European Civic Academy
2019-03-28 - 2019-03-29
By Civil Society Europe and the National Federation of Polish NGOs
The European Civic Academy aims to give activists key insights and exchange experiences into critical development in the area of democracy and civic space as well as concrete tools on how to address them. Building partnerships between the academic world, and civil society is ever more needed as the rule of law are European values are eroded, civic freedoms are now threatened in several countries of the European Union. Moreover, the emerging of « illiberal » democracies, the rising of populist movements has created a difficult climate for independent civil society organisations.
The organising committee has proposed to focus this year’s Academy on the impact of populism on civil society, exploring current literature and practice and perspectives ahead, in a particular context with both the European elections and uncertainties around the impact of Brexit.
The meeting will take place on 28 and 29 March is Słubice in Poland just across the border with Germany at the Collegium Polonicum, an Academic institution symbol of reconciliation between Germany and Poland. The venue has been chosen both as a symbol of European cooperation and in a country where civic space and the rule of law have been attacked, but where civil society is thriving. The cities of Słubice/Frankfurt Oder have granted us patronage for this event. The meeting is organised in cooperation with Collegium Polonicum and the European Alliance for Social Sciences and Humanities.
It is co-funded by CSO Partnership for Development effectiveness as part of Sweden’s Policy for Global Development, and it benefits from the support of the European Civic Forum and of the Solidar Foundation.
Please find the agenda and registration details on our website
Do you not hesitate to disseminate the information among your members.Registration is open until 15 March

Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the UNECE Region
2019-03-21 - 2019-03-22
The Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the UNECE Region will be held from 21-22 March 2019 at the International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG).
Theme 2019:
The Regional Forum will be aligned with the theme of the 2019 High-level Political Forum: “Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality”
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in focus:
SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), SDG 13 (climate action), and SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions).

The registration for the CSO Forum on Wednesday 20th March
2019-03-20 08:00 - 17:00 UTC
The registration for the CSO Forum on Wednesday 20th March, prior to the Regional SDGs Forum in Geneva, is now open. You can register via this link.
You will need a UN Badge to enter into the Palais de Nation building.
Please share with colleagues!

Making sustainable development the political priority for the EU’s new political leadership
2019-02-28 10:00 - 12:30 | Brussels
How to prepare in this year of transition?
Panel debate 10:00 – 12:30 @ EEB (Tweekerkenstraat 14-16, Brussels)
Please register by 25 February by emailing to sdgwatcheurope@gmail.com
In 2019, a new European Parliament will be elected, and the political leadership of the EU will change. This year of transition provides opportunities to reshape the overall narrative of the EU and to finally give sustainable development the political weight it should have been given already. It is not inevitable that the next Commission will make sustainable development its top priority? What needs to be done to ensure that this happens?
Civil society knows: another Europe is possible! While recognizing the challenge we are currently facing in the EU, civil society is engaging in the discussion of what kind of Europe we want. We share core values in our joint strive for sustainable development: democracy and transparency, social and environmental justice, human rights, the rule of law, equality, and solidarity. Those values must be at the heart of all policies and this means fundamental changes from today. To challenge the future political leaders of the EU, SDG Watch Europe and a wide network of civil society have put forward a “Manifesto for a Sustainable Europe for Its Citizens”.
On the morning of its General Assembly, SDG Watch Europe invites its members to discuss with selected institutional stakeholders in what way together we can ensure the next Commission will deliver on the 2030 Agenda and explore how different stakeholders can support civil society’s call for the ambitious implementation of the SDGs. The discussions will look into a stronger role for the new European Parliament on how to step up its watchdog function. The role of Member States will be explored – especially that of progressive Governments – and the likely impact of the Finnish EU Presidency, the first presidency to follow the appointment of the new Commission. Furthermore, we will discuss ideas of the EESC to encourage the Commission to be more ambitious as well as the role of civil society in increasing the pressure, including within (but not limited to) the Multi-Stakeholder Platform on the SDGs.
Panelists:

