Global warming: increase of average temperature at the earth’s surface -- land, water bodies, atmosphere – due to anthropogenic causes – increase in GHG emissions), which has led to Climate Change

Climate Change: changes in climate systems – including precipitation patterns & length of seasons, temperatures, frequency and intensity of extreme weather events – as a consequence of excessive GHG concentration in the atmosphere

DOMINO EFFECTS:1. INCREASE of AVERAGE SURFACE TEMPERATURE>> Sea level rise – shrinking and sinking of land

masses, affecting most especially small islands and coastal areas

2. MELTING of GLACIERS >> Sea level rise – shrinking and sinking of land

masses, affecting most especially small islands and coastal areas

>> Changes in salinity of oceans & seas – impacts on sea life

>> Depletion of freshwater sources

4. CHANGES in HYDROLOGIC CYCLES AND OCEAN MOVEMENTS

> Changes in precipitation patterns & length of seasons

5. EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS > Frequency and intensity of typhoons, cyclones,

tornadoes, droughts

PROFOUND IMPACT and IMPLICATIONS People’s survival – diseases, disasters,

disappearance of islandsDisplacement of communities and destruction

of homes, infrastructure, Health - impacts on viruses, bacteria and other

organisms that cause disease, access to food and types of food available

Climate-induced migration away from coastal areas and flooded parts, or out of islands

Food and Agriculture – adjustments to changes in climate patterns, soil conditions, flooding, availability of freshwater, salinity levels etc

Access to freshwater

Changes in plant and animal life

URGENCY Impacts and implications are profound.

There is a short window of time (and rapidly narrowing) to undertake drastic changes in human activities to prevent “catastrophic “ climate change. (350 ppm limit as of 2020 – currently it is no already 398 ppm)

Even with the most positive scenario of “solutions” – the situation will likely get worse before it is stabilized. GHG molecules last from decades to hundreds of years

Most effects are irreversible.

“EXCESSIVE Concentration of GREENHOUSE GASES in the ATMOSPHERE”

1. The relevant properties of Greenhouse Gases - absorption and re-emission of heat

2. “Excessive” - versus the earth’s capacity to absorb GHGs and therefore keep concentration of GHGs in the atmosphere at the level that does not lead to climate change / global warming

3. NATURAL CARBON SINKS – natural resources that can absorb carbon and therefore decrease the GHGs in the atmosphere – forests , plant life, oceans, soils

“Carbon sequestration”

4. The decrease and destruction of natural carbon sinks contribute to climate change

GREENHOUSE GASES – with largest concentration in the atmosphere

Carbon dioxide – biggest concentration; rapid increase

Methane Nitrous Oxide Ozone Chloroflurocarbons Water Vapor

Sources of GHG emissions Transportation 13.5% Electricity and Heat 24.6 % Other Fuel Combustion 9.0% Industry – 10.4% Fugitive Emissions – 3.9% Industrial Processes – 3.4% Land Use Change – 18.2% Agriculture Soils – 6%

Measurements of GHG

> EMISSIONS -- Scientists have developed a system of measuring emissions per country, aggregate and per capita, using gigatons

> GHG Concentration in the atmosphere is measured in terms of PPM or parts per million

SYSTEMIC ROOTS The history of sharp increase in GHG emissions

coincides with the emergence and growth of capitalism

The most rapid increase occurred in the last 40 years, the period of neoliberal globalization and unfettered , free market growth

Period of increase of use of fossil fuel linked to industrialization

Some focus their blame almost solely on the use of fossil fuels.

It is not just the type of energy source but the excessive and exponentially increasing use of fossil-fuel based energy that is inherent in an economic system that is driven primarily by profit generation and maximization

Given this logic, this system has the following characteristics that result in and acerbate climate change (GHG emissions and destruction on natural carbon sinks)

◦Natural resources and the “Commons” are subject to “private ownership” and abused for purposes that serve only a few at the expense of the many

◦Continuous and excessive extraction of resources

◦Overproduction – supply exceeding demand or needs

◦Production of goods that have not much social value or are in fact unhealthy or dangerous but serve to generate profit

◦Wasteful consumption◦Production for global markets requiring huge

energy for transport of products◦Continuous expansion of markets and material

accumulation

The capitalism system must be transformed/replaced by another system

RESPONSIBILITY for climate change (players and forces)

>> Countries – nation/states

>> Classes and sectors

>> Institutions , Corporations

Role in GHG emissions, in destruction of carbon sinks, and in the perpetuation of the system

Rich, industrialized countries have the largest contribution to GHG emissions and GHG concentration in the atmosphere.

