Citizens' energy for a good climate: A participatory debate about Poland and its future

At the next COP19, Polish government will have the chance to lead the UN climate negotiations and weight in the debate about the future of the European Union. For this reason, on 15-16.11.2013 the Greens/EFA group organise a debate on the goals of the Polish COP 19 presidency. We will look at facts and myths surrounding green jobs, and the future of Polish coal. We will discuss ideas of city movements and necessary investments for rural areas. We are already starting off on 14.11 with film screening and debate. The conference will be crowned with a March for Climate and Social Justice.

Partners:
Zieloni, Polish Climate Coalition, Heinrich Böll Foundation – Warsaw office, Warsaw University, Forum Od-Nowa, OIKOS, European Green Party, Federation of Young European Greens.

Watch the recording

Film screening 'Drill, baby drill' + debate
Thursday 14 November 2013 19:00

Skwer Hoovera, Krakowskie Przedmieście 60A, Warsaw

After the film there was a discussion with the director - Lech Kowalski, José Bové (MEP) and people who protest against shale gas exploitation in Poland.

Friday - 15 November
Venue: Palace of Culture and Science (IVth floor), Warsaw, Poland

9:00 – registration and coffee

9:30 – Introductory speech – Rebecca Harms – co-president of the Group of Greens/EFA in the European Parliament

9:45–10:45 - Panel 1 (PL/EN/FR/DE)
Poland, European Union, the Earth – what should be the ambition for the Polish COP 19 presidency

Moderator: Bas Eickhout – MEP, the Netherlands

Anders Wijkman - vice president of Club of Rome and the Tällberg Foundation, christian democrat from Sweden, councillor for the World Future Council
Jagoda Munic - chairperson Friends of the Earth International
Agnieszka Grzybek - co-president of the Polish Greens

11:00–11:30 - Coffee break
11:30–13:00 - Parallel workshops
Discussion 1 (PL/EN/FR/DE)
Renewable jobs - jobs in renewables – facts and myths

Moderator: Yannick Jadot – Green MEP from France

Speakers:
Claude Turmes – rapporteur of the EP for the renewable energy, MEP Luxembourg
Dr. Filip Thon, CEO, RWE Polska
Tomasz Podgajniak – Polish Economic Chamber of Renewable Energy, former minister of Environment
Dr. Karolina Jankowska - researcher, Fraunhofer Institute

Discussion 2 (PL/EN)
Coal in Poland: Treasure or poisoned chalice?

Moderator: Satu Hassi – Green MEP from Finland

Speakers:

Oliver Krischer - Green member of the German Bundestag from North Rhine-Westphalia
Dr. Małgorzata Tkacz-Janik – Green deputy of the Regional Assembly in Silesia
Julia Huscher - Coal and Health Officer – Health and Environment Alliance - co-author of the report HEAL – ‘The unpaid health bill’
Radosław Gawlik - environmental activist, former deputy minister of environment, leader of Eko-Unia

13:00-14:00 - Lunch

14:00-15:30 - Have Your Say! participatory roundtables

Participants in groups of 8 will be asked to engage in the debate about the challenges we face and how Poland and Europe should address them (based on the model Play Decide). The results will feed into the 2-days discussions. They will be also available on-line.

15:30-16:00 - Harvesting/presentation of the results (30 min) to the Plenary
16:00 - coffee break

16:30-18.00 - Poland 2030 – strategic choices in social and territorial development
Discussion 3 (PL/EN/FR/DE)
City movements – changing space, changing society

Moderator: Artur Celiński (Res Publica Nowa)

Speakers

Magdalena Wrzesień – architect – city planner, leader of ODBLOKUJ and member of Forum Od-Nowa associations
Michal Boni – Minister for Administration and Digitalisation, Poland
Joanna Erbel - City activist, researcher

Discussion 4 (PL/EN)
Agriculture, food, energy – what investment is needed in the rural areas in Poland?

Moderator: Adam Wajrak (Gazeta Wyborcza)

Jose Bové - Green MEP from France
Henryk Wujec – advisor to the President of Poland
Ewa Koś – Green deputy of the Regional Assembly in West Pomerania
Rebeka Szabo – Member of the Hungarian Parliament for PM – Dialogue for Hungary

18:00-18:30 Joint feedback session

20:00 Green city lights – a drink with a DJ (Sztuki i Sztuczki, Szpitalna 8a)

Saturday 16 November
Venue: Palace of Culture and Science (IVth floor), Warsaw, Poland

9:00-10:30 Breakfast meeting:
What gives you energy to work for society?

Moderator: Roman Kurkiewicz
Guest: José Bové (MEP from France) and Mira Stanisławska-Meysztowicz (Foundation Our Earth)

10:30-12:00 - Mobilizing People for a healthier, cleaner, greener Poland

How could a greener Poland inspire the rest of the World and lead the way towards a successful outcome of the climate negotiations?

Moderator: Bas Eickhout

Maciej Muskat - leader of Polish Greenpeace
Dipti Bhatnagar - Co-Coordinator, Climate Justice & Energy Program, Friends of the Earth International, Mozambique

12:00 - Special floor to representatives of the NGOs (that arrive by train BXL-WAW)
12:45 - Conclusion of the conference – Rebecca Harms
13:15-13:30 - Photo/ Action outside of the building with the speakers and all participants
14:00-14:30 - Join the NGO march coordinated by Green Zone Foundation. All the participants are invited to join in.