We dreamed it and made it happen. Thanks to the financial support of the Energy Power Alliance of which the following are part Journalists for the Planet, Emerger, Transforma, Artyc y Movilizatorio, Casa Pa’ Voz blossomed as a space where collective action and citizen power could became together to connect causes that promote socio-environmental justice on a global level. It was a diverse oasis and a reference in the heart of the Green Zone dedicated to relaxation, meeting and dreaming the future.
Casa Pa’ Voz was born in response to the need to create an accessible and representative space in the context of COP16, an international event marked by economic barriers and a technical language that hinders inclusive participation. In this scenario, Casa Pa’ Voz became a meeting point to amplify stories, foster collaboration between movements and articulate the voices of indigenous peoples, local communities and afro leadership. A place where we were able to build bridges between actors and decision makers, strengthening the struggle for environmental justice from a diverse and collective perspective.
During the two weeks of COP16 we had 75 events attended by more than 3,000 people, in addition to the thousands of others who came by the house to relax, connect, see the exhibits, and enjoy the COP16.to have a coffee or just to get to know the space. In addition, 30 events were held for organizations that could not afford them and were made possible thanks to the support of partner organizations that joined our dream.
Through the Métele Pedal project we joined with bicycle organizations and activists for sustainable mobility, biodiversity conservation and energy transition in Colombia. We had different activities such as:
Pre Borondo, a space for creation and environmental awareness made with KEF Ecofeminist Community.
Borondo por las Aves y Las
Mariposas, a bike mobilization in conjunction with citizens and various allies.
Bici Travesía: From Bogota to Cali promoting cycling with Arte-Mot, for visibility and commitment to active mobility.
The A Seat At The Table project accompanied the Indigenous Women’s Network for the Defense of the Sea, who participated in six panels during the summit. These addressed issues such as the governance of the seas, the conservation of biodiversity from the native cosmovision, the fulfillment of the 30×30 goal and the guarantee of rights for native peoples and women. In addition, its participation was highlighted in more than 18 local, national and international media outlets.
mETamorphosis positioned itself as a catalyst in the promotion of the energy transition in Colombia and the region, and brought together ambassadors, decision makers, activists, academics and artists to talk about a transition that includes people and communities.
The Guardians of Tomorrow demonstrated that art, peaceful demonstrations and the exchange of their voice and wisdom are powerful tools for effective advocacy in various spaces of debate and decision-making. An example of this was the event “From the forests to the coasts,” in which around 40 environmental leaders from indigenous, Afro-descendant and local communities shared experiences, established connections and strengthened solidarity among their causes.
The youth leaders of Incidir para Existir, with a delegation of 10 young people from Bogota and Cali, came together to raise their voices in defense of those who risk their lives to protect nature. They shared experiences of people threatened for their activism and expressed their demands to decision makers. In addition, socio-environmental leader Yuvelis Morales shared her trajectory and the dangers she has faced in her struggle to defend her territory from fracking and hydrocarbon exploitation.
20 grassroots organizations formed Rumbo Verde. The defense of their territories and the ecosystem, waste management, responsible fishing, eco-design and ecological restoration are some of the causes that bring them together. These organizations received training in diplomacy and, as a result, developed environmental impact indicators aligned with the goals of the 2030 Agenda, agreed in Kunming-Montreal.
Thirteen Creators of TikTok Tomorrow were selected to attend COP16 where they participated in a panel at Casa Pa’ Voz organized by the United Nations Environment Programme, Makesense and TikTok. They also attended parliamentary discussions and interviews with diplomats, international delegates and ministers in the Blue Zone. The use of digital platforms to give digital visibility to environmental issues is indisputable.
We intervened the street in Cali with the Inside Out Project, portraying more than 250 faces of people whose work is a daily struggle for socio-environmental justice.
We were on two panels in the Green Zone: “Defending the traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples and local communities in biodiversity protection”, with the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities, and “Safeguarding land rights and biodiversity for a just energy transition”, with 350.
The indigenous communities of Cauca made an audiovisual presentation accompanied by a musical performance and a stand of entrepreneurship to raise awareness about the importance of preserving the living spaces of the territories of Jambaló and Caloto. This activity was led by the Huellas youth collective.
The discussion “Enhancing synergies between the climate and biodiversity agendas: from COP16 in Cali to COP30 in Belém”, organized by Transforma, addressed the context of these negotiations and the link between climate change and biodiversity talks. It also highlighted the challenges and advances in these topics and explored the possibility of connecting these agendas with the third convention that will focus on desertification to promote a more integrated and effective approach to global environmental challenges.
