Call for proposals from Latin American countries – Analyses of civic space and public participation in climate matters
30.08.2022
Para la versión en español: ver abajo!
English:
Call for proposals from Latin American countries – Analyses of civic space and public participation in climate matters
Within the project ZIVIKLI, a joint project with BUND (Friends of the Earth Germany), UfU e.V. examines the legal framework, existing structures as well as specific possibilities and processes that enable civil society organizations (CSOs) in Argentina, Chile and Costa Rica to participate in national climate policy, especially with regard to the formulating and updating processes of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
For both countries, UfU calls for proposals for carrying out a research answering specific questions about the participatory processes and their impacts in the two countries.
Below, you will find the Terms of Reference (TORs) and additional documents for the Call of Proposals for each country for further specifications.
UfU is looking forward to your proposal until 12th of October 2022.
For questions, please contact Sarah Kovac
Español:
Convocatoria de propuestas – Análisis del espacio cívico y de la participación pública en relación con el clima en países de América Latina
Dentro del proyecto ZIVIKLI, un proyecto conjunto con BUND (Amigos de la Tierra Alemania), UfU e.V. examina el marco legal, las estructuras existentes así como las posibilidades y procesos específicos que permiten a las organizaciones de la sociedad civil (OSC) de Argentinia, Chile y Costa Rica participar en la política climática nacional, especialmente en lo que respecta a los procesos de formulación y actualización de sus Contribuciones Determinadas a Nivel Nacional (NDC).
Para los países objeto de estudio, la UfU convoca propuestas para llevar a cabo una investigación que responda a preguntas específicas sobre los procesos participativos y sus impactos en los dos países.
Al final de la página encontrará los Términos de Referencia (TdR) y los documentos adicionales por la Convocatoria de Propuestas de cada país para obtener más especificaciones.
UfU espera su propuesta hasta el 12 de octubre de 2022.
Si tiene preguntas, por favor póngase en contacto con Sarah Kovac
Documents/ Documentos:
Argentina:
Appendix1_EsquemaDeEvaluación_participation_ES
Appendix2_Structure_CountryReport_ Argentina
FinancialProposalForm_3_Argentina
Chile:
Appendix1_EsquemaDeEvaluación_participation_ES
Appendix2_Structure_CountryReport_ Chile
Costa Rica:
Appendix1_EsquemaDeEvaluación_participation_ES
Call for Proposals - Analyses of civic space and impact of public participation in climate matters
Within the project ZIVIKLI, a joint project with BUND (Friends of the Earth Germany), UfU e.V. examines the legal framework, existing structures as well as specific possibilities and processes that enable civil society organizations (CSOs) in Kazakhstan and the Republic of Moldova to participate in national climate policy, especially with regard to the formulating and updating processes of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
For both countries, UfU calls for proposals for carrying out a research answering specific questions about the participatory processes and their impacts in the two countries.
Below, you will find the Terms of Reference (TORs) and additional documents for the Call of Proposals for each country for further specifications:
Kazakhstan:
The Deadline for submission of proposals for the study on Kazakhstan was prolongued to 3 October 2022.
ToRs_CountryAnalysis_ENG_1_Kazakhstan_rev
ToRs_CountryAnalysis_RUS_1_Kazakhstan_rev
Appendix1_Evaluationscheme_participation_ENG_final
Appendix1_Evaluationscheme_participation_RUS_short
Appendix2_Structure_CountryReport_ENG_1_Kazakhstan
Appendix2_Structure_CountryReports_final_RUS
05-FinancialProposalForm_1_Kazakhstan
05-FinancialProposalForm_1_Kazakhstan_RUS
UfU is looking forward your proposal for Kazakhstan until 3 October 2022.
Republic of Moldova:
ToRs_CountryAnalysis_ENG_2_RepMoldova
Appendix1_Evaluationscheme_participation_ENG_final
Appendix2_Structure_CountryReport_ENG_2_RepMoldova
05-FinancialProposalForm_2_RepMoldova
UfU is looking forward to your proposal on Moldova until 16 September 2022.
For questions, please contact Anne Nemack.
Improving e-participation in European environmental policy
March 18, 2022
In its discussion paper, UfU makes proposals on how digital public participation can be improved at EU level, for example via the European Commission’s Have-your-say portal.