Cristina Gallach, High Commissioner for Agenda 2030, Government of Spain
Annika Lindblom, Counsellor for International Affairs at the Finnish Environment Ministry and Secretary-General of the Prime Minister led multi-stakeholder National Commission on Sustainable Development
Peter Schmidt, President of the European Economic Social Committee’s Sustainable Development Observatory
Eleni Theocharous, MEP, rapporteur Annual strategic report on the implementation and delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (TBC)
Elly Schlein, MEP (TBC)
Heidi Hautala, MEP, Vice-President (TBC)
Patrizia Heidegger, Steering Group of SDG Watch Europe / Director Global Policies and Sustainability with the European Environmental Bureau
Tanya Cox, Executive Director, CONCORD

Call for Submissions: Good Practices, Success Stories and Lessons Learned in SDG Implementation
2019-02-28
Call for Submissions: Good Practices, Success Stories and Lessons Learned in SDG Implementation – United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)
Three years into the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the sustainable development goals (SDGs), many Governments, UN entities, international and regional organizations, Major Groups and other Stakeholders, are planning or have initiated evidence-based stock-taking of progress.
Where do we stand? Are we on track? What are the inspiring breakthroughs and success stories that are showing results and impacts? What are the good practices that can be replicated and scaled up? What are the gaps and constraints and how should we address them? Looking ahead, what steps should we take to accelerate progress?
These are among the questions that are under consideration. To help answer these questions, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) is launching a call for submissions of good practices, success stories and lessons learned in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. The submissions will be analyzed by a dedicated inter-agency team coordinated by UN DESA, and the results will be made available online for easy access and broad dissemination. Where applicable, the submissions can serve as inputs to thematic preparations for the 2019 sessions of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).
An event will be organized in the lead-up to the 2019 HLPF convened under the auspices of the General Assembly to showcase a selection of the good practices and success stories and to present the main findings of the evidence-based stock-taking. It is hoped that the submission, collection, analysis and dissemination of good practices, success stories and lessons learned will help galvanize the momentum for implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.
Submissions can be made between 1 November 2018 and 28 February 2019 by using a web-based portal. All are encouraged to follow the template to the extent possible. For queries, please email DSDG@un.org, at the Division for Sustainable Development Goals of UN DESA.
We look forward to receiving your submissions.
Submit your contribution here

Download the submissions template here Submissions must be done using the web-based portal
Download a PDF version of this call here
Frequently asked questions

European Parliament elections campaign on Sustainable Consumption and Production (and small grants)
2019-02-22
The Fair Trade Advocacy Office will be leading with other civil society networks (e.g. CIDSE, IFOAM-EU, RIPESS-EU) an elections campaign on Sustainable Consumption and Production ahead of the EP elections in May this year. In order to support civil society organisations taking an active role in this campaign at national level, Fairtrade International has launched a call for proposals for small grants for Civil Society Organisations in Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. This takes places in the context of the “Trade Fair Live Fair” EU-funded project. All information can be found here. Deadline for applications is 22 February 2019, 16:00 CET. For questions on the sub-grant mechanism, contact Guzal Matniyazova (g.matniyazova@fairtrade.net). For questions on the EP elections campaign (welcome to join as partner or supporter!), let Sergi Corbalán (corbalan@fairtrade-advocacy.org) know.

Take part in our survey on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)!
2019-02-22
Since the adoption in 2015 of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and of the 17 SDGs, the 193 signatory countries are expected to report regularly on the implementation of this universal agenda, which covers all policies and requires the involvement of all stakeholders. Regional and local authorities are essential partners in this implementation process, not only because a large majority of SDGs (65% according to the OECD) directly involve/affect them, but also because many of them have already successfully engaged in localising SDGs.
With feedback from local and regional authorities on their work on SDGs, the European Committee of the Regions wants to showcase how you have implemented, or currently are implementing, SDGs. This information will be used to influence a future EU strategy on SDGs, to better advocate for a territorial approach in the European and national policy-making process and to boost actions of implementation. Your views on what should the EU do on SDGs, on the priorities the EU should have to act on SDGs will also feed in our opinion on a Sustainable Europe by 2030 to be elaborated during the course of 2019.
This survey will also contribute to the broader OECD Programme on A Territorial Approach to SDGs: A role for cities and regions to leave no one behind, which seeks to support cities and regions in fostering a territorial approach to the SDGs through:

measuring where they stand vis-à-vis the national average and their peers;
engaging a multi-level dialogue with their lower and upper levels of government to build consensus on who can do what; and
sharing best practice and lessons from international experience.

This survey is based on a previous survey carried out by the Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development (nrg4sd). The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is also a partner in the drafting of the survey. The European Committee of the Regions wishes to thank these partners for their excellent collaboration.
Start the Survey !

