We highlighted the Declaration and its key messages during a number of events we helped lead, including an official side event in Glasgow on alternatives to hydropower to address the climate crisis, and an event at the People’s Climate Summit, where we connected with climate activists new to the topic of river protection.



                        The Declaration’s key concerns and recommendations have been supported by a joint statement on large dams issued by multiple UN Special Rapporteurs, led by the UN Special Rapporteur for the Right to Water, Pedro Arrojo. The statement reiterated key points of the Declaration by calling on UN bodies, financiers, and governments to reject an expansion of hydropower to address the climate crisis in recognition of the severe human rights impacts of dams.  



                        Finally, we carried our message in several marches during COP26. Here are links to articles and photos by organizations that drafted the declaration.

                          a.. Hundreds of Groups Reject Greenwashing of Destructive Hydropower Industry at COP26
                          b.. Bringing the fight against dams to COP26
                          c.. Seeing COP26 through the lens of Ríos to Rivers’ chief storyteller
                          d.. Rivers for Climate Coalition at COP26


                        Next Steps

                        We hope this information is useful and that we can collaborate in the future to support free-flowing rivers. You can email us at rivers4climate at gmail.com with any questions or ideas. 



                        Sincerely,



                        International Rivers

                        Waterkeeper Alliance  

                        Paddle Tribal Waters

                        Rios to Rivers

                        Counter Current

                        Water Climate Trust
                       
                 
           


                        International Rivers

                        344 20th Street Oakland, CA 94612 USA
                        +1 (510) 848-1155 | internationalrivers.org
                        Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | Flickr | YouTube 


                       
                 
           


                        От: Rivers for Climate Coalition <rivers4climate at gmail.com>
                        Date: ср, 27 июл. 2022 г. в 19:28
                        Subject: Invitation to August Free-flowing Rivers Strategy Discussions and Climate Declaration Update


                        From: Svet Zabelin 
                        Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2022 8:50 PM
                        Subject: Fwd: Invitation to August Free-flowing Rivers Strategy Discussions and Climate Declaration Update

                       
                 
           
     



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