Environmental protection is important to Europe’s citizens and there is a strong desire for change towards more climate protection and sustainability. This is shown, for example, by the results of the special Eurobarometer survey commissioned by the European Commission in 2019: over 90% of respondents across Europe believed that climate change is a serious problem and 94% stated that environmental protection is important to them personally. Many people also want to help shape the necessary transformation themselves – and they have a right to do so, both in their own country and at European level. In accordance with the Aarhus Convention, the rights of European citizens and environmental associations to information, participation and access to justice must be developed not only within the member states, but also for European procedures. This means, for example, that when EU regulations on air quality are revised or the 2030 climate target plan is drafted as part of the European Green Deal, the public must be involved and consulted. Not least due to the coronavirus pandemic, participation processes have increasingly shifted to the digital space in the last two years or so. On the one hand, digitalization holds great potential for the participation of different social groups and organizations. On the other hand, it also brings with it various challenges. In practice, European institutions are still struggling to respond appropriately to the new, digital participation needs and to design modern, effective participation processes.
Building on a series of UfU “Aarhus Workshop Talks”, this English-language discussion paper on the topic of digital participation (e-participation) has therefore been produced. In the paper, UfU, together with Prof. Dr. Alexandra Aragão from the University of Coimbra, Portugal, discusses how the European Union can improve the digital participation of citizens and organizations. The paper focuses on online public consultations initiated by the European Commission via the Have-your-say portal. This web-based portal offers citizens, stakeholders and academics, among others, the opportunity to comment on new EU policies and existing legislation. The discussion paper first describes how the public can participate via the online portal. It then systematically identifies the challenges and shortcomings of e-participation in European environmental policy. Based on this, concrete solutions for improving e-participation are proposed.
Discussion paper: Strengthened e-participation in European environmental decision-making
Background:
The discussion paper is part of the
project
“European Implementation of the Aarhus Convention in the Digital Age (EU-AarCo)”, which was funded by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection.
The aim of the project was to organize dialogue and positioning processes with regard to the implementation of the Aarhus Convention at European level and to develop information and educational materials on the topics of access to environmental information, participation and legal protection in environmental matters.
In 2020 and 2021, a total of five digital Aarhus workshop discussions were organized and conducted by UfU. The results included the joint
Position paper
“German, Portuguese, Slovenian Civil Society Declaration on Access to Justice for Citizens & NGOs at European Union Level” and the discussion paper “Strengthened e-participation in European environmental decision-making”.
In addition, four short explanatory films and three brochures were produced on the Aarhus Convention and the opportunities available to campaign for environmental protection at European level. Further information and all documents can be found here: www.ufu.de/projekt/eu-aarko
Further information on the Aarhus Convention and its implementation at European level can be found here:
www.aarhus-konvention.de
Influencing EU environmental policy - Short films & brochures on the Aarhus Convention
March 10, 2022
What rights to information, participation and legal action do citizens and NGOs have at EU level? UfU’s four new short films and three brochures explain this clearly and concisely. The Aarhus Convention: An international treaty that gives everyone rights in environmental protection. The Aarhus Convention is the first international environmental treaty that sets international minimum standards for access to environmental information for all people, regulates participation in environmentally relevant decisions and establishes access to justice in environmental matters. UfU explains how this works in its four new short films (German with English subtitles). The focus is on the European level and not on implementation in the individual EU member states: 1) Introduction: What significance does the Aarhus Convention have for civil society’s rights to information, participation and legal action at EU level?
2) Environmental information: Every person and organization has the right to receive environmental information. But what is environmental information and how can it be obtained from EU institutions, e.g. the European Commission?
3) Public participation: What ways are there to get involved at EU level? For example, launching a European Citizens “Initiative, submitting an opinion in a legislative procedure or attending a European Citizens” Forum.
4) Legal protection: What legal action can you take for environmental protection in Europe? There are various complaint and legal action options for individuals and organizations.
