Global Greens Explained

Global Greens
Abbreviation:	GG
Type:	International non-governmental organization
Status:	Association
Purpose:	World network of green political parties and organizations
Headquarters:	Rue Wiertz 31, 1050 Brussels, Belgium^[1]
Region Served:	Worldwide
Membership:	87 political parties and 9 organizations^[2]
Leader Title:	Convenors
Leader Name:	Bob Hale and Gloria Polanco
Main Organ:	Global Greens Congress
Subsidiaries:	Global Young Greens

The Global Greens (GG) is an international network of political parties and movements which work to implement the Global Greens Charter. It consists of various national green political parties, partner networks, and other organizations associated with green politics.

Formed in 2001 at the First Global Greens Congress, the network has grown to include 76 full member parties and 11 observers and associate parties as of May 2022, so a total of 87 members.^[2] It is governed by a 12-member steering committee called the Global Greens Coordination, and each member party falls under the umbrella of one of four affiliated regional green federations. The day-to-day operations of the Global Greens are managed by the Secretariat, led by Global Greens Convenors Bob Hale and Gloria Polanco since 2020.

History

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."^[5]

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]

Global Greens Charter

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, tackling climate change, ending the hunger crisis, promoting vibrant democracy, working for peace, protecting biodiversity.

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

Regional Federations of the Global Greens

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
• Federation of Green Parties of Oceania

Global Greens Coordination

The Global Greens has a 12-member steering committee called the Global Greens Coordination.^[8] The makeup of this committee stems from three elected members from each of the four regional federations, supported by three alternates who can stand in when needed.

Global Greens Congress

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

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

The Global Greens strives to achieve regional diversity and representation, encouraging Congress locations to represent the wide geographical spread of the organization's member parties and organizations. The latest Global Greens Congress was held in 2023 and was hosted by the Green Party Korea.^[11]

Networks

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

• Friends of Global Greens
  • This network is composed of Green parties, parliamentarians and activists who make recurring donations of any amount to the Global Greens.^[12]
• Global Greens LGBT+ Network
  • This network aims to:
    1. "Support LGBT+ groups within Green Parties around the world to work together and support each other;
    2. Support Green Parties looking to set up LGBT+ groups, and;
    3. Promote LGBT+ equality as outlined in the Global Greens Charter."^[13]
• Global Greens Parliamentarians Network
  • This network is composed of Green Members of Parliament from Global Greens member parties and works to fulfil the following objectives:
    1. "To be active, in a coordinated manner, in our parliaments on issues of identified global concern, in order to influence the governments of our countries, and the public whom we represent, to the goals specifically identified by the Global Greens;
    2. To develop a mutually-reinforcing and mutually-supportive network of MPs, as individuals, to help us each to become most effective in our parliamentary action, and realise our potential as movers of positive global change, and;
    3. To achieve positive change for Green goals at the global and regional levels through the strengthening of international institutions, including more parliamentarian representation and decision-making influence in those bodies."^[14]
• 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."^[15]
• 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."^[16]

Global Greens Ambassadors

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.

Member parties

Member parties in the Americas

Affiliated members in North, Central and South America form the Federation of the Green Parties of the Americas.^[17]

Country	Name	National/Federal Government	State/Municipal Government	Notes
	Partido Verde	Extraparliamentary opposition	In opposition in Tierra del Fuego
	Partido Verde de Bolivia
	Partido Verde	Junior party in coalition	The party is represented in several state legislatures.	in coalition 2003–2008
	Green Party of Canada/Parti vert du Canada	Non-official party House of Commons: (2).	Provincial: British Columbia (2 members), New Brunswick (3), Ontario (2), Prince Edward Island (2). Municipal: Vancouver City Council (2).
	Partido Ecologista Verde de Chile	in opposition	Two seats on regional boards.	One seat in the Chamber of Deputies.
	Alianza Verde	Junior party in coalition	Claudia López Hernández, a green, is mayor of Bogota. The party also has 3 regional governors and several mayors.
	Partido Ecologista Verde de México	Supporting coalition	Represented in several regional parliaments	The party is criticized for its alleged corruption.^[18]
	Partido Verde Peru
	Green Party of the United States	Extraparliamentary opposition	The party has representation on the Portland, Maine and Madison city councils, and several smaller ones.	The party was formerly represented in the Arkansas, California, Maryland, New Jersey, and Maine state legislatures, as well as the Minneapolis and Laredo city councils.^[19]
	Movimiento Ecológico de Venezuela	Extraparliamentary opposition

Member parties in Asia and Oceania

Affiliated members in Asia, Pacific and Oceania form the Asia Pacific Greens Federation.^[20]