Art took over Casa Pa’ Voz to show how the care of biodiversity is intertwined with artistic expression, inviting reflection and action in defense of nature through art exhibitions such as “Chagra: a crop of stories”, an exhibition of the projects of the network of visual and community storytellers of Baudó Agencia Pública, and “Peace with Nature”, an exhibition of environmental activism posters organized by the Alianza Potencia Energética Latinoamericana (Latin American Energy Power Alliance). Many musical and dance expressions by local collectives and groups also passed through the house.
The re-signification of the Hotel Menéndez, an architectural landmark in Cali, was key to attracting hundreds of visitors. This emblematic space was transformed into a refuge where solidarity, collectivity and care were palpable in every corner. It fills us with satisfaction to know that the Hotel Menéndez will host the Cali Book Fair, consolidating itself not only as a cultural meeting point, but also as an emblem of the city’s identity and heritage.
Our participation extended beyond Casa Pa’ Voz, as we had an active presence in various advocacy scenarios:
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- Cali City Council. We participated in the construction and approval of the draft agreement for the energy transition of this city. This positions Cali as the first municipality in the country with specific guidelines to promote clean energy and sets a precedent for other cities in Colombia.
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- From El Avispero, in partnership with the Extituto, we held the event Congreso a la Calle, in which we invited congressmen to sit down with citizens to talk about the climate bills they will present. From this meeting, citizens had the opportunity to comment and participate in the co-construction of public policies.
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- COPversatory. We were able to convene more than 50 national personalities to discuss the importance of sustainable mobility for the conservation of urban biodiversity. Among the attendees were different secretaries of mobility, the manager of the Medellin metro, representatives of academia and cycling groups.
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- In the Youth Lab with young people from CAF, Life of Pachamama, ACDI/ VOCA and Clima Lab projects, we put on the table questions and demands about the right to life of socio-environmental leaders.
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- We participated in the panel on the “Dialogue of knowledge from the school: comprehensive training for the protection of nature”, whose objective was to make visible the role of education in the formation of citizens committed to the environment, to recognize the dialogue of diverse knowledge to conserve biodiversity, and to promote an educational policy that transforms the relationship between human beings and nature.
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- Indigenous and local communities, with the support of Guardians of Tomorrow, achieved the creation of a permanent space in the Convention on Biological Diversity, including the Article 8J Subsidiary Body, recognizing their key role in the protection of ecosystems.
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- We spoke on the panel “The role of art and culture in the fight against climate change” where we shared experiences on how we have used these elements as catalysts for collective action.
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- The Chileans of Artyc Studio, members of the Energy Power Alliance, made a summary of the COP16 in the Matinal de la Naturaleza with their puppets. Find out here!
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- In Conversando con Voz, with Cathy Juvinao, various youth organizations presented their agendas and concerns on issues such as road safety, decarbonization, gender approach in sustainable mobility, decent work for youth and achievement of the differential rate for students in Cali. The objective is to have an impact in the legislative arena hand in hand with the congresswoman.
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- The Energy Power Alliance launched a successful digital campaign that collected more than 15,000 signatures in support of a letter addressed to Presidents Gustavo Petro and Lula Da Silva. This initiative made an urgent call to:
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- Halt deforestation and environmental degradation.
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- Reduce dependence on fossil fuels, moving towards a future based on renewable energies.
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- Restore ecosystems with full respect for the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities.
- The Energy Power Alliance launched a successful digital campaign that collected more than 15,000 signatures in support of a letter addressed to Presidents Gustavo Petro and Lula Da Silva. This initiative made an urgent call to:
COP16: Why is it important to work with people to care for biodiversity?
The Indigenous Women’s Network for the Defense of the Sea arrives at COP 16
Digital Platforms in the reduction of environmental contamination
Family that traveled through South America by bicycle arrived in Cali to experience the Borondo of COP16
Casa Pa’ Voz: A space for culture
The success of the work carried out at COP16 was the result of the collaboration and synergy of the Movilizatorio team, both in Cali and Bogota. Beyond the strategic and operational aspects, this joint effort allowed us to position Casa Pa’ Voz as a reference space in the Green Zone, dedicated to meeting, dialogue and exchange of knowledge.
In turn, all of our participating projects Guardianes del Mañana, A Seat at the Table, Incidir para Existir, Métele Pedal, Alianza Potencia Energética, El Avispero and Rumbo Verde achieved their objectives, empowering people through our two lines of action: advocacy and capacity building. This was achieved in dozens of spaces and scenarios throughout these two weeks of work.
We are deeply grateful to all those who made this achievement possible and to those who continue to support our work in building a more just and sustainable future. Together we continue to move forward!
Everything with people, nothing without them.
