1. This shared vision is premised in our collective knowledge. Our collective knowledge includes the know-how of our ancestors, traditional knowledge, practices of our indigenous peoples, and the science that is not responsible to vested interests and is directed at improving the safety, stability, health and well being of the Earth.

2. The shared vision is to confront climate change as the urgent priority for all humanity. Our world is going through a climate and environmental emergency. This must be recognized by all, including states. Human induced climate change is a real and present threat to the life of Mother Earth and all living beings. The shared vision is integral, it seeks to define all the elements of a successful solution to climate change, and their relationship to each other. It addresses the historical and structural causes of climate change – including the climate debts that the developed countries owe to the world’s poor and vulnerable communities  – while offering a vision in which all people are part of the solution and do not repeat the mistakes of ‘developed countries.’

3. The evidence provided by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, particularly in their fourth Assessment Report, leaves no question that the climate crisis is a product of the of development and production patterns, which are provoking a massive disruption of natural ecosystems. There are recent scientific reports that provide more alarming data on the impacts of climate change that will be caused if we do not change our lifestyles. This scientific data must be noted in international agreements and public policies aimed at addressing climate change. Similarly, drawing on our collective knowledge, we have the means to overcome the climate crisis. The traditional knowledge of indigenous cultures, the experiences of farmers and local communities will be central to finding solutions.

4. The shared vision is to stabilize greenhouse gases concentrations to give effect to Article 2 of the United Nations Framework on Convention Climate Change which states that the “stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system…”. Our vision is based on the principle of common but differentiated historical responsibilities, to demand that developed countries commit to quantified targets for reducing emissions that allow concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to return to 300 ppm and thus limiting the increase in global mean temperature to a maximum level of 1 C. Stressing the need for urgent action to achieve this vision, and with the support of the peoples, movements and countries, developed countries must commit to ambitious targets for reducing emissions to achieve short-term objectives, while sustaining our vision for balance in the Earth’s climate system, according to the ultimate objective of the Convention.

5. It is not acceptable for global temperatures to increase by more than 2 degrees as was proposed in the un-democratic “Copenhagen Accord”, or for concentrations of greenhouse gases to approach 450ppm, as was proposed by the G8. The “Copenhagen Accord” in fact threatens upwards of 3.9 degrees of global warming, it ignores historical responsibility and includes inadequate developed country commitments on mitigation, adaptation, technology and finance, and undermines the agreement of a science-based aggregate target for developed countries, binding individual targets and effective compliance. These proposals threaten the stability of the Earth’s climate system and thus risk massive and systemic disaster for Mother Earth and humans across the world. It will see food production reduced by 40% globally. Between 20% and 30% of all species will be in danger of disappearing. Large tracts of forest will be affected, droughts and floods will affect ecosystems across regions of the planet, deserts will spread and the melting of polar icecaps, and glaciers in the Andes and the Himalayas will worsen.

An increase of global temperatures to 2ºC accepts the disappearance of several small island countries. In Africa the increase of temperature will be even greater than the world average, and many of their countries will reduce their crops by up to 50%. Between 70 and 250 million additional people will have more difficulty accessing to drinking water services by 2020, and the costs of adaptation to sea level rise will reach between 5 and 10% of gross domestic product in those countries. The impacts of climate change will see millions of people forced to leave their homes and migrate to new towns, cities and countries.

With an increase of 2ºC rise in temperature there is a 50% possibility that the damage caused to the Earth system will be completely irreversible. Those who promote this goal must be held responsible for the consequences.

6. The shared vision is a world in which all people “live well” in harmony with Mother Earth and other human beings. This vision rejects the capitalist model of life and development that is premised on the supremacy of human beings over nature and the compulsive accumulation of material possessions by human beings. It is this system, the underlying structural root cause of climate change, that has seen developed countries pollute the atmosphere and cause climate change, giving rise to their historical responsibility and climate debts. Thus the shared vision is of a world where all countries and people meet their differentiated responsibilities and in which we enhance the well being of all peoples and maintain the stability, integrity and health of our home – Mother Earth.