You can find more information on the Aarhus Convention and your options for campaigning for environmental protection at European level in the three brochures in German and English:
Background:
The brochures and films were produced as part of the project “European Implementation of the Aarhus Convention in the Digital Age (EU-AarCo)”, which was funded by the German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection. The aim of the project was to organize dialogue and positioning processes with regard to the implementation of the Aarhus Convention at European level and to develop information and educational materials on the topics of access to environmental information, participation and legal protection in environmental matters. In 2020 and 2021, a total of five digital Aarhus workshop discussions were organized by UfU. The results included the joint position paper “German-Portuguese-Slovenian Civil Society Declaration on Legal Access for Citizens and NGOs at EU Level” and the discussion paper “Strengthened e-participation in European environmental decision-making”. Further information on the workshop discussions can be found here: www.ufu.de/projekt/eu-aarko Further information on the Aarhus Convention and its implementation at European level can be found here: www.aarhus-konvention.de
5 for the Climate - Civil society participation in climate policy
May 27, 2021
“5 for the climate”
– digital theme week on the participation of civil society in climate policy (June 14 – 18, 2021)
Adequate civil society participation is still not common practice everywhere and political participation is increasingly restricted in many countries around the world. However, civil society organizations are important actors in the development and implementation of climate policy. This is because they have a wealth of knowledge and expertise and are connected to the local communities that play a crucial role in tackling the climate crisis. As there is a greater need for action than ever before, it is important to learn from experiences and success stories around the world. “5 for the climate” is an international exchange and networking week to jointly explore whether and how civil society can be meaningfully and effectively involved in climate policy decision-making processes. The analysis of obstacles to civil society participation is intended to help identify instruments and strategies that can improve the conditions and opportunities for co-determination. The aim of the theme week is to bring together organizations and actors from civil society projects, think tanks and other climate activists.
bring together
. Together we will reflect on the possibilities and forms of participation
reflect
experiences in the civil society fight against climate change
share
current best practices
examine
and strategies
develop
how civil society participation can be ensured and lead to more ambitious climate policies.
Formats during the week
We offer various types of input, working formats and opportunities for exciting exchanges and networking. The program is filled with:
Interactive workshops
(90 minutes)
to work together on pressing issues of civil society involvement and to explore the framework conditions, visions and conditions for the involvement of civil society.
Deep Thinking Sessions
(60 minutes input + Q & A)
give you the opportunity to learn about relevant findings from researchers and practitioners who are intensively involved in civil society participation in climate policy decision-making processes and beyond.
Hands on Sessions
(60 minutes presentation + discussion)
in which we travel digitally to places of successful civil society engagement, hear first-hand success stories and learn interesting facts about struggles for climate justice and local measures – especially in the area of the energy transition.
Panel discussions
(90 minutes)
in which a series of exciting speakers will discuss questions such as how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the quality of participatory formats and influenced access to political processes.
Daily work group
(45 minutes)
in which we invite you, researchers and practitioners, once a day to work together on the basic requirements for meaningful participation. What are criteria for participatory processes that are perceived as transparent, equal, inclusive, empowering and continuous? We will further define the meanings of these 5 elements and try to understand their impact in detail.
Network possibilities
Even in times when we can work together successfully on screens, we need spaces to come together informally. We offer you two formats for uncomplicated networking:
- The virtual lounge
Here you can find people to talk to, take part in ongoing small group discussions or open a digital networking table yourself and invite other participants to exchange ideas.
- Virtual stands
Here you have the opportunity to represent your organization as if you were at a face-to-face conference and display materials – for example, the latest publications of your project. Stands are also perfect for 1-to-1 meetings and in-depth discussions to create synergies and start collaborations. Contact: kerstin.mueller@bund.net
Online Course “Registration of Contaminated Sites” now accessible
26. May 2021
The registration of (potentially) contaminated sites in a cadaster is an important step to gain an overview over soil contaminations. Thus, a cadaster is an important tool to plan and carry out necessary securing and decontamination activities at contaminated sites to prevent impacts on public health originating from these areas.
The Online Course “Registration of Contaminated Sites” equips government officials, civil servants, students and other experts alike with the necessary knowledge to carry out the registration of contaminated sites.
- The Vietnamese version of the online course is exclusively for civil servants, government officials and other experts in Vietnam. With the successful finalization of the online course, the participants gain an official certificate.
- The English version of the online course is open for experts, students and interested citizens alike.