The survey is available in all EU languages; to select your preferred language, click on the drop-down menu on the right of the screen
The survey will be open until Friday 22 February 2019 midnight
All responses will be kept confidential
For more information, please contact econ-survey-cor@cor.europa.eu

Subscribe to the ECON mailing list to receive the survey results.

European Responsible Housing Awards 2019 - Submit your projects & join dozens of innovators across Europe
2019-02-15
Recently we have seen how changing demographic trends, a rise in inequality and populism, increasing consequences of climate change, concerns over structural safety, are changing the political, social, infrastructural and environmental landscapes, including housing. Housing and how (and, indeed, where) we live will be a decisive factor in the shaping of our future(s), and so remains fundamental. Our aim is that the exemplary and innovative ideas and best practices that are already happening on-the-ground and that will be showcased at the European Responsible Housing Awards 2019 will be a part of these conversations and developments | DEADLINE: 15 February 2019
More information: http://www.housingeurope.eu/resource-1204/european-responsible-housing-awards-2019

Apply for MESA grants!
2019-02-15
As part of the project Make Europe Sustainable for All, financial support is available to local level civil society groups campaigning on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
We welcome applications for local project proposals in 15 countries (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain) before the closing date of 15 February 2019.
Proposals coming from one of the mentioned countries could be eligible either for a smaller grant of up to €2000 (LOT 1, 3 projects will be selected in each of the project countries) or a grant of up to €7500 (LOT 2, 6 projects will be selected across the project countries).
The micro grants are meant to encourage creative activities and actions around the SDGs at the local, grass-roots level – from street actions to workshops, from stunts to educational activities, involving local citizens, young people and students, local groups, local policy-makers and many more.
Get a grant here!

Stakeholders E-consultation On the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) under review at the 2019 High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF)
2019-02-08
Share your inputs on the SDGs under review at the 2019 HLPF!
Deadline: 8 February 2018
Background:
When adopting the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Member States decided to undertake thematic reviews of progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including cross-cutting issues.
Member States have also decided that the HLPF, under the auspices of ECOSOC, would discuss a set of SDGs and their interlinkages, including with other Goals, with a view to facilitating an in-depth review of progress made on all SDGs over the course of a four-year cycle, with means of implementation, including SDG 17, reviewed annually.
In 2019, the HLPF, meeting under the auspices of ECOSOC (9-18 July), will finalize the first cycle of thematic reviews with in-depth analysis of the following SDGs:

SDG 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
SDG 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
SDG 10. Reduce inequality within and among countries
SDG 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts*
SDG 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
SDG 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

E-consultation:
Major groups and stakeholders are invited to participate in an E-consultation on the SDGs under review at the 2019 HLPF via the links below.
The E-Consultation will serve to improve stakeholders’ access to information and promote broad and participatory engagement on the follow up and review of the 2030 Agenda implementation. It will complement/feed into other on-going processes for the SDG-specific reviews, including Expert Group Meetings (EGMs) being organized by DESA/DSDG.
A limited number of questions are proposed for each SDG under review, and major groups and other stakeholders are invited to contribute concise and straightforward inputs. Inputs will be made publicly available[1].
A summary of main points identified through the e-consultations will be elaborated and disseminated by UNDESA/DSDG.
Submit your inputs by 8th February 2019 using the links below:
https://un.E-consultation/SDG4
https://un.E-consultation/SDG8
https://un.E-consultation/SDG10
https://un.E-consultation/SDG13
https://un.E-consultation/SDG16
https://un.E-consultation/SDG17
The review the responses received from the E-consultation, please use the links below.

SDG 4
https://un.E-consultation/SDG4-Responses

SDG 8
https://un.E-consultation/SDG8-Responses

SDG 10
https://un.E-consultation/SDG10-Responses

SDG 13
https://un.E-consultation/SDG13-Responses

SDG 16
https://un.E-consultation/SDG16-Responses

SDG 17
https://un.E-consultation/SDG17-Responses

For more information: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/hlpf/2019/econsultation

Event: Towards a Global Pact for the Environment - 6 February 2019, European Parliament, Brussels
2019-02-06 14:00 - 18:00

EU Crystal Ball campaign
2019-02-05 08:00 - 17:00
You can find here the EU Crystal Ball campaign which SDG Watch Europe also contributed to.

