“European Development Days”, Lisbon, 7-9 November 2007

The Greek HSN Chairmanship presented the impact of climate change on vulnerable population groups as the main priority of Greece’s participation in the “Development Village” within the framework of the “European Days of Development 2007”. This was a European Commission initiative carried out for the second consecutive year, in association with EU member states, international organisations, and civil society agencies. The theme of the “European Days of Development 2007” was “Climate Change and Development Cooperation”.

Greek participation included a presentation of the actions of the Foreign Ministry and Hellenic Aid in general, and more particularly on climate change. Within this framework, the Greek HSN Chairmanship promoted climate change and ensuing human security risks as its priority. Concurrently, the Foreign Ministry presented a poster exhibition in cooperation with UNEP/MAP entitled “Melting Ice: a Burning Issue”.

The Foreign Ministry’s Secretary General for International Economic Relations and Development Cooperation and Special Representative for Climate Change, Mr. Theodoros Skylakakis, also took part in a Round Table on “Climate Change Mitigation, Opportunities And Financing”, held on 8 November 2007.

Athens, 27 November 2007

Opening event on Climate Change And Human Security. Presentation to the public of the Greek HSN Chairmanship’s priorities and action plan. Exhibition of posters and artwork by children in association with UNEP/MAP.

December 2007 – February/March 2008

Three international events aimed at raising public awareness and optimising preparation of relevant policy papers.

Bali, 10 December 2007/New York, 12 December 2007

Events on climate change and human security in relation to children, co-organised with UNICEF. The first event was held on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, and the second was held concurrently with the Special Session of the UN General Assembly on Children. Events took the form of roundtable discussions, and journalists were also invited to attend.   

Geneva, 19 February 2008

Event on Climate Change and Human Security, with emphasis on populations fleeing their homes. A conference entitled: “Climate Change, Environment Degradation And Migration” was organised by Greece, in its capacity as Chair of the Human Security Network,  in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Event on Climate Change And Human Security in relation to women. Roundtable discussion entitled: “Climate Change And Human Security: Women, A Particularly Vulnerable Population Group”.

HSN Senior Officials Meeting aimed at presenting the state-of-play in terms of compiling scientific data and elaborating policy papers, the coordination of efforts and the search for potential future joint actions.

Speech of Ms. Irene Dankelman, Board of Directors, Women’s Environment and Development Organisation (W.E.D.O).

Speech of Dr. Koko Warner, Institute for Environment and Human Security, United Nations University

Speech of Dr. Saleem Huq, Head of Research on Climate Change at the International Institute for Environment and Development (I.I.E.D)

Speech of David Parker, Deputy Director, UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre

Athens, 29-30 May 2008

International Conference and Annual Ministerial Summit on Climate Change and Human Security. Presentation of policy papers.

The Annual HSN Ministerial Meeting will take the form of an extended political consultation forum. In addition to HSN member-state Ministers, the Chairmanship intends to invite high-ranking officials from the Friends of Human Security Group. In light of the examples of the Thai and Slovenian HSN Chairmanships, Greece will also host a major International Conference on the impact of climate change on human security concurrently with the Ministerial Political Forum. The final text of the Greek Chairmanship’s policy papers will be presented at this international conference, which will be attended by experts and international organisations, specialised scientists and internationally renowned figures, with a view to raising public and political awareness on the impact of climate change on the human security of vulnerable population groups.