EDD 2007

In November 2007, the second edition of the European Development Days took place in Lisbon, Portugal. The focus was on climate change and development ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali, Indonesia. Climate change in particular is a truly global and borderless issue, which is why facilitating debates and exchanges are vital to charting the way ahead. Coming together at a forum such as the European Development Days, multilateral organisations, states, experts, NGOs, journalists, and citizens can truly begin to foster positive change.

Though high-level participation was diminished somewhat due the EU-Africa Summit scheduled just three weeks later, UN leaders involved in climate change issues were present, including Yvo de Boer (UNFCC) and Kermal Dervis (UNDP), as well as global figures such as Kofin Annan, President of the Global Humanitarian Forum.

For this second edition of the European Development Days, the programme was the result of a truly participatory process. The European Commission, in consultation with the Portuguese Presidency, organised six High Level Panels and four special addresses, while stakeholders proposed and organised some 27 workshops and seminars.

In terms of notable moments and personages, Kofi Annan delivered a landmark special address and the Cuban Vice Minister of Foreign affairs, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, delivered a controversial adress before the closing ceremony, ahead of the re-opening of the European Commission Delegation to Cuba which would take place just a few months later.

In the true spirt of the forum, the European Development Days demonstrated the European Commission’s commitment to continue taking the lead in the fight against climate change. With an innovative carbon offset initiative in place, the European Commission paid financial compensation for emissions linked to the forum and ensured that participants could monitor their own emissions thanks to a partnership with the Action Carbon programme.

Dates:

7-9 November 2007 (3 days)

Turnout:

3 000 delegates

Highlights:

• Commissioner Louis Michel launched the Global Climate Change Alliance.

• Commissioner Louis Michel suggested the idea of a global loan to finance

climate adaptation.

• Presentation of the first Coherence Report.

• The forum was 10 % carbon offset on the basis of voluntary contributions.

• There were 90 exhibitors in the Development Village.