Global Greens

The Green movement began in the 1970s, with roots in various environmental and social movements around the world.

The Green movement is global in scope, unlike conventional political parties that are only national or sub-national in scope.

Green political parties are now active in over 90 countries.

  • Green parties have achieved modest electoral successes, notably in Europe, New Zealand, Australia, the USA and Canada.
  • As of 2022, Greens were in the national-level Cabinet in 11 nations: Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Scotland.
  • As of 2022, Greens are elected to national governments in 30 nations (the 11 nations with Greens in Cabinet are bolded): Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, England Parliament of Westminster UK, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mexico, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Rwanda, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
  • Countries where Greens have been elected in the past, but not at the moment (2022): Czech Republic (once in a governing coalition), Estonia, Israel, Kenya, Mauritius, Mongolia (once in a governing coalition), Senegal (leader was environment minister 2012-13), and Venezuela.

Most Green parties collaborated to develop the Charter of the Global Greens, which was adopted in 2001 and updated in 2012 and 2017. The Charter includes six core principles:

  • Ecological Wisdom
  • Social Justice
  • Participatory Democracy
  • Nonviolence
  • Sustainability
  • Respect for Diversity

Greens generally do politics differently:

  • Greens seek collaboration and consensus, rather than competition and domination.
  • Greens seek to base policies on evidence, rather than ideology.
  • Greens seek solutions that work, no matter who gets the credit.

 

In contrast to the other parties, the Green Party will never place the pursuit of power above principle, we will never allow partisan politics to get in the way of good ideas and needed action.

— Elizabeth May, former Leader, Green Party of Canada