Call for Climate Justice

 

Inequality is integral to the climate crisis. Climate change disproportionately impacts marginalized people, who suffer climate impacts more severely and lack the resources and influence to demand or create the necessary changes. Our economic system also drives the climate crisis through short-term incentives and profit motives that contradict sustainability.

 

 

Please join over 200 organizations from more than 50 countries around the world in endorsing this Statement! 

Scroll down to read the summary. Once your organization has made a formal decision to co-sign, please email us the name of your organization, along with your country or region (or “international”). Please write “Co-sign Climate Call” in the email subject line. Send to: info@initiativeforequality.org. Thank you!

 

Summary:  International Civil Society Call to Address Inequalities and Social Justice in Climate Policy

October – November 2015

 

Socioeconomic inequality is an integral part of the climate crisis, and must be addressed. Climate change disproportionately impacts poor and marginalized people and communities, who suffer climate impacts more severely, do not have the resources to respond or adapt, and lack the resources and influence to demand necessary changes. Climate change particularly impacts women and girls. Climate change is also a factor in the migration crisis. Climate change hurts the poor or marginalized more than the rich, compounding existing inequalities.

 

Inequality is a key driver of the climate crisis. Inequality lies at the root of unsustainable behaviors. Inequality makes it socially acceptable for some people to have far more than others, and ties consumption to social status, promoting over-consumption. Our economic system also drives the climate crisis, as growth, short-term incentives and profit motives systematically contradict sustainability.

 

Inequalities, both within and among nations, block agreements and pathways that could lead to sustainability. Within nations, socioeconomic inequalities reduce cultural diversity, depriving societies of potential models for more sustainable ways of life. Overwhelmed with problems caused by inequalities, societies cannot turn their energy towards the transition to sustainability. Between communities and nations who do not share common interests and responsibilities, agreement to address climate change is unlikely to be found. Socioeconomic inequality, by eroding trust and creating social fragmentation, blocks cooperation and joint problem-solving.

 

We call on the world’s governments, nations and communities to recognize that inequality is an integral part of the climate crisis; that those who did the least to precipitate the crisis are likely to be harmed the most; that developed countries have a moral and legal obligation to support developing countries in adapting to climate change; and that all countries should support their most vulnerable communities.

 

We further call on the world’s governments, nations and communities to commit to –

• making the inequality and injustice dimensions of the climate crisis a central element of the COP 21 climate accords and subsequent policies;
• ensuring that the full benefits of climate protection, technology transfer and CDM programs are channeled to the appropriate people, particularly to poor communities;
• a more equitable global distribution of wealth and resources, including the GHG emissions budget;
• providing the economic resources, technologies, and expertise to empower developing countries and less privileged communities to protect themselves from climate impacts, and to move successfully along an innovative, efficient and sustainable development pathway;
• climate finance mechanisms that bridge the gaps in capacity between nations, and that empower marginalized communities to implement their own priorities;
• developing and implementing a global resettlement plan to take in all refugees of conflict and economic collapse – often related to a worsening climate;
• fully respecting human rights throughout the process of responding to climate change;
• systemic social, economic and political changes towards more equal and participatory societies;
• ensuring workers’ rights to a secure livelihood during the transition to non-fossil fuel-based energies;
• divesting from fossil fuel-based economic activity and redirecting such investment towards sustainable energy technologies; and
• greater democratization of decision-making, in which vulnerable communities play a leading role in determining how best to achieve social resilience, mitigation and adaptation.

 

Read the full statement here: Climate Justice Full Statement

Read our press release here: Climate Justice Press Release FINAL

 

Organizational Signatories

Initiative for Equality (IfE) – International

Abibiman Foundation – Ghana

Academics Stand Against Poverty (ASAP) – International

Action Secours Ambulance (A.S.A) – Haiti

Active Remedy Ltd. – United Kingdom

AEEFG – Tunisia

Agricultural Support Foundation – Pakistan

Alchemus Prime – United States

América Latina y el Caribe del Llamado Mundial a la Acción Contra la Pobreza (GCAP LAC) – Latin America and the Caribbean

American Anthropological Association – United States

American Psychological Association (APA) – United States

Anjong Young Farmers’ Group – Cameroon

ASEDI – Togo

Association for Promotion Sustainable Development (APSD) – India

Association Nigérienne des Scouts de l Environnement – Niger

Association of Collaborative Forest Users Nepal (ACOFUN) – Nepal

Association pour la Protection de l’Environnement et le Développement durable de Bizerte (APEDDUB) – Tunisia

Association pour le développement et de la promotion des droits humains (ADPDH) – Mauritania

