Global Greens

The world's first green parties were founded in 1972. These were in the Australian state of Tasmania (the United Tasmania Group) and in New Zealand (the Values Party). Others followed quickly: in 1973, PEOPLE (later the Ecology Party) was set up in the UK, and in other European countries Green and radical parties sprang up in the following years.^[3]

Petra Kelly, a German ecofeminist activist, is often cited as one of the first thinkers and leaders of the green politics movement. Her work in founding the German Green Party in West Germany in 1980 was instrumental in bringing prominence to green political parties on both the national and international stages.

The first Planetary Meeting of the Greens was held in Rio de Janeiro on May 30–31, 1992 in conjunction with the Rio Earth Summit being concurrently held in Brazil.^[4] It was here that the first ever Global Greens statement was issued, beginning with this preface:

Experience teaches us that governments are only moved to take environmental problems seriously when people vote for environmental political parties.

The first Global Greens Congress was held in Canberra, Australia, in 2001. The official Global Greens Charter was issued here, and the Congress delegates set up the framework and organizational structures that would build the Global Greens into an ongoing international network and movement, including the Global Greens Coordination. In 2010, the first Global Greens Secretary was appointed.^[3]

The Global Greens Charter is the guiding document that establishes the principles and "core values" to which member parties and associated organizations should attempt to adhere.^[6] It sets out global principles that cross boundaries to bind Greens from around the world together:

1. Participatory democracy
2. Nonviolence
3. Social justice
4. Sustainability
5. Respect for Diversity
6. Ecological wisdom

Priorities outlined in the Charter include reforming the dominant economic model to include sustainable practices, combating climate change, eradicating the hunger crisis, advancing vibrant democracy, fostering peace, protecting biodiversity and striving toward universal human rights.

The Global Greens Charter has been reviewed and updated three times during Global Greens Congresses since its original publishing in 2001: once in Dakar, Senegal in 2012; again in Liverpool in 2017; and most recently South Korea in 2023. The updated 2023 version is offered in English, and past versions can be accessed in 11 various languages.^[7]

The Global Greens are organized into four regional federations across the world:

• Asia Pacific Greens Federation
• European Green Party
• Federation of Green Parties of Africa
• Federation of the Green Parties of the Americas

The Global Greens Coordination (GGC) is the primary decision-making body of Global Greens and acts as the General Assembly of the association.^[8] The GGC consists of representatives nominated by each of the four regional federations, including up to three full representatives and three alternatives/substitutes from each federation. Specific members are selected as “lead” representatives and are to be a part of the Executive Committee–responsible for the operational management and administrative work of Global Greens between Congresses.

The Global Greens have held five Congresses since 2001 in various locations:

1. 2001 – Canberra, Australia
2. 2008 – São Paulo, Brazil
3. 2012 – Dakar, Senegal
4. 2017 – Liverpool, UK^[9]
5. 2023 – Songdo, South Korea^[10]

The Global Greens have five networks designed to enable global collaboration, communication and community among member parties and organizations:

• Climate Working Group
  • The Climate Working Group coordinates international efforts among Green parties to advance climate justice initiatives at the UNFCCC COPs.^[11]
  • It promotes ambitious legislative proposals aligned with the Paris Agreement, such as those showcased at COP summits.^[12]
  • The group also documents and shares climate-focused policy work of Green parliamentarians.
• Biodiversity Working Group
  • The Biodiversity Working Group was established following the Global Greens Congress in Korea to address issues related to the Convention on Biological Diversity. It brings together Greens globally to engage with biodiversity policy, particularly in coordination with the climate crisis.^[12]
• Strengthening Democracy Network
  • The Strengthening Democracy Network connects Green parties worldwide with the aim of supporting democratic systems, civic engagement, and the empowerment of communities.^[13]
• Global Greens Women's Network
  • This network supports the participation of Green women worldwide in democratic political processes, by focusing on:
    1. "Capacity building and empowerment: training and developing skills, such as public speaking and leadership;
    2. Governance and participation: confronting inequalities at the organizational level and exchanging best practices to tackle them and promote participation;
    3. Campaigning about major topics relevant to women: such as gender justice and climate change, and;
    4. Carrying out formal functions as part of global Greens governance: e.g. nominating women to the Asia-Pacific Greens Federation (APGF) Council."^[14]
• Global Young Greens
  • This network is a "youth-led organization supporting and uniting the efforts of young people from a green-alternative spectrum around the world. It works towards (1) ecological sustainability, (2) social justice, (3) grassroots democracy and (4) peace."^[15]

The Global Greens Coordination appointed Christine Milne AO as the first Global Greens Ambassador in 2015. Milne was appointed as Global Greens Ambassador in recognition of her considerable expertise in climate change and as an elected member of state and federal parliaments, including as Leader of the Australian Greens.

• Outline of green politics
• Conservation movement
• Direct democracy
• Environmental movement
• Grassroots democracy
• List of environmental organizations
• Participatory democracy