GEN at COP23

The Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) is a growing network of regenerative communities and initiatives. GEN builds bridges between policy-makers, governments, NGOs, academics, entrepreneurs, activists, community networks and ecologically-minded individuals across the globe in order to develop strategies for a global transition to resilient communities and cultures.

Ecovillages are consciously designed through locally owned, participatory processes in all four dimensions of sustainability (social, culture, ecology and economy) to regenerate their social and natural environments. Ecovillages are living laboratories pioneering beautiful alternatives and innovative solutions that enable villages, regions and nation states to fulfill the promise of the SDGs, the Paris Climate Agreement, and the outcomes of COP23.

Research on ecovillage impact agrees. The EU-funded TRANSIT research project identified ecovillages as key sources of the social innovation necessary for transitions to sustainability. And the TESS research project concluded that if only five percent of the EU were to engage in effective community-led climate change adaptation initiatives, carbon savings would be sufficient for 85% of it’s countries to achieve their 2020 emission reduction targets.TESS also showed that 63% of the surveyed community-based initiatives have been replicated elsewhere. The potential to scale community-led regeneration is high!

Ecovillage Programmes

Learning from the positive impact ecovillages have, GEN is committed to catalyzing the power of communities for a regenerative world. On the one hand, GEN celebrates existing ecovillages as demonstrations sites of replicable and transferable social innovations.

On the other hand, GEN helps to spread community-led approaches through our five ecovillage programmes. These programmes create wealth and employment opportunities, halt and reverse environmental degradation, sequester carbon and provide communities with the knowledge, skills and tools to guarantee a healthy future.

Learn more about our programmes:

Ecovillage Incubation: supporting the creation of new intentional ecovillages
Ecovillage Development transitioning existing settlements to regenerative settlements/ecovillages
Urban Eco-neighbourhoods: establishing ecovillages within and around urban areas
Greening Schools for Sustainable Communities establishing green schools as hubs of inspiration for whole community transformation
EmerGENcies regenerating sustainable communities after emergencies or crises

Call to Action!

Upgrading Voluntary National Commitments to Achieve the Paris Climate Agreement

GEN is calling on all people, stakeholder groups, and governments to join us in developing full plans to cooperatively implement these recommendations on Regenerative Development for drawing down greenhouse gasses, while putting communities at the center of development. Likewise we commit ourselves to focus on achieving the following objectives and encourage all others to do so as well. For more information on our commitments and strategies for Greenhouse Gas Drawdown, see here.

Pledge your commitment and contribution to upgrading Voluntary National Commitments today!

Read and Sign

Side Events

SDGs: Heritage, Green Technology, Collaboration & Ecovillage Solutions for Peace & Prosperity

Date: 8 November 2017
Language:
Location: Meeting Room 10, Bonn zone, COP23 Conference Centre, Germany

An innovative array of proven and inspiring regenerative solutions addressing the challenges created by climate change, implementing the Paris Agreement and the SDGs, while fostering resilient communities with social, cultural, environmental and economic sustainability principles. … Read more

Developing Ecovillages for Regeneration and Climate Action

Date: 6 November 2017
Language:
Location: Meeting Room 10, Bonn zone, COP23 Conference Centre, Germany

This session draws on how ecovillages provide a plethora of ways to reverse climate change and ensure regenerative development. The panel of speakers will showcase a range of regenerative design solutions from around the world illustrating how ecovillages in Asia, Africa, and Latin America can be a source of inspiration and provide new opportunities for Europe on climate action. … Read more

Achieving the Paris Agreement

Date: 11 November 2017
Language:
Location: Conference Room at the Haus der evangelischen Kirche (House of the Evangelical Church) Adenauerallee 37, 53113 Bonn, Germany, Germany

This symposium on regenerative practices is being organized by a partnership of organizations including the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN), Open Team, the International National Trusts Organisation (INTO), the Nordic Folkecenter for Renewable Energy and Zero Carbon Britain. This event will feature keynote presentations by Bronson Griscom, Director of Forest Carbon Science for The Nature Conservancy and Joachim Schemel, Deputy Head of Division, Climate and Environmental Policy Sustainable … Read more