Active civil society and action for environmental advocacy is of vital importance not only close to the centres of power and decision-making such as state capitals but also in the regions. For this reason, Green Liberty and EuropeDirect South Latgale Centre organised multiple events as part of the Environmental Days of Daugavpils/Līvāni and the Year for Environmental Advocacy in Latvia.
Two seminars for young people and one seminar for educators and local activists were organised, where participants could learn about the existing opportunities of civil engagement and public participation in the decisions made by municipalities and the government of Latvia. They also heard the summary of experiences of environmental organisations on how to influence expenditure of public finances and EU funds in a climate, environment and biodiversity-friendly direction.
Together with their peers they actively discussed how decisions can be positively influenced in their local municipality and community to be more in line with the needs of the society and friendlier towards environment. Many useful ideas were generated which will be combined with the outcomes of other events held during the Year for Environmental Advocacy in Latvia and then presented to regional, national and EU level decision makers.
Speaker in the seminars for young people:
- Valters Kinna, biodiversity campaigner at Green Liberty/Bankwatch – opportunities and NGO experience in public participation and protection of environmental interests in Latvia
Speakers in the seminar for educators and local activists:
- Valters Kinna, Biodiversity campaigner at NGO Green Liberty/Bankwatch – opportunities and NGO experience in public participation and protection of environmental interests in Latvia
- Inga Belousa, NGO ‘Cita Daugavpils’/Green Liberty – activism and chance of positive influences on decision makers in the local communities of Daugavpils
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The events were co-funded by the European Union and the European Climate Initiative (EUKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).