Global Report Launch: Progressing National SDGs Implementations
2019-01-30 09:00 - 10:30
Global Report Launch: Progressing National SDGs Implementations |
Lancement Rapport Mondial: Progression de la mise en œuvre des ODD au niveau national – 30.01.19
Register here for the global report launch – the 3rd edition of an independent assessment of the Voluntary National Review reports submitted to the United Nations High-level Political Forum in 2018
The event will be on 30 January 2019 – 9:00 – 10:30am EST | 14.00-15.30pm GMT

Getting ready for the UN Regional Forum on Sustainable Development – How civil society can best engage
2019-01-28 14:30 - 16:00
On 21 and 22 March 2019, governments from across the European Region will gather at the next UN Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (RFSD) in Geneva to discuss progress made towards achieving the SDGs. The RFSD is the region’s preparation to the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) held every year in New York in July. The Regional Forum will be aligned with the theme of the 2019 HLPF “Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality”. This year, SDGs under review are SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), SDG 13 (climate action) and SDG 16 (peace, justice and institutions).
How can civil society engage best at the Regional Forum, advocate for the ambitious implementation of the SDGs and make its diverse voices heard?
Our webinar will introduce you to the Forum and discuss the different channels available to civil society in order to step up our impact.
Agenda:

Welcome and introduction to the Regional Forum:

Patrizia Heidegger, Director Global Policies and Sustainability, European Environmental Bureau + SDG Watch Europe

Channels for civil society to engage at the Regional Forum and experiences of the last years

Hanna Gunnarsson, Gender Expert & Communications at WECF International

Question & answers
Exchange on how we can join forces and who is planning activities

Information about the RFSD
Here you can find the information on how to register and the agenda of the Regional Forum on sustainable Development.
Case studies: Governments and other stakeholders are encouraged to provide case studies from their
experience in SDG implementation. The case studies will be compiled in a document and shared with
participants in advance of the Forum. Selected case studies will be presented during the peer learning
segment at the Regional Forum. To contribute a case study, kindly fill in this form (submission deadline:
31 January 2019).
Side events: Governments and other stakeholders are kindly asked to submit their side event requests via
this form (submission deadline: 31 January 2019).
Booths at SDG fair: At the entrance area of the venue, a fair with booths will showcase the SDG-related
activities of different stakeholders. If you wish to request a booth, please submit this form (submission
deadline: 31 January 2019).

Please joint via:
Webinar on Regional Forum on Sustainable Development -DEAR
Mon, Jan 28, 2019 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM CET
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/512884093
You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (646) 749-3129
Access Code: 512-884-093
More phone numbers
Australia: +61 2 9087 3604
Austria: +43 7 2081 5427
Belgium: +32 28 93 7018
Canada: +1 (647) 497-9391
Denmark: +45 32 72 03 82
Finland: +358 942 72 1060
France: +33 170 950 594
Germany: +49 692 5736 7317
Ireland: +353 16 572 651
Italy: +39 0 247 92 13 01
Netherlands: +31 207 941 377
New Zealand: +64 9 280 6302
Norway: +47 21 93 37 51
Spain: +34 932 75 2004
Sweden: +46 853 527 827
Switzerland: +41 225 4599 78
United Kingdom: +44 330 221 0088
First GoToMeeting? Let’s do a quick system check:
https://link.gotomeeting.com/system-check

WISH - Welcome, Inclusion and Support Hub for Refugees and Asylum-Seekers in Europe
2019-01-28
Submissions are still being collected for WISH, an online platform developed by European Volunteer Centre (CEV) in the frame of the European Solidarity Corps projects, where volunteer-based and/or volunteer-led initiatives that support the inclusion and integration of migrants and refugees will be geographically displayed, categorised depending on the kind of support they offer. Submit your initiatives here.