The course presents technologies to identify and manage contaminated sites, which can also be applied in other countries than Vietnam: This includes a deeper insight into the recording process of potentially contaminated sites, in particular into the necessary prerequisites, preparation, individual research and recording activities to identify and detain contaminated sites. A special focus is placed on the survey of craft villages, industrial zones and other relevant areas. A Case Study Section introduces examples of (former) contaminated sites in Germany and the securing or decontamination measures applied.
The English version of the Online Course Registration of Contaminated Sites can be accessed at UfU interaktiv.
The Online Course “Registration of Contaminated Sites” was developed within the project “Practical handling of data of a register of contaminated sites using the example of Bắc Ninh province (CapaViet2)”, which is financed by the „Exportinitiative Umwelttechnologien“ of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).
Our long-time colleague Dr. Pham Ngoc Han passed away
February 8, 2021
It is with great sadness that we announce that our long-time colleague Dr. Pham Ngoc Han has passed away in Hanoi/Vietnam at the age of 80 after a short and intense illness. Han came to the GDR in the mid-1950s at the age of 14 at the invitation of Wilhelm Pieck, the first and only president of the GDR. He knew Ho Chi Minh. Han was talented and after his vocational training he was allowed to study and later complete his doctorate. In 1989 he was in the middle of his habilitation at the TU Chemnitz. He joined UfU in 1996. From 2000, he built up cooperation between Vietnam and Germany in the environmental sector at UfU. In 2014, he was honored for his services to cooperation between Vietnam and Germany by the then State Secretary of the BMU Gunther Adler in Hanoi. Today, UfU’s cooperation in Vietnam comprises five projects at several levels. This would never have been achieved without Han’s development work. At its last meeting, the UfU Board proposed that Han be made an honorary member of UfU for his services and that this be put forward at the next general meeting. We will remember Han in our hearts. All those who knew him will miss a friendly, hard-working, helpful, intelligent and modest colleague. We will miss him. on behalf of the Executive Board
Dr. Michael Zschiesche
Study: Shaping climate policy with civil society?!
8. February 2021
Shaping ambitious climate policy with civil society? In a comprehensive study, UfU has investigated whether and how civil society organizations are involved in national climate policy processes in Colombia, Ukraine and Georgia. The analysis addresses the political and legal framework for participation, existing state and civil society structures, and concrete participation processes in the three countries. Among other things, UfU investigated the extent to which environmental organizations were able to contribute their positions to the current elaboration/revision of national climate protection targets (Nationally Determined Contributions – NDCs). The detailed evaluation scheme developed by UfU makes it possible to investigate framework conditions for participation and concrete participation processes in other countries as well. Together with the project partners and local actors, various obstacles were identified that impede effective participation of civil society. The study derives country-specific recommendations on how participation in climate issues can be improved and consolidated in the future. In addition, the study presents good practice examples for participation in climate policy from eight other countries that can point the way forward.
The study makes clear that improvements are needed at various levels to ensure that civil society actors are heard on environmental and climate issues. In the cases studied, it is primarily procedural barriers that impede an exchange of views, interests and experiences between state and civil society actors and thus a joint solution finding. With regard to the participation formats analysed, three types of deficits can be identified above all: first, a lack of implementation of the participation legislation; second, only a low level of participation; and third, insufficient consideration of the results of the participation process. Much more profound than these deficits of the participation processes, however, is the increasing curtailment of civic space, i.e. the scope of action of civil society, in many countries in recent years, which restricts the participation opportunities of environmental activists. In addition to restrictions on civil society’s ability to act due to the establishment of elaborate administrative and approval processes and government restrictions on the acceptance of (foreign) donations, as well as restrictions on freedom of the press, freedom of expression, and freedom of assembly, harassment, physical violence, criminalization of activists, arbitrary arrests, and assassinations also lead to a reduction of civil society’s space to act in many states.
The full study can be found here:
Click here for the short version.
In addition, individual country reports for Colombia, Georgia and Ukraine have been written and translated into the local languages:
Country report Colombia, English and Spanish
Country report Georgia, English and Georgian
Country report Ukraine, English and Ukrainian
The study is part of the project “Strengthening Civil Society in National Climate Policy“, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) as part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI).
