2023-11-23 09:11:00
The “Alliance for Climate Justice” made up of 26 Austrian environmental, development and social organizations is calling for immediate action on climate protection and its financing on the occasion of COP28. “The consequences of the climate crisis are massively increasing. This is felt not least by those countries that cause hardly any emissions: natural disasters, droughts and floods destroy their livelihoods, lead to crop failures and water shortages and thus fuel poverty and inequality. “We therefore call for an immediate end to fossil fuel subsidies, an exit from fossil fuels by 2050 at the latest and the implementation of a powerful fund for damage and losses so that climate protection is socially fair, especially in the Global South.”
Mana Omar (SASAL, Kenya) calls for the voices of the people disproportionately affected in the Global South to be heard and given priority in climate decisions: “As we strive to achieve climate justice, we must ensure that the voices of disproportionately affected communities are heard and considered and that they are prioritized in climate decisions. I speak from the perspective of pastoralists in Kenya. Despite the burden of the climate crisis they face, these communities are still excluded from decision-making. I urge all of you to consider your concerns and demands in the upcoming launch of the Loss and Damage Fund at COP28. We cannot solve the people’s crisis without the people. I call on all journalists to help us spread the key messages and concerns of pastoralist leaders, and I call on you to stand with us and the other affected and unheard communities.”
The environmental protection organization WWF Austria is calling for an agreement by the global community to phase out fossil fuels: “The global inventory is an important test of the global community’s seriousness regarding climate protection. It is already clear in advance that an overdue course correction is needed. To achieve this, all countries must quickly improve their national climate protection plans for 2030 and set ambitious targets for 2035 in line with the 1.5 degree limit,” says WWF climate spokesman Thomas Zehetner. “We cannot afford another weak climate conference like last year in Egypt. We therefore finally need a plan for the global phase-out of all fossil fuels by 2050 at the latest. Because just as there was a global agreement on the urgency of the climate crisis with the Paris Climate Agreement, an agreement on its solution is now necessary: the comprehensive phase-out fossil energies.”
The coordination office of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference (KOO) calls for the implementation of the fund for damage and losses by industrialized countries: “The climate conference must not only determine how the new, powerful fund for damage and losses will work, but also make a decision on the target level of the fund. “The Austrian federal government must support the EU in pledging a comprehensive initial contribution to the new fund for damage and losses at this COP,” demands KOO climate expert Martin Krenn. “Only if the industrialized countries fulfill their responsibility can the new fund be brought to life and thus reliably support the most vulnerable population groups in the climate crisis.”
Südwind calls for a balance of interests so that climate protection does not exacerbate social inequality: “In addition to financial compensation, a special balance of interests must also be taken into account in the interests of climate justice. To ensure that climate protection measures do not exacerbate social inequality, particularly vulnerable and marginalized groups must be included in decision-making and planning processes at all levels – on an equal basis and taking their needs into account. This includes women, indigenous groups, rural populations, migrants, young people and people with disabilities,” says Südwind climate spokeswoman Lisa Aigelsperger. “Climate protection must always go hand in hand with human rights, poverty reduction and gender equality. This applies both to national climate protection and to measures initiated through international climate financing, for example in the extraction of raw materials for the energy transition. We can only solve the climate crisis together. This finally requires a transparent, solution-oriented and inclusive policy.”
The Alliance for Climate Justice’s demand paper is available here.
Availability of experts at COP28 in Dubai:
Where’s Omar, SASAL, in Dubai from November 28th. until December 8th, [email protected]
Thomas Zehetner, WWF, in Dubai from December 6th to 13th. [email protected]
Martin Krenn, KOO, in Dubai from November 29th. until December 8th, [email protected]
Lisa Aigelsperger, South Windin Dubai from December 8th to 14th, [email protected]
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