European CSO-Campaign Lab - The Europe We Want
2019-01-24
European CSO-Campaign Lab – The Europe We Want – 12-13 February 2019 (Brussels) – register by 24/01
Next month, SDG Watch Europe and a broad coalition of CSOs is organizing a campaign lab to come together to inspire one another and coordinate our campaigns around the European Elections and the future of Europe.
If you’d like to join, please register by Thursday, 24 January!
On 12-13 February 2019, we will gather civil society organizations from all over Europe for a joint campaign lab and strategy event in Brussels. We will exchange current & planned activities and campaigns by European and national NGOs for the EP elections, and how these can be strengthened. Plus we will explore and plan new joint initiatives to unite CSO networks from all sectors.
The two days of workshops/open conference will allow for free-flowing discussion to generate ideas how to accomplish this together, combining current and new plans.
The purpose of the campaign lab is to join forces of civil society across Europe for joint EP-election activities, and to share and strengthen existing plans.
Via thematic debates and workshops, NGOs will be able to to further expand on their ideas, and national/regional representatives will have the space to discuss together.
The agenda will also include looking ahead at post-election scenarios and how civil society can respond.

People’s Demands for Climate Justice
2018-12-16
Over the past few months, people’s movements around the world have shaped the People’s Demands for Climate Justice. This is a critical tool to hold governments’ feet to the fire and ensure the outcomes of COP24 actually lead to meaningful, just climate solutions. We need organizations around the world to join this call to ensure our collective voices are heard before COP24 in Poland, which is happening in just a couple of weeks.
Can your organization join by signing on to the People’s Demands?

You can read the full demands here and sign on (fields for endorsing at the bottom), and please let us know (snaficy@corporateaccountability.org) if you have any questions.
Please email your own membership and urge them to sign the People’s Demands as well by using this link: People’s Demands for Climate Justice.
And please help spread the word on social media: Twitter or Facebook and Linkedin. Sample posts are below.

More information on The People’s Demands:
Collectively shaped by people’s movements around the world, the People’s Demands lays out a vision for a truly just international climate policy. We must ensure the demands of people, not the fossil fuel industry and other Big Polluters, is what is centered in the lead up to and during COP24 in Poland.
These demands are an international statement rooted in southern movements and with input from numerous climate justice organizations and people’s movements around the world,. The convening organizations include:

Action Aid International
Asian People’s Movement on Debt and Development
Center for Biological Diversity
Climate Justice Alliance
Corporate Accountability
Corporate Europe Observatory
ETC Group
Focus on the Global South
Friends of the Earth International
Global Forest Coalition
Grassroots Global Justice Alliance
Indigenous Environmental Network
Movimiento Ciudadano frente al Cambio Climatico
Plataforma Boliviana frente al Cambio Climatico

Sample social language:
In just a few weeks, countries will decide on the Paris Agreement’s rulebook at #COP24. The #PeoplesDemands call for what we all need: real, just climate solutions. Add your name to the demands here: https://www.peoplesdemands.org #ClimateChange
Please sign the #PeoplesDemands for Climate Justice. #ClimateChange is an urgent crisis and this December at #COP24, governments will decide how to implement the Paris Agreement. Demand real, just climate solutions from 2018’s UNFCCC talks. https://www.peoplesdemands.org

First webinar for Major Groups and other Stakeholders (MGoS) in a series in preparation for the 2019 High-Level Political Forum: HLPF
2018-12-13 09:00 - 10:30
The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs invites you to attend the first webinar for Major Groups and other Stakeholders (MGoS) in a series in preparation for the 2019 High-Level Political Forum: HLPF 101. Introduction to the High-Level Political Forum
for Major Groups and other Stakeholders.
This webinar is primarily aimed at Major Groups and other stakeholders who are new to the HLPF and would like to learn more and its function and opportunities for engagement, but also to those who would want to refresh their knowledge and understanding of the HLPF. It will cover topics including:

What is the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), and why is it important to the 2030 Agenda?
What is the structure of the HLPF?
Who can participate in the HLPF?
What are different ways to engage in the HLPF?
What are some of the major inputs that feed into the HLPF?
What is the outcome of the HLPF?
And more!

