Meshwork

One of the neat things available at the KlimaForum (The People’s Summit) is a meshwork. As the Klimaforum meshwork information sheet states, “a meshwork is a way for people and organizations to self organize around a common framework - online and face-to-face - to locate and develop action relationships and exchange knowledge and resources to make a greater impact.” Most recently, the meshwork process was used in Brazil to develop a framework for achieving an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020. The Klimaforum Action Areas are as follows:


1. Communication of the environmental
challenge
2. A just/sustainable climate deal
3. Equity
4. Sustainable energy technology and
energy systems
5. Sustainable utilization of resources and
food
6. Sustainable agriculture, forestry and
fishery
7. Alternative economics and sustainable
development
8. Sustainable lifestyles
9. Education

In one of the KlimaForum halls, tables are set up for each of these areas and anyone who is interested is invited to sit down and contribute anything they can to the discussion. I was able to participate in the education area. Education is one of my favorite topics, and of huge importance to the future of climate change policy and results. Jessica and I spoke to the woman there about SES, and she was extremely intrigued. She was especially impressed by how involved we told her the students were in developing projects and the fact that out wind turbine project was passed down from student to student over the course of four years and was still accomplished. We recorded this and a few other concepts on post-it notes, which were added to the meshwork case study and idea board. It made us proud to be contributing to a global web of knowledge. The next day, Jessica and Tara went to the meshwork area again, and the women we had spoke to referred them to some students from a school in Denmark, with whom they were also able to exchange ideas about environmental education and the greening of schools. This meshwork was a great opportunity to meet other people that have similar interests, and hopefully the information we shared will benefit those we met.

There is also an online climate solutions meshwork that anyone can participate in. Users create a profile that lists information such as location, interest areas, and projects. When “synchronize” is clicked, the meshwork identifies other users with similar information so that users can contact each other to collaborate on ideas and projects. It’s a great program for anyone interested in, or already doing, environmental work.

http://2020.global.gaiaspace.org/global/pg/dashboard/