Aube Nouvelle pour la Femme et le Développement (ANFD) – Democratic Republic of Congo

Augustinians International (Curia Generalizia Agostiniana) – International

Aurat Foundation – Pakistan

Better World Cameroon – Cameroon

Black Activists Rising Against Cuts – United Kingdom

Buddhism for Development (BFD) – Cambodia

Bum Association of Health Personnel (BAHEP) – Cameroon

Campaign against Climate Change – United Kingdom

Catholic Women Organization (CWO) – Nigeria

Center for Bangladesh Studies (CBS) – Bangladesh

Center for Integrated Development Studies – Nepal

Center for Political Ecology – United States

Center for Sustainability, Ramapo College of New Jersey – United States

Center for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD) – Vietnam

Centers of Investigation for Poverty and Inequality and for Sustainability, Moravian College – United States

Centre for 21st Century – Nigeria

Centre for Grassroots and Environmental Concerns – Nigeria

Centre for Human Rights and Climate Change Research – Nigeria

Centro Nordestino de Medicina Popular – Brazil

Charles and Doosurgh Abaagu Foundation – Nigeria

Chiapas Support Committee of Oakland – United States

Child Health Organization (CHO) – Nigeria

Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh – Bangladesh

Climate Action Network Europe (CAN) – Europe

Climate Emergency Institute – International

Climate Healers – International

Coastal Area Intervention Network (CAIN) – Bangladesh

Collectif Sénégalais des Africaines pour la Promotion de l’Education Relative à l’Environnement (COSAPERE) – Senegal

Community and Family Aid Foundation – Ghana

Community Center For Development – Nigeria

Community Emergency Response Initiative (CERI) – Nigeria

Community Emergency Response Initiative (CERI) – Nigeria

Community Environmental Resource Center (CERC) – India

Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd – International

Congregations of St. Joseph – International

Conservation of Flora and Fauna (COFF) – Pakistan

COPPADES – Nepal

Council for NGOs in Malawi (CONGOMA) – Malawi

Dalit Alliance for Natural Resources (DANAR) – Nepal

Department of Rural Sociology, Bangladesh Agricultural University – Bangladesh

Development Alternatives India – International

Development Initiative for South Asians (DISA) – South Asia

Dominican Leadership Conference / Dominican Sisters International – International

Donkeysaddle Projects – United States

Echoes of Women in Africa Initiative – Nigeria

Eco Dobrogea – Romania

EcoEquity – United States

Ecumenical Commission for Human Development – Pakistan

EKOenergy – International

El Centro Para El Desarrollo Comunal (CEDECO) – Honduras

Equity for Children – International

Esperanza Peace and Justice Center – United States

Ethical Markets Media – United States and Brazil

European Environmental Bureau (EEB) – Europe

Fantsuam Foundation – Nigeria

Federation of Vembanad Lake Protection Forums – India

Fondo ACI-ERP – Honduras

Forest Environment Workers Union (FEWUN) – Nepal

Forum for Women and Development (FOKUS) – Norway

Fundación Internacional Baltasar Garzón – International

Fundación Natura – Colombia

Fundacion para Estudio e Investigación de la Mujer (FEIM) – Argentina

Gcom Bangladesh – Bangladesh

Gender Empowerment and Development (GeED) – Cameroon

Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) – International

Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR) – International

Global Partnership for Local Action – Austria

Gram Bharati Samiti (GBS) – India

Green WaterHut – Ghana

Greenspring Development Initiative – Nigeria

Grenada Community Development Agency (GRENCODA) – Grenada.

Grupo Tacuba – Mexico

Gullah/Geechee Fishing Association – Gullah/Geechee Nation

Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition – Gullah/Geechee Nation

Gullah/Geechee Sustainability Think Tank – Gullah/Geechee Nation

Huairou Commission – International

Human Health Aid – Burundi

Incite Options – Canada

Indian Youth Climate Network – India

Innovative Strategy For Human Development (ISHD) – Nigeria

Institute for Human Security and Social Change, La Trobe University – Australia

Institute for Science and Human Values, Inc. – International

International Council on Social Welfare Europe (ICSW) – Europe

International Movement For Advancement of Education Culture Social and Economic Development (IMAECSED) – India

International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) – International

International Presentation Association – International

International Social Science Council – International

Italy Equality Group – Italy

Ius Primi Viri – Italy

Jaago Sustainable Development – Pakistan

Jeannette Rankin Peace Center (JRPC) – United States

Journalists from Human Rights – Macedonia

Jеdаn stеpеn Srbiја (One Degree Serbia) – Serbia

Kawish Resource Center – Pakistan

KULU: Women and Development – Denmark

La Asociación De Micro, Pequeños y Medianos Empresarios Afro Hondureños – Honduras