The HLPF 101 webinar will take place in English, Spanish and French on three different dates. Please register accordingly below:
ENGLISH: Thursday, 13 December 2018 from 9:00 – 10:30 EST please register here
FRANÇAIS: Lundi 17 décembre 2018 de 9h00 à 10h30 EST, veuillez-vous inscrire ici
ESPAÑOL: Martes, 18 de diciembre de 2018 de 9:00 a 10:30 hora del Este, regístrese aquí

Dianova International requests your participation in a short, yet very important survey called the Global Survey
2018-12-13
The Global Survey is focused on establishing the status on the understanding of sustainability and knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals amongst individuals and professionals; i.e. representatives of companies, politics, academia and civil society in all countries around the world. The aim is to prioritize relevant topics relating to the environment, social issues and the economy in the respective countries and to establish the urgency for action. Your participation in the survey will help stimulate and accelerate the process of change toward sustainable development worldwide!
The survey is brief and will only take 5-10 minutes to complete.
Thank you for your support and if possible, please share!
Link to Global Survey: https://yale.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bHqkMiwa7zrLnrT
Further information: www.globalsurvey-sdgs.com

Consumers' education for sustainable development
2018-12-06 09:00 - 11:00
LOCATION: SOLIDAR – Rue de Pascale, 4/6 – 1000 Brussels
Register by 3 December on this link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdmH9SC2zusSGRjIMK0Muj3tky_jZ09lRcl2-smbivTF9XghA/viewform

More info:
We are currently facing the alarming consequences of production and consumer choices. “The customer is always right” but individuals’ consumption choices are often overshadowed by limited understanding and knowledge, as well as lack of awareness of the important role they play in the digital and non-digital market.
Taking this impact into consideration commands us to grant a more prominent role to education in the acquisition and development of knowledge, skills, values and attitudes. What role can lifelong learning as education happening throughout life and “lifewide” (i.e. in formal, non-formal and informal education) play to foster citizens’ awareness of sustainability issues through their consumption habits and choices? What is the added value of e-learning and ICT platforms to encourage the transformation of behaviours in these regards?
This debate will seek to address these transversal topics by tackling the role of consumers’ education in today’s societies. The Consortium, leaded by Expertise France, and the European Commission have developed an ICT platform and training method to enable teachers to thoroughly address this topic in the classroom and help them educate young people for the life ahead of them. Consumers’ education is about preparing them for their role as actors in the economic system – creating a better and more sustainable society for all of us by educating the future adults and consumers. ‘Consumer Classroom’ provides a way for teachers to learn about consumer education themselves, and to pass this invaluable information onto their students through cross-curricular projects. Teachers need to be supported in their educational function to shape a new generation of “conscious consumers”.
During the debate we will learn from different perspectives and get to know innovative practices to reduce the gap between our ambitions and the actions that need to be taken, bearing in mind that a lifelong learning perspective to both educators and younger generations is paradigmatic to the success of the SDGs.

EESC Sustainable Development Strategies – from Design to Monitoring: Civil Society's Role - 30/11/2018, Brussels
2018-11-30 09:00 - 12:00
The EESC continues to advocate for integrating the SDGs fully and urgently into the European policy framework by setting out a vision for a sustainable Europe by 2030 and beyond. However, achieving sustainable development can only become a reality if all actors take collective action and pull in the same direction. New governance mechanisms are therefore needed to embed participation and engagement by civil society into the design and implementing processes.
The SDGs can be implemented both:

as top-down goals, with governments and institutions providing the driving force, and
as bottom-up initiatives by non-state actors and civil society.

As a representative voice for civil society at a European level, the EESC is ideally placed to support both.
During the event the EESC will:

explore civil society’s role in the Sustainable Development Strategies;
present several national strategies and processes involving civil society actors.

The event will also give particular attention to the monitoring of the progress on SDGs, both at the national and EU level by debating the SDG indicators and potential for their improvement.
A programme and the online registration form are available on our website. Registrations will close on 27 November 2018 at 18:00. Please note that places are limited. If you have registered but are no longer able to attend, please email the SDO team.

Facilitating Committee as a governing body of the UNECE RCEM
2018-11-30
We, CSOs from UNECE region, have started our work to strengthen our cooperation as one CSO platforms in UNECE region since 2016. In June 2018, a Concept Note and RCEM action plan for the Regional Civil Society Engagement Mechanism (RCEM) was approved after long discussions in the platform.
We are currently in the phase of setting up our Facilitating Committee as a governing body of the UNECE RCEM and are looking for 22 representatives – one representative from each of the thematic and sub-regional constituency groups. As members of the temporary task force to prepare for setting up governing body, we are therefore reaching out to you to nominate a member of your constituency from our region (deadline 30 November).
We recognize our own institutional challenges in selection/election process of our governing body – a facilitating committee. Some constituencies are ready to nominate because they have good regional coverage and governance process for nominating. Some constituencies are either not well involved in the RCEM and or have only few countries in their membership, and have not yet governance process for nominating. In order to provide space for CSOs from our wide region that are not engaged in SDG processes and UNECE RCEM and not to leave them behind we suggest a two-step process for this:

during coming month, identify and nominate constituency representatives – for established constituencies with wide coverage of our countries and with working governance process – deadline 30 November
during several months – mobilize and prepare not yet ready constituencies to send their nominations to the FC. For the new FC – to assist other constituencies in this process– for them to send their representatives – no deadline- so anytime when they have process they will join