7.The shared vision of “living well” is of societies that respect the principles of interdependency and responsibility and therefore practice reciprocity, complementarity, solidarity, equity and live in harmony with Mother Earth and each other. It is a global society of peoples and social movements, who stand in solidarity to change the system that is putting the planet in peril. This change will come from revaluing traditional knowledge that respects nature in all parts of the planet. The survival and the right to live in harmony and balance with Mother Earth is the primary objective of all nations and peoples, as it ensures equity for present and future generations.

8. The colonization of atmospheric space by developed countries, causing climate change and its impacts, are affecting and paralyzing people’s right to “live well” and in harmony with nature. The perpetrators of this crime must assume their moral and legal responsibilities and must urgently reduce greenhouse gases emissions within their countries without using carbon markets. These reductions will allow the peoples of developed countries to ‘live well’, and to improve their lives in harmony with nature.

 9. The shared vision is of a massive and global-scale mobilization of peoples, movements and knowledge to address climate change. To be effective, this vision is of specific and measurable goals to be achieved, including the following:

a)     The equitable and fair distribution of the Earth’s atmosphere, reversing the historical concentration of the right to the atmosphere in the hands of a few. This colonization of the sky has privileged their economies and development while the majority of the world’s population remains in poverty. Hence there will be the decolonization of the atmospheric space by developed countries and their elites, in order to recognize and honour their climate debts.

b)    The deepest possible reduction of GHG emissions from domestic sources by developed countries.

c)     There will be quantified changes to the unsustainable patterns of consumption and production. This will involve capacity building for developed countries to enable them to reduce their high per-person greenhouse gas emissions, to live in harmony with nature and to reduce their climate and ecological debts to developing countries and Mother Earth.

d)    The promotion and sharing of knowledge and know-how held by our ancestors respecting Mother Earth, and not to be the object of intellectual property laws.

e)     The international legal recognition of the rights of Mother Earth.

f)     Provision of financial resources by developed countries to developing countries amounting to at least 6% of the value of GNP of developed countries, for adaptation, technology transfer, capacity building and mitigation

g)    Provisions by developed countries of means of implementation to developing countries to facilitate adequate adaptation to climate change, to meet the costs of its adverse effects and to repay adaptation debts including through the provision of financial resources by developed countries equivalent to at least 3% of their GNP;

h)      The transfer of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries and enhancement of their endogenous capacities and technologies including through the provision of financial resources by developed countries equivalent to at least 1% of their GNP;

i)      Capacity building to enable the upgrading of developing countries institutional capacities to address climate change and its adverse effects including through the provision of financial resources by developed countries equivalent to at least 1% of their GNP;

j)      Measures by developing countries to mitigate climate change, including nationally appropriate mitigation actions supported and enabled by developed countries including through the provision of financial resources by developed countries equivalent to at least 1% of their GNP

k)     The identification and removal of all barriers to access the solidarity transfer of technologies without cost, including the exclusion of patents on climate related technologies to all countries.

10. The shared vision rejects false solutions such as nuclear power, genetic engineering, geo-engineering, biofuels and mega-dams that further threaten Mother Earth and our vision to live in harmony with nature and other people. Like these dangerous technologies, the carbon market is not a solution. Carbon market mechanisms only concentrate more wealth and power in the hands of transnational corporations, those most responsible for climate change.

11. The shared vision of a common future is based on the goals and principles set out here, in the context of an effort that addresses the structural causes of climate change. One in which the benefits of the Earth’s atmosphere and climate system are shared fairly. One in which the means to “live well” – including ecologically and socially sound technologies, financial resources and capacities based in our collective knowledge – are shared among all peoples. A vision in which we build and share a new model of life and development that is premised on recognizing and defending the rights of Mother Earth and the rights of every living being.

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