Governments of rich, industrialized countries are responsible for policies that drive, reinforce and perpetuate the system

Globally and across countries – big corporations and international financial institutions

Cumulative 1850 to 2008

Population share

Excess

Global 1,214 Gigatons

100% 100%

Global 1850-1990 Approx 650 Gigatons

Global 1991-2010 Approx 600 Gigatons

Annex 1 878 Gigatons 72% 25% 568 Gigatons

Non-Annex 1 336 Gigatons 28% 75%

Source: The Equitable Sharing of Atmospheric and Development Space: Some Critical Aspects. South Centre, Khor, M., 2010

Within countries, rich elites benefit the most from the system, contribute a larger share to the emissions, and exercise political influence and power over governments and institutions, own and control the corporations

Different ways of looking at Countries’ share of GHG emissions –◦Historical , accumulated – from a reference

point ( ie start of industrialization ) ◦ Present AND

◦Total Aggregate per country◦GHG Per Capita of each country

Excessive GHG concentration -- how do you determine which countries contributed to the “excess”?

Carbon Budget / Atmospheric Space GHG emissions within the ‘safe’ limit; each country has a “Fair Share” which should be calculated based on a per capita share;

“Excess of Fair Share” Those whose emissions have been and are in excess of their fair share, are responsible for climate change

IMPACTS Impacts on people and countries depend on

economic, social and other factors

People of the South and South countries suffer the impacts more intensely even though they contributed least one or not at all to the problem

Transformation of the system, including energy and technology -- shifting to low-carbon, environmentally sound (equitable, just democratic) systems oriented towards provisioning for peoples needs

Immediate deep drastic (domestic) cuts in GHG emissions to stabilize the earth’s temperature – so that by 2050 average global temperature rise relative to 1990 levels is as far below 1.5 degrees as possible ; GHG concentration should not be higher than 350 ppm (MITIGATION)

*Current concentration has already reached 397 to 398 ppm

Adaptation - Deal with the already present and the inevitable impacts of climate change (ADAPTATION)

Technology -- Involve technological shifts, transfers, alternatives

Finance - All of the above will entail HUGE costs thus massive financing is necessary

Strategic task of systemic transformation must be undertaken together with struggles for immediate changes (mutually reinforcing – global, national, local)

Global Agreements Needed to cover:

EMISSIONS CUTS: Rapid, drastic reduction of emissions by those

responsible – burden should not be placed on those with least or no responsibility for the problem and with the least capacity

Fair allocation of emissions cuts while meeting the global level of cuts required, based on science, to stabilize temperature

Global Agreement on emissions cuts must ensure the following rights of the peoples of the South

Right to development -- Requirements for robust and equitable development of South countries must be integrated into the equation – how to pursue this while achieving global cuts

Equal rights to carbon space / atmospheric space (part of the commons)

ADAPTATION “Dealing with the impacts”:o Relief, rehabilitation, recoveryo Resilience-buildingo Adjusting to new conditions – present and future

Who and how will the costs of adaptation be covered? How should it be undertaken? – design, implementation, oversight, accountability

Challenge of simultaneously pursuing Adaptation, Development and Shifting to Alternative System

TECHNOLOGY>> For ADAPTATION>> Alternative Technologies – non fossil fuel, low emission>> Technology for carbon capture and sequestration –

artificial carbon sinks

What kind of technology Who and how will the costs of technology be

covered? IPRs and Technology

FINANCE Purposes – adaptation and mitigation Sources and Nature of Finance: global vs north to

south vs domestic; public vs private; grants vs loans; obligatory vs voluntary; conditionalities;

Mechanisms for Collection, Allocation, Disbursements -- global and national institutions

Basis for Allocation – across and within countries Use - design, management, implementation,

accountability

SOURCES & MECHANISMS for

GENERATING CLIMATE FINANCE

GLOBAL CLIMATE FUND

COLLECTION from SOURCEs

ALLOCATION & DISBURSEMENTS AMONG

COUNTRIESALLOCATION &

SPENDING Within COUNTRIES

NATIONAL MECHANISMS

Other related global struggles vs northern governments, big business and international financial institutions plunder and destruction of ecological resources in the

South; promotion of policies projects and programs in the

South that people of the South contribute to climate change and benefit only or primarily rich industrialized countries, or in the name of climate solutions lead to violation of rights

others

National and Local Actions that address global issues and are part of

global struggles National and local climate structures and programs

that is well integrated into a comprehensive plan for pursuing alternative development strategy• adaptation – immediate priority •mitigation – how to contribute to global effort

Resistance to government policies that exacerbate climate change or, in the name of climate programs lead to violation of rights etc

The recognition of climate debt and the right to remedial measures and reparations is central to climate justice

Climate debt is owed by those responsible for unhampered, excessive GHG emissions cumulatively using more than their fair share of atmospheric space, and for the destruction of earth’s capacity to absorb greenhouse gases.

The accumulation of this debt is played out on a scale encompassing relations among countries and within countries, and spanning centuries.