Civic space for participation in climate policies
04. November 2020
In 2015, many countries, including Colombia, Georgia and Ukraine, agreed
on the Paris Agreement to limit global warming and its impacts. However, current national
commitments (Nationally Determined Contributions – NDCs) are inadequate to keep the
rise in global temperature in this century well below 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels. Time
is running out, and rapid and far-reaching shifts across all sectors are required. Civil society
actors play a crucial role in developing and implementing climate policies because they act as
watchdogs and advocates for a fair socio-environmental transformation. The scope of their
activities and advocacy work ranges from raising awareness about climate change, building
capacity, supporting climate change mitigation and adaptation activities to conducting research,
developing strategies and measures, and influencing concrete climate policies.
The purpose of the study “Civic space for participation in climate policies in Colombia,
Georgia and Ukraine” was to investigate the environment and conditions for climate-related
participation, such as the legal framework for participation, as well as concrete practices
of participatory policy making in Colombia, Georgia and Ukraine. The analysis explores how
national civil society is being involved in political processes related to the Paris Agreement. The
focus thereby lies on organised groups, rather than individuals and the general public. Are civil
society organisations involved in the development of climate-relevant national plans, strategies
and other document? Are there good examples or good approaches of participation that enable
civil society actors to effectively influence national political processes and raise ambition in
climate matters? The study also identifies concrete country-specific barriers that hamper or
avoid meaningful, effective and long-term participation, and gives advice for overcoming these
barriers. Furthermore, the study examines selected examples of good practice in climate-related
participation from eight other countries around the world.
The full study can be downloaded here:
The study is part of the project Strengthen Civil Society for the implementation of national climate policy. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) as part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI).
Visions for green urban development in Hue (Vietnam)
November 2, 2020
On October 31, 2020, the GreenCityLabHuế project held the first stakeholder workshop to discuss scenario development for the implementation of nature-based solutions (NBS) in the city of Hue (Central Vietnam). The workshop was organized under the technical guidance of Humboldt University of Berlin (HUB) and the Independent Institute for Environmental Issues (UfU) and hosted by the Vietnamese partners, Mientrung Institute for Scientific Research (MISR) and Thua Thien Hue Institute for Development Studies (HueIDS) and the Faculty of Architecture of Hue University of Sciences (HUSC). The stakeholder workshop is part of the co-design and co-learning process to create future scenarios for the development of green and blue infrastructure (GBI) in Hue. In the following phase of the research and development project, it is important to adapt relevant steps of the modeling process to local conditions and to select sites for modeling nature-based solutions (NBS) at site level in a participatory manner. At the beginning of the stakeholder workshop, MSc. Hoang Thi Binh Minh (MISR) and Dr. Nguyen Vu Minh (HUSC) presented some key findings of the definition phase of the GreenCityLabHuế project, including (1) benefits of nature-based solutions (NBS) for Hue city, (2) a typology of green-blue infrastructure elements and their ecological performance, (3) a categorization of land use classes and an inventory of green-blue infrastructures (GBI), (4) the development of Hue City into a central government city, (5) the climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies of Hue Thua Thien Province, (6) a map of key stakeholders for NBS development in Hue City, (7) and an assessment of climate change awareness and social aspects for NBS in Hue City. The presentation was followed by several discussion sessions in which the following questions were addressed:
- Are the proposed measures for the development of green-blue infrastructure (GBI) realistic and acceptable?
- What visions regarding NBS development do the participants have for Hue? What would the participants generally change in the scenarios developed? Which elements of NBS should be part of the future scenarios?
- Should measures and interventions within a given scenario be differentiated between different parts of Hue city?
- Are there spatial zones in which no interventions and measures should be carried out or in which certain measures are not permitted?
- Is there more detailed information on the expected conversion rates (and the locations of the planned extensions)?
The workshop was attended by 20 stakeholders from various relevant institutions and organizations in Hue: the Department of Planning and Investment, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Department of Environmental Protection DONRE, the Land Administration Officer of Huong So Municipality, the Greenery Company, HEPCO, HueWaco, the Hue Monuments Conservation Center, the Institute of Construction Planning, the Faculty of Environmental Science of HUSC, the Faculty of Land Resources and Agricultural Environment of Hue University of Forestry and Agriculture, the Senior Citizens Association, the Institute of Resources and Environment of Hue University, the Institute of Public Health Research, the Happiness School Program, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the Beekeepers Association and several other young people living and working in the city of Hue.
Further information on the project can be found at www.greencitylabhue.com