The G20 meetings in Bali Indonesia saw the heads of the most advanced economies in the world gather together to jointly promote the policy that sets the world on the path of sustainable and integral development. Emphasising the need for common action, the leaders focused on Global Health Architecture, Sustainable Energy Transition, and Digital Transformation. The context for these actions was the challenges caused in particular by the geopolitical and economic tensions flowing from the ongoing war in Ukraine.

One of the summit participants was Michał Kurtyka, President of COP24 and Poland’s first Minister for Climate and Environment. Currently, Kurtyka cooperates with several countries providing consultancy on issues concerning climate, energy and the environment. He also supported Egypt for COP27, as well as Indonesia in the organization of the G20 and B20 meetings.

Kurtyka presented his concept of 5Ps – a project to guide progress and development for societies. The project received a great deal of attention and it was announced that it would be taken forward by the Indonesian G20 presidency, as well as under its chairmanship of ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations).

The concept of 5Ps was born out of a desire to respond to the challenges of the modern world. Michał Kurtyka explained that it is the result of a “gradual process of understanding” that he and other intellectuals arrived at when meeting in Vatican two weeks before the G20 Meeting. Michał Kurtyka had a meeting with Pope Francis, together with Arsjad Rasjid, the chair of the B20 meeting. They presented the 5P concept to the Pope and he encouraged them to pursue the idea further.

 – The concept of 5Ps is, in a way, the result of what the Polish Presidency of COP24 presented at the UN Climate Summit in 2018. We proposed its participants to sign up to three declarations. They referred to human beings, nature and technology – says Michał Kurtyka. – It was in Katowice that I understood that global negotiations only make sense if they are consistent with what happens locally. In places where the decisions of the leaders are to be implemented – he adds.

The concept of 5Ps was conceived while considering two dimensions – environmental and social, since the growth of the global economy has to look beyond mere personal profit. We want to restore hope that development can take these two aspects into account. We need to be guided by global issues, such as protecting the climate and biodiversity, caring for forestry or reducing emission. That’s the first P – Planet.

The second P is People: at a human level, it is the small communities that face the largest impact of globalization. These people should not be forgotten.

Inspired by bottom-up initiatives, which often have a much greater impact on people than leader-focused top-down activities, another P – Partnership – was created. It reflects cooperation between regions and countries.

The key global challenges today include energy, food and water security. Emerging technologies are capable of addressing these chalenges.  Science can contribute to providing at least a minimum level of prosperity to countries that are still developing. Prosperity is the 4^th P.

Finally, all these actions are not possible without solidarity and dialogue which can lead us toward Peace, the final P.

 -This is not going to be an easy task – the 5Ps are the result, not the beginning we’re given. In an increasingly divided world, we need a meeting place for people and organisations who recognise that bottom-up initiatives can change this world for better – says Michał Kurtyka.

In Just Transition Magazine, we will be describing the successive activities of 5Ps, outlining their context and perspectives for our readers.