Country	Name	National/Federal Government	State/Municipal Government	Notes
		In opposition (crossbench)	In coalition government in A.C.T., represented in all states and territory Parliaments aside from NT Represented in numerous local/city governments	Formerly in coalition in Tasmania from 2010–14
		Extraparliamentary opposition	unknown
	India Greens Party	Extraparliamentary opposition
	Uttarakhand Parivartan Party (UKPP)	Extraparliamentary opposition
		Extraparliamentary opposition
		Extraparliamentary opposition
		Extraparliamentary opposition	unknown
		Extraparliamentary opposition
		Extraparliamentary opposition
		Extraparliamentary opposition
	Hariyo Party	Extraparliamentary opposition
		In opposition	The party endorsed the current mayor of Wellington Tory Whanau, and is represented on local councils in its own right in Wellington, Dunedin, and Palmerston North, and in Auckland through the City Vision joint ticket.	Formerly in coalition/Cooperation agreement/Confidence and supply in New Zealand from 1999–2002, 2005-2008, 2017-2023
		unknown	unknown
		Extraparliamentary opposition	Represented in Hsinchu County^[21]
		Extraparliamentary opposition

Member parties in Africa

Affiliated parties in Africa form the Federation of Green Parties of Africa.

Country	Name	National/Federal Government	State/Municipal Government	Notes
		unknown	unknown
		Extraparliamentary Opposition
		unknown
		Extraparliamentary Opposition		Represented in parliament 2006–11
		unknown
		Extraparliamentary opposition
		unknown
		Extraparliamentary opposition		In coalition 2005–10.
		unknown
		Extraparliamentary opposition	Extraparliamentary opposition
		unknown	unknown
		In opposition
		Extraparliamentary opposition		Represented in parliament between 2007 and 2012
		unknown
		Extraparliamentary opposition
		unknown

Member parties in Europe

Affiliated members in Europe form the European Green Party.

Country	Name	National/Federal Government	State/Municipal Government	European Parliament	Notes
		Extraparliamentary opposition	in opposition 34 local councillors, 8 in urban municipalities and 26 in rural municipalities^[22]	Not an EU member
		Extraparliamentary opposition	The party hasn't participated in recent local elections	Not an EU member
		Junior party in coalition		In opposition
		Junior party in coalition		In opposition	Form one Parliamentary group in the Federal Parliament
		Junior party in coalition		In opposition
		Extraparliamentary opposition	unknown	Extraparliamentary opposition
		In opposition		Extraparliamentary opposition
		Extraparliamentary opposition		Extraparliamentary opposition	In coalition 2006–10
		Extraparliamentary opposition	2 local government seats out of the nationwide 1717, both in Antsla.	Extraparliamentary opposition
		In opposition		In opposition	In coalition 1995–2003, 2007–2014, 2019-2023
		In opposition	Senior coalition partner in Grenoble, Lyon, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Marseille and Besançon. Also in coalition in Occitanie, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Centre-Val de Loire and Paris, Nantes, Rennes.	In opposition	In coalition 1997–2002, 2012–14, represented in parliament 1997-2017
		unknown	unknown	Not an EU member
		Junior party in coalition	Senior coalition partner in the Landtag of Baden-Württemberg, also junior coalition party in 10 of 16 states. Senior coalition partner in the cities of Stuttgart, Darmstadt, Freiburg im Breisgau and Heidelberg	in opposition	in coalition 1998–2005
		Extraparliamentary opposition	Represented in 4/13 Regional Councils	Extraparliamentary opposition
		In opposition	54 seats in local city councils	In opposition
(NI)		Junior party in coalition	44 councillors in ROI local government, 7 in NI local government	2 MEPs	In coalition in ROI 2007–2011, 2020–present
		In opposition		Extraparliamentary opposition
		Extraparliamentary opposition	The party has 3 members in the Landtag of South Tyrol.	Extraparliamentary opposition	Part of the Federazione dei Verdi before 2013
		In opposition		In opposition
		Extraparliamentary opposition		Extraparliamentary opposition
		unknown	unknown	Not an EU member
		Extraparliamentary opposition	1 of 26 seats in the water board of Amstel, Gooi en Vecht	Extraparliamentary opposition
		In opposition	Senior coalition partner in North Holland, Groningen and Utrecht; junior partner in five other provinces. It is represented in most municipalities, it has the largest group of councillors in Nijmegen, Utrecht, Groningen and Amsterdam and is the senior government party there. It has 9 of 316 mayors,^[23] including Femke Halsema of Amsterdam.	in opposition
		Junior party in coalition	unknown	Not an EU member
		In opposition	In coalition in Oslo and Trondheim, represented in other big cities	in opposition
		Junior party in coalition		Extraparliamentary opposition
		Extraparliamentary opposition	in coalition in some municipalities (with Portuguese Communist Party)	Extraparliamentary opposition
		Extraparliamentary opposition	2 mayor, 5 deputy-mayor, 117 local council member	Extraparliamentary opposition
		unknown	unknown	Not an EU member
		Cooperation agreement, with two ministers outside of cabinet	The party has 35 councillors across Scotland most notably 10 in Edinburgh and 10 in Glasgow	Not an EU member
		Extraparliamentary opposition	unknown	Extraparliamentary opposition	Represented in parliament between 1990 and 2002
		Extraparliamentary opposition		Extraparliamentary opposition
				In opposition
		In opposition	Represented in 168 of 290 municipalities, especially those in urban areas.	In opposition
		In opposition	Junior party in coalition cabinet in 7 cantons. Also in coalition in Bern, Geneva, Zurich, or Basel-City.	Not an EU member
		Extraparliamentary opposition	unknown	Not an EU member	The party works inside HDP
		Extraparliamentary opposition	unknown	Not an EU member
(England and Wales)		The party is represented in parliament by four MPs and two life peers		Not an EU member	The party dominated the Brighton and Hove City Council between 2011 and 2015.

