Members of the GAIA (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives) global network are attending the United Nations’ COP21 (Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) being held Nov. 30-Dec 11 in Paris.

According to GAIA, 80 people from 33 countries will attend its global meeting taking place between Nov. 30 and Dec. 3. Delegates from the GAIA network will be in Paris until the 12th of December, attending a wide range of events and activities.

During or immediately prior to the COP conference, GAIA, in collaboration with Zero Waste Europe and Zero Waste France are hosting or participating in a number of events, including:

A conference on Dec. 3 in Paris titled, Zero Waste: A Key Solution Pathway for a Low Carbon Future, hosted by Zero Waste France to emphasise zero waste as a climate solution. GAIA and Zero Waste France say the event will debunk incineration as a climate and renewable energy solution, and work to increase the visibility of existing successful models. Participants will include Zero Waste experts, government officials, EuropeanNGOs, representatives from Zero Waste projects from the Global South, and GAIA members.

On 5 December, the consortium will host the seminar, Waste Sector Strategies for a Low Carbon Economy: Innovative Experiences in the Global South (delegations from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Pacific Islands) within the COP21 negotiations space. For this event, GAIA says, leading zero waste practitioners from the Global South will be discussing the successful zero waste strategies which will help facilitate a low carbon economy. Space only open to accredited participants.

GAIA is a worldwide alliance of more than 800 grassroots groups, nongovernmental organizations and individuals in over 90 countries promoting alternatives to incineration as means to achieve zero waste.

Zero Waste Europe is the European branch of GAIA network, and works with communities and Zero Waste groups around the world to redesign the way waste is produced, consumed and phased out of the system. Zero Waste France is an independently funded NGO and a member of Zero Waste Europe.