Rights based:Collective and individual rights to atmospheric

space (earth’s capacity to absorb GHGs)collective and individual rights to sustainable

and equitable development

Based on historical and continuing realities

Two-fold

EMISSIONS DEBT -- Debt of the North countries for taking more than their fair share of atmospheric space, over-using and substantially diminishing the Earth’s capacity to absorb greenhouse gases, and in the process depriving the peoples of the South their share of atmospheric space

Figure 1: Actual historical emissions

Figure 2: Equal individual shares

ADAPTATION DEBT – Owed by the North to the South for the adverse effects of their excessive emissions: the escalating losses, and damages to lives, well-being, livelihoods, economies, environment and ecology, and the lost development opportunities

There is no way to predict the full extent of future adverse impacts and costs – emission pathways are uncertain and the climate system is too complex.

However, any just approach to climate change must ensure that those who have benefited in the course of causing climate change compensate the victims of climate change.

They should cover the full costs of avoiding adverse impacts and provide compensation for those harms that cannot be avoided. This constitutes the adaptation debt of the rich industrialized world to poor countries, communities and people.

REPARATIONS FOR CLIMATE DEBT 1. Emissions Debt The North giving back atmospheric space

that was taken from the rightful share of the South.The allocation of atmospheric space for northern should be their share of the space on a per capita basis minus the amount of space owed to the South. PLUS

Providing the finance & technology for South countries

to pursue low emission equitable & sustainable development because the abuse of the atmospheric space by the North is forcing the South to quickly shift to alternative technologies

REPARATIONS FOR CLIMATE DEBT, p2

2. Adaptation Debt

Covering the FULL COST, in terms of finance and technology of dealing with the adverse effects of climate change – compensating for losses and damages, covering the cost of reducing, minimizing, avoiding the worst effects, covering the cost of adjustment and coping mechanisms for irreversible changes and consequences etc

Peoples Voices

International Networks

Mainly two networks at international level influencing UNFCCC

1.Climate Action Network

1.Climate Justice Action

Peoples Voices 1

1. Climate Action NetworkWhere is the action?Serving market agenda, not questioning

system, negotiator within rules framed by Annex1 dominated UNFCCC.

Bad corps & NGOS (WWF)+CDM

Peoples Voices 2

2. Climate Justice Action Challenging the system for the current crisis – calling for

systems change. Rejecting lifestyle-politics devoid of simultaneously hitting

out at the production of climate-crisis Creating peoples spaces – as counter to UNFCCC – as a real

solution to solving the climate catastrophe.

The action is here!The action is here!

Peoples Voices 2 WHAT is Climate Justice?Principles and demands articulated at Rights of Mother Earth Principles and demands articulated at Rights of Mother Earth

conference, Cochabamba, 2010conference, Cochabamba, 2010 50 percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 201750 percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2017 stabilising temperature rises to 1C and 300 Parts Per Millionstabilising temperature rises to 1C and 300 Parts Per Million acknowledging the climate debt owed by developed countriesacknowledging the climate debt owed by developed countries full respect for Human Rights and the inherent rights of full respect for Human Rights and the inherent rights of

indigenous peopleindigenous people universal declaration of rights of Mother Earth to ensure universal declaration of rights of Mother Earth to ensure

harmony with natureharmony with nature establishment of an International Court of Climate Justiceestablishment of an International Court of Climate Justice rejection of carbon markets and commodification of nature & rejection of carbon markets and commodification of nature &

forests through REDDforests through REDD promotion of measures that change the consumption patterns promotion of measures that change the consumption patterns

of developed countriesof developed countries end of intellectual property rights for technologies useful for end of intellectual property rights for technologies useful for

mitigating climate changemitigating climate change payment of 6 percent of developed countries’ GDP to payment of 6 percent of developed countries’ GDP to

addressing climate changeaddressing climate change

Peoples Voices 3

UNFCCC – shedding its mask??For the first time in the history of 15 years of

UNFCCC: Registered delegates were blocked in Copenhagen & there

were many coloured-badges Protest action was blocked inside The tradition of consensual-declarations was thrown to the

wind to let Obama & US play a key role by WTO-coloured-lobby rooms bulldozing the Copenhagen declaration as an UNFCCC accord (not accepted by some countries)

Peoples Voices 4

UNFCCC – shedding its mask??

The lid was finally shut in CANCUN:

The venue was chosen to avoid any agitations or demonstrations within a few kms radii

No publications or awareness material was allowed to be disseminated inside COP only after UN-scrutiny permission

CANCUN was dull with little peoples action.

Peoples Voices 5

COP17 DURBAN

Durban promises hopes of peoples mobilisation for climate justice

It remains to be seen how movements influence a negotiation going awry due to the selfish interests of some Annex1 countries, China, India and big corporations.

Peoples Voices 6

COP17 DURBANDurban promises hopes in these times of Durban promises hopes in these times of

capitalist crisis in the north & #occupy!capitalist crisis in the north & #occupy!

Peoples Voices » DURBAN C17

GLOBAL DAY OF ACTION FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE – DEC.3, DURBAN