2023 Equator Prize: Community Dialogues and Training

Day 4 - Crafting the Community Statement

Thursday, October 5, 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM New York Time

Jamison Ervin introduced a draft of the community statement based on prior feedback. Participants reviewed the draft and discussed the ongoing impacts of climate change and the positive contributions of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. There was a strong call to empower youth in sustainable agriculture.

In breakout sessions, participants discussed their top priorities and challenges. They highlighted the need for:

• Enforcing existing environmental laws
• Improving relationships between communities and businesses
• Strengthening community roles in environmental protection

Elevator pitches for decision-makers were crafted, with emphasis on environmental challenges. Roberto Ballon highlighted the need for improved waste management and anti-pollution measures, while Miladel Samson-Capitania from KGMC (Philippines) called for greater inclusion of community-led organizations in decision-making. Natacha Moukannas from Kpanyan Community CLDMC (Liberia) stressed the importance of dynamic community collaborations for land use rights. Jamison Ervin concluded with a summary, stressing the interconnectedness of problems and the need for comprehensive calls to action.