Convergence for Peoples’ Climate Action
Strengthening Southern Peoples’ Power for Climate Justice and System Change
19 October 2020
19 October 2020
We need to talk. Extreme weather events amid the coronavirus pandemic have harmed millions of people worldwide and hampered recovery of vulnerable communities. Out of the 132 unique extreme weather events in 2020, as many as 92 have overlapped with the COVID-19 pandemic. And the impacts are disproportionately felt by the poorest and most vulnerable in the Global South
But the solutions offered by governments will only deepen inequalities, increase carbon emissions, and worsen the impacts of climate change
- Almost 40 million people across India and Bangladesh were affected by both the pandemic and floods or storms. Cyclone Amphan, the strongest tropical storm for over a decade in South Asia, affected 15 million people in May, killing 129
- Countries in sub-Saharan Africa have been affected by extreme high temperatures during the pandemic – exposing 73 million people in vulnerable populations
But the solutions offered by governments will only deepen inequalities, increase carbon emissions, and worsen the impacts of climate change
- Rich countries such as the US, Canada, Australia, UK and those across the European Union are poised to shower fossil fuel and airline companies with generous bailout packages and subsidies
- While their pledge to support adaptation and mitigation actions in developing countries remain unfulfilled: only a little above $70 billion from developed countries’ pledge of $100 billion in aid each year by 2020
SAVE THE DATEEVENT INVITES |
Week 1: Sept 29 – Oct 3: Put social and climate justice at the front and center of post-COVID-19 era
We only have a few years left in our current carbon emissions trend before we reach the point of no return. The peoples’ of the Global South demand #SystemChangeNotClimateChange Re-channel subsidy for the fossil fuel industry to genuine people-centered, rights-based climate action #peoplesclimateaction COVID19 recovery plans of (name of country) must include bolder climate commitments aligned with the goal of keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius #SystemChangeNotClimateChange Fossil fuel phase out should be the new normal. #SystemChangeNotClimateChange Week 2: Oct 4 -10 Hold major emitters to account for their climate debt and climate commitments The richest 1% percent of the world are responsible for more than twice as much carbon pollution as the 3.1 billion people who made up the poorest half of humanity. #peoplesclimateaction #climatejustice Rich nations and their corporations have benefitted from using up the world’s carbon space while the rest of us suffer weather extremes. The post-pandemic era must be the era where meaningful emission cuts and climate adaptation substitute rhetoric and empty promises. #peoplesclimateaction #climatejustice The trillions of dollars being used for post-COVID stimulus packages show that if there is political will, there is finance available to support developing countries to move away from fossil fuels and meet their sustainable development needs. #peoplesclimateaction #climatejustice Developed countries must honor their climate finance obligations to countries, peoples, and communities who are at the frontlines of climate change. #peoplesclimateaction #climatejustice Week 3 Oct 10 - 17 Cancel debt payments of Southern countries; undertake structural reforms in multilateral trade policies; control illicit financial flows and re-channel resources to finance safe, affordable renewable energy sources No to trade deals that destroy the environment and heat up the planet! #peoplesclimateaction #systemchangenotclimatechange Re-channel debt servicing to support genuine land reform and sustainable domestic agriculture! #peoplesclimateaction #systemchangenotclimatechange Champion a national industrialization policy to support the development of safe, affordable renewable energy. #peoplesclimateaction #systemchangenotclimatechange Week 4 17 – 23: Stop the attacks against land, environmental and rights defenders Stop killing environmental defenders! #stopthekillings #nolockdownonrights Justice for Randy Echanis and all land rights defenders! #stopthekillings #nolockdownonrights |