In the framework of the World Forum for Democracy, the Congress and the Parliamentary Assembly organised a round table event on 18 January 2021, with the participation of the Congress Current Affairs Committee as well as five Congress members as speakers. The event’s main theme was the role of elected representatives in addressing the unprecedented social, health and environmental challenges posed by the climate crisis for our societies.
Gunn Marit Helgesen, Vice-President of the Congress (Norway, EPP/CCE), delivered opening remarks and participate in the round table discussions, together with Vladimir Prebilič, Spokesperson of the Congress on Climate Change and Environment (Slovenia, SOC/G/PD), Magnus Berntsson, President of the Assembly of European Regions (Sweden, EPP/CCE), Belinda Gottardi, CEMR Spokesperson on Climate, Political Administrator in the Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy – Europe (Italy, SOC/G/PD) as well as Mohamed Boudra, President of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), Mayor of Al Hoceima and President of the Moroccan Association of Local Council Presidents (AMPCC).
The round table event was divided into two sessions. The first session revolved around the role and the responsibility of parliamentarians and locally elected representatives in combating climate change. The second session concentrated on translating international and regional standards and commitments into action and delivering practical results at a local and national level.
Program of the round table
Streaming link for the event (Monday 18 January 2021, from 9H to 12H)
Since 2012, the World Forum for Democracy has become an annual event, offering citizens from all over the world the opportunity to question democracy, analyse its flaws and limits, but also to generate new ideas to respond to the challenges facing democracy. Dedicated to responses to the environmental crisis, the 9th edition of the Forum was launched on 18 November and will mobilise intellectuals, politicians, activists, experts and young people from all over the world for a whole year until the Forum is held in Strasbourg in November 2021.