La Peña Cultural Center – United States

La Red Hondureña Contra La Iniquidad – Honduras

Labour, Health and Human Rights Development Centre (LHAHRDEV) – Nigeria

Latin American and Caribbean Committee for the Defense of Women’s Rights (CLADEM) – Brazil

Loretto Community – International

MADRE – International

Make Mothers Matter – International

Marianists – International

MARUAH – Singapore

Maryknoll Sisters – International

Medsin-UK – United Kingdom

Mercy International Association – International

Namalere Forest Conservation Organization – Kenya

National Confederation of Dalit Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR) – India

National Council of Women – United States

National Economic & Social Rights Initiative – United States

National Educational & Social Development Organization (NESDO) – Nepal

National Fisheries Solidarity Movement (NAFSO) – Sri Lanka

National Forum for Advocacy, Nepal (NAFAN) – Nepal

Natural Resources Alliance of Kenya (KeNRA) – Kenya

Neighbourhood Environment Watch Foundation – Nigeria

Nepal Climate Change Federation (NECCAF) – Nepal

Neudom – Pakistan

New Future Foundation (NFF) – International

NGO BIOS – Moldova

Noakhali Rural Development Society (NRDS) – Bangladesh

OceansWatch – International

Okogun Odigie Safewomb International Foundation (OOSAIF) – International

Organisation de la Société Civile pour l’Environnement Mandresy DIANA (OSCE Mandresy DIANA) – Madagascar

Orissa State Volunteers and Social Workers Association (OSVSWA) – India

OSIENALA (Friends of Lake Victoria) – Kenya

Other Worlds – United States

Owerri Daughters League (ODL) – Nigeria

Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) – Pakistan

Pan African Vision for the Environment (PAVE) – Nigeria

Pangoea International – Bangladesh

Paradigm Youth Network – Zambia

Participatory Research Action Network (PRAN) – Bangladesh

PATHIKRIT – Bangladesh

Peace Foundation – Pakistan

PHM Benin – Benin

Presentation Justice Network – Ireland

Presentation Sisters Queensland – Australia

Red de Educacion Popular entre Mujeres (REPEM) – Latin America

Reenergia – Pakistan

Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary – International

Rogers Foundation for Person-Centred Education – Hungary

San Jose Peace and Justice Center – United States

Sanayee Development Organization (SDO) – Afghanistan

Savisthri National Women’s Movement – Sri Lanka

SETU – Bangladesh

Sindhica Reforms Society – Pakistan

Sisters of Charity Federation – United States

Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur – International

Sisters of the Presentation, NL – Canada

Social Development Society – India

SocialCoop, CRL – Portugal

Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centres (SPARC) – India

Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues – International

Society of Catholic Medical Missionaries – International

South Asian Youth Climate Coalition (SAYCC) – India

Sri Lanka Nature Group – Sri Lanka

Stephanie Peacebuilding and Development Foundation – Nigeria

Support for Women in Agriculture and Environment (SWAGEN) – Uganda

Sustainable Innovation Initiatives – International

Sustainable Rural Community Development Organisation – Malawi

Terra-1530 – Moldova

The Association of Environmental Justice in Israel (AEJI) – Israel

The Dellums Institute for Social Justice – United States

The Equality Trust – United Kingdom

The Global Women’s Project – International

The Hunger Project Mexico – Mexico

The Lwazi Programme – Zimbabwe and United Kingdom

The National Alliance of Women’s Organisations – United Kingdom

The Schumacher Institute – United Kingdom

TRANSPROJETACAO (Uma metodologia para prosperar a sustentabilidade no mundo) – Brazil

Tribes Alive/Indigenous People’s Cultural Support Trust – United Kingdom and Brazil

UDYAMA – India

UNANIMA – International

Union de L’Action féministe (UAF) – Morocco

Union Women Center – Georgia

Vinoba Bhave University, Hazaribag – India

VIVAT International – International

Voice of Women (VoW) – Maldives

WaterAid – International

WAVE Foundation – Bangladesh

Women Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (WEAN) – Nigeria

Women Environmental Programme (WEP) – Nigeria

Women Graduates – United States

Women in Adult & Vocational Education Inc (WAVE) – Australia

Women In Development Europe (WIDE) – Europe

Women’s UN Report Network (WUNRN) – International

Women’s Federation for World Peace International – Europe

Women’s Studies Advisory Council, Moravian College – United States

World Futures Studies Federation – International

YWCA of Simla – India

Zenab for Women Development – Sudan