Facilitating Committee:
1 representative (and alternate) from each constituency and sub-region
14 constituencies + 8 sub-regions= 22 members of the Facilitating Committee
Women, children and youth, indigenous peoples, NGOs, workers and trade Unions, scientific and technological community, small-scale food producers, persons with disability, diaspora/migrants, LGBTIQ, urban poor, older persons, small and medium enterprises, civil society FfD group in:

Baltic Sea
Black Sea
Caspian Sea
Caucasus
Central Asia
Eastern Europe
Mediterranean/South Eastern Europe
USA, Canada, Israel

The roles of the facilitating committee are formulated in the Concept.
What we need from you

A copy of your governance structure
You will follow your own governance structure and nominate a member of your constituency from our region to take on this role (deadline: 30 November)

Timeline

deadline for nominations – 30 November
announce facilitation committee – 10 December
26 October: finish draft invitation to constituency groups
29 October: send to constituency groups
30 November: deadline for constituency groups to send us their governance structure & name of regional representative
5-7 December: announce the facilitation committee
Dec-Feb: the facilitating committee must reach out to constituencies that are not yet recognised constituency groups (thematic and sub-regional), and facilitate their engagement as well as appointment
For the new FC – to assist other constituencies – for them to send their representatives – no deadline – anytime when they have process they will join

Please feel free to contact nurguldj@gmail.com if you have any queries regarding the process. The temporary facilitating committee will try and answer them as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely,
Temporary task force preparing the setting up of a governing body of the UNECE RCEM

Progressive Caucus big event 27.11.2018 (17pm European Parl. ASP 1G2)
2018-11-27 17:00 - 19:00
Until tomorrow (23/11), you have a chance to register for Progressive Caucus’s big event on the 27th Nov. at 17.00 in the European Parliament (ASP 1G2).
*For external participation at our event, please send us by the 23rd of November 2018 your personal and contact information (name, surname, date of birth, nationality, type and number of ID document) at:progressivecaucusep@gmail.com
All of us will meet in front of the main entrance of the European Parliament (Esplanade) at 16.30. You will recognize us by the poster of the event, which we will be holding.
The event starts at 17.00, so make sure to be there please at 16.30 so as to proceed with your entrance to the building.
You can see here all info on our s/m
https://www.facebook.com/events/1797346297054587/
https://twitter.com/Pro_Caucus_EP/status/1064401283505885184
https://www.facebook.com/ProgressivecaucusEP/photos/a.433018907067354/712683235767585/?type=3&theater
http://www.progressivecaucus.eu/big-upcoming-event-european-integration-front-new-challenges/

Systemic Change or Technological Solutions? Climate change mitigation under the new CAP
2018-11-21 15:00 - 18:00
The EEB, together with BirdLife Europe would like to invite you to an event discussing Climate Change mitigation under the new CAP.
Agriculture is not just one of the first victims of Climate Change, but also the source of 10% of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions. If we are seriously committed to halting global warming at 1.5 °C it is obvious that emissions from agriculture need to be reduced, while sinks should be increased.
The new CAP presents an opportunity to support sustainable climate mitigation measures.
This event will:

Bring together scientists to present the latest state of knowledge on different mitigation options
Feature an Oxford-style policy debate discussing the limits and opportunities presented by different approaches
Provide space for decision makers and stakeholders to exchange their views on the different mitigation options with respect to policy coherence as well as potential barriers preventing the utilization of the full mitigation potential of the agriculture sector

SAVE THE DATE: Join us on 21 November, 15:00 – 18:00 in Brussels
If you wish to receive further information about the event, including the final invitation you can leave your contact details here.
Please also forward this email to your relevant colleagues.