Observers and associate member parties

Country	Name	Government	Notes
		Extraparliamentary Opposition
			Represented at the local level
		Parliamentary support	In coalition 2011–14
		Extraparliamentary Opposition
		unknown
		Extraparliamentary Opposition
		unknown
		Extraparliamentary Opposition
		Junior party in coalition
		Extraparliamentary Opposition

See also

• Biodiversity
• Climate change
• Conservation movement
• Direct democracy
• Earth science
• Ecology
• Ecosystem
• Environmental movement
• Grassroots democracy
• List of environmental organizations
• Natural environment
• Nature
• Nature conservation
• Participatory democracy
• Sustainability

Notes and References

1. Web site: Global Greens Secretariat established in Brussels, Europe. 25 March 2013. globalgreens.org. 15 October 2016. 22 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171222105206/https://www.globalgreens.org/news/global-greens-secretariat-established-brussels-europe-0. dead.
2. Web site: Green Parties around the world | Global Greens. 2014-10-15. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141020090008/http://www.globalgreens.org/parties. 2014-10-20.
3. Web site: WHO WE ARE. 2011-04-20. Global Greens. en. 2019-02-12. 2019-07-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20190707194906/https://www.globalgreens.org/who-we-are. dead.
4. Web site: Global Green Party History Chronology - 1992. 2008-08-02. Global Greens. en. 2019-02-12. 2019-07-14. https://web.archive.org/web/20190714182242/https://www.globalgreens.org/history/chronology/1992. dead.
5. Web site: Final Statement of the First Planetary Meeting of Greens in Rio de Janeiro, 31 May 1992. 1992-05-31. Global Greens. en. 2019-02-12. 2019-04-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20190429043953/https://www.globalgreens.org/statements/planetary-greens-rio-1992. dead.
6. Web site: Global Greens Charter. 15 December 2007. globalgreens.org. 15 October 2016. 14 May 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080514172856/http://www.globalgreens.org/globalcharter. dead.
7. Web site: Global Greens Charter. 2007-12-15. Global Greens. en. 2019-02-12. 2019-10-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20191023094707/https://www.globalgreens.org/globalcharter. dead.
8. Web site: Global Greens Coordination. 2009-05-28. Global Greens. en. 2019-02-12.
9. Web site: Previous congresses. 2016-10-10. Global Greens. en. 2019-02-12. 2019-02-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20190213005900/https://www.globalgreens.org/previous-congresses. dead.
10. https://globalgreens.org/korea-2023/ Global Greens website, Korea 2023
11. Web site: Korea 2022. 2021-05-31. Global Greens. en-US.
12. Web site: Friends of the Global Greens (FRoGG). 2014-02-06. Global Greens. en. 2019-02-12.
13. Web site: Global Greens LGBT+ Network. Global Greens LGBT+ Network. en-GB. 2019-02-12.
14. Web site: Parliamentarians Association (GGPA). 2016-01-29. Global Greens. en. 2019-02-12.
15. Web site: Women's Network (GGWN). 2016-01-29. Global Greens. en. 2019-02-12.
16. Web site: Global Young Greens (GYG). 2016-01-29. Global Greens. en. 2019-02-12.
17. Web site: GG Member . 2024-01-07 . Global Greens . en-US.
18. Tim Johnson, For Mexico's Ecologist Green Party, 'green' mostly means money, not environment, McClatchy Newspapers (June 18, 2012).
19. Web site: Greens in Office . 2022-04-29 . GPUS Elections Database . en-US.
20. Web site: 2013-09-12. Members of APGF. 2020-09-25. Asia Pacific Greens. en.
21. Web site: 18年來首次！綠黨攻下兩席市議員 – 政治 – 自由時報電子報. ltn.com.tw. 30 November 2014. 15 October 2016.
22. Web site: Partia e Gjelbër është e përfaqësuar me këshilltarë lokal në 8 Bashki dhe 26 Komuna . 2012-11-04 . dead . https://archive.today/20130114173414/http://pgj.al/index.php/component/content/article/84 . 2013-01-14 .
23. Web site: Landelijk overzicht burgemeestersposten (Kroonbenoemde burgemeesters). nl. May 4, 2022. Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations.