Why COP30 Must Connect Climate Justice to Reparations for Historical Injustices | Energy Bangla

Hundreds of environmental and human rights groups are rallying for justice at the upcoming UN climate conference, COP30, in Brazil. They want reparations for those harmed by the climate crisis, colonialism, and slavery to be a top priority.

Among the signers are Brazil’s Instituto Luiz Gama and the Caribbean Pan African Network. In a recent letter, they emphasized the need to “center the voices of Africans, people of African descent, and Indigenous Peoples” during the talks, taking place in Maloca from November 10 to 21.

The activists argue that the hardest-hit communities often contribute the least to climate change. They want Brazil, as the host nation, to underscore the connection between climate justice and reparations for historical injustices. Brazil has the largest population of people of African descent outside Africa and significant Indigenous populations.

Recent rulings from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights have also addressed climate justice. The ICJ stated that industrialized nations have a legal duty to lead climate action, given their historical emissions.

At COP talks in Paris in 2015, wealthier nations promised to help poorer countries adapt to climate impacts. However, they fell short of the $1.3 trillion needed, with commitments totaling only $300 billion announced at COP29 in Baku last year. That’s still $200 billion less than what developing nations requested.

The urgency is clear. Countries face severe weather more frequently; Pakistan, for instance, is dealing with another flooding crisis after losses of nearly $15 billion last year, pushing millions into poverty.

Recent studies from European organizations show that climate change is causing spikes in food prices, impacting commodities like Brazilian coffee and Ghanaian cocoa.

Other supporters of the letter include the Global Afro-descendant Climate Collaboration for Climate Justice and Resilient 40, a youth climate organization from Uganda. Colombia’s environment minister has also shown support.

While the call for reparations is growing, it faces backlash. Critics argue that modern states shouldn’t pay for historical wrongs. However, Brazil’s minister of racial equality, Anielle Franco, points out that acknowledging past injustices is essential for building a more equitable future.

As the COP30 conference approaches, the conversation around climate justice and reparations continues to gain momentum, highlighting the urgent need for action and accountability on a global scale. For further reading on climate negotiations, check out this article from the UN.

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