COP 14 on Biological Biodiversity
2018-11-17 08:00 - 2018-11-29 17:00
The UN Biodiversity Conference (14th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity – COP 14) will be held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
https://www.cbd.int/conferences/2018

Call for Proposals: ORGANISATION OF EU GREEN WEEK 2019 - OFFICIAL OPENING EVENT
2018-10-31 17:00
Call for proposals
EU Green Week is the key event in the EU environment policy calendar. This annual opportunity to debate and discuss European environmental policy attracts policymakers, leading environmentalists, stakeholders and other interested parties from across Europe and the globe. In 2019, it will take place from 13 to 17 May 2019, focusing on the implementation of EU environmental legislation, highlighting the benefit of EU environmental policies and showing their benefits for citizens. To mobilise involvement and contribution from all sectors, in addition to the high level conference in Brussels organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment, a series of events organised by partner organisations from across Europe will feature officially in the Week’s programme. The official opening has a particular prominence and plays a special role in setting the tone for debates
Applications must be submitted using the form provided on the website. The deadline for submission is 31 October at 17:00 (Brussels time).

Islas Encendidas
2018-10-18 - 2018-10-21
Future in Common SDG Watch Spain is pleased to announce the “Islas Encendidas” meeting that will take place in Malaga 19-20-21 October (more information here). It will be great if you could join us in Malaga. We already have more than 300 people from different social sectors, organizations and social movements. It will be an incredible opportunity to share knowledge and learn how to work together to build a sustainable and just society.
In case you are unable to attend, you can also take part in two short online workshops:

1st connection: Saturday, October 20, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm (GTM + 2). In English.
2nd connection: Saturday, October 20, from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm (GTM + 2). In Spanish.

We want to listen and connect with other organizations and people who are working for a model that respects and defends human dignity and the planet. We want to knock down borders, the symbolic ones, those that separate us, those that cut lives.
If you are interested in participating, please write to info@quorumglobal.org by 15 October.
On 17 October, we will send you a link for the connection and the specific issues around which we will make the exchange.

European Week of Regions and Cities: Delivering Sustainable Development Goals at regional and local level
2018-10-09 13:30 - 15:00
October 9, 2018 from 14:30 to 16:00
In 2015, UN member states adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This event will explore what sustainable development means at regional and local levels. These levels are where decision makers have to balance different dimensions of sustainability, participatory, social, economic and environmental and make sustainable development a reality. We will debate with leading regions and cities on the added-value of their work on sustainable development, how they translated it on the ground and where to start when you want to “localize SDGs”. We will also discuss how to link these efforts with progress and support at international, EU and national level and what kind of governance we need to boost implementation.
Code: 9WS73
Format: Workshops
Moderator: Bert Kuby
Speakers: Arnoldas Abramavičius, Silvia Ganzerla, Stefano Marta, Natalia Vera, Bert Janssens, Angelika Poth-Mögele, Hans Sakkers, Enric Nomdedeu i Biosca, Annika Lindblom, Tina Delva
Thematic cluster: Territorial development (regional, urban, rural)
Organisers: European Committee of the Regions – ECON Commission , Eurocities , The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR)
Languages (To be confirmed): english (en), español (es), français (fr)
Venue: Building SQUARE – Brussels Convention Centre, Room Silver hall
Registration Deadline: 28/09/2018

ACT: Your voice on Europe’s long-term climate action
2018-10-08 - 2018-10-09
It is only a few weeks since Europe has suffered from another record breaking summer of heat waves and draughts, making climate change very real for millions of Europeans. With the Paris Agreement and the SDG’s the global community has put in place the framework to act jointly on climate change and combat its impacts. To succeed we need to act urgently but also make sure that our long-term plans means we are reaching climate neutrality for our societies.
To do so, the European Commission has published a public consultation on the 2050 long-term strategy https://ec.europa.eu/clima/consultations/strategy-long-term-eu-greenhouse-gas-emissions-reductions_en
The Commission is asking for citizens and civil society views on the future of climate ambition, but also the contribution of circular economy, agriculture and land-use. The deadline for responses is 9 October 2018 and it is important to get a strong response by civil society on the urgency to act now, and bring Europe’s ambition in line with the Paris Agreement. The EEB and partner organizations are compiling a draft response that can be provided to interested organizations. Contact via Roland.joebstl@eeb.org.

SDG Implementation in European Countries - Workshop for CSOs
2018-10-07 - 2018-10-08 | Vienna
