Walking Forest at SB60 UN Climate Change Meetings in Bonn

Leia Booth writes on Walking Forest’s experience at SB 60 Bonn, June 3rd – 13th 2024 

During the dawning weeks of summer in early June, Ruth boarded the Eurostar to Bonn, Germany to attend the 60th Sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB 60) held under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), also known as the Bonn Climate Change Change Conference (June 3rd – 13th). 

The conference takes place in Bonn annually, where during the two weeks of technical and scientific negotiations, delegates from around the world gather at the UN World Conference Center to prepare for the United Nations’ main climate change conference – the COP. SB 60 acted as the crucial midpoint between the 28th COP in Dubai, UAE last year and COP 29 in Baku, Azerbaijan happening this November. This year Walking Forest was among the ~6,000 civil society organisers, NGOS and country and national representatives, and youth activists following the SB 60 agenda. 

Co-ordinated by Leia Booth, Walking Forest held two grounding and restorative workshops at the Bonn Climate Camp, a first-of-its-kind community and civil society organising space. The camp offered a place to connect and recharge, to discuss negotiations, share perspectives, and uplift and amplify marginalised voices – as well as provide a hub for people to share conversation and a hot meal every evening. Down by the river Rhine the climate movement came together. As part of the day-long programming at the camp, Walking Forest workshops were held to centre stories of activism, hold space for deep listening, and creating a calm and gentle spot to join in sewing of the Honouring Cloth (a co-created tapestry inspired by the other-than-human which began in Bonn during last years SB 58).

On Friday 7th June, we gathered under the Ash trees where we heard from five women who told us of their connection with the trees they know and cherish and shared their stories of activism in ‘standing up’, with, as, and on behalf of the Earth. On Sunday 9th June (a formally designated rest day of the conference), we returned to the Bonn Climate Camp in the glorious sunshine. In the heart of the space we created a shaded spot to gather, where we heard laughter and exchanged stories of the simple and tiny yet important acts we make everyday in our commitment to furthering climate justice.

Throughout the conference, seeds from the Monterey Pine sapling in the Suffragette Arboretum were gifted to negotiators, activists, and earth defenders to honour and witness their work and activism in the fight for climate justice. Outside the convention centre the #endgenocide protest organised by the Polluters Out campaign took place demanding leaders to defund genocide and kick big polluters out. Voices were united in calling for justice and freedom for oppressed peoples around the world: Free Palestine, Free Sudan and Free Congo. Walking Forest witnessed the passion of authority of Alumnae seed-giftee Tasneem Essop of Climate Action Network-International (CAN) linking war, colonialism, and climate crimes. 

We were humbled to seed gift our suffragette seed to Fridays for Future environmental youth activist Greta Thunberg and climate and Fridays For Future MAPA human rights activist Maria Reyes from Mexico. It was an honour to reconnect with Maria having first met her during SB 58 at the Global South Youth Regranters Network Retreat, hosted by Climate Justice – Just Transition Collaborative and facilitated by Walking Forest. 

During a side event on the rights of nature, Ruth met and shared a heartfelt connection with Great-Grandmother Mary Lyons, Ojibwe Elder, spiritual advisor, storyteller and wisdom keeper and Claire Charlo, representative of Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN), who received a seed in honour of the Indigenous knowledge she protects and shares.

We also gifted to dear friend and ally Alison Tickell, both Al and Julie’s Bicycle are long-time champions of Walking Forest as part of their initiative Season For Change. Ruth gifted in recognition of the incredible work they are doing around creative and culture-based climate action at COP and to Samuel Rubin of the Entertainment + Culture Pavilion to honour their work amplifying and connecting storytelling and culture within the UNFCCC.

All of the collected stories will be fed into the creation of an Intentional Woodland in 2028, a climate action living artwork, to honour global woman Earth Defenders.

Blog written by Leia Booth