Last week, ECO shared its renewed hopes that, in Bonn, Parties would finally start delivering climate justice for people on the frontlines. The negotiations on Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) and loss and damage (L&D) are dashing our hopes.
ECO reminds Parties that while you squabble over an ACE action plan, environmental defenders – actively participating and taking climate action, the very point of ACE – are being targeted. In the two weeks you have been blah blah-ing, an average of eight environmental human rights defenders were killed. And while you wrangle over L&D, communities are devastated by the dire reality of rising sea levels, floods, droughts, and hunger. People are targeted by corporations and States, and by the disastrous impacts of the climate crisis.
As the end draws near, it is becoming clear that Bonn will not bring justice for environmental defenders and victims of L&D. After a disappointing conclusion at COP26 for ACE (and more), last week, Parties publicly affirmed the importance of including rights-based activities in the ACE action plan but seem to have lost their way; again failing to safeguard rights, defenders and their ability to participate. The Glasgow Dialogue on L&D has fulfilled ECO’s prediction: another talk-shop that couldn’t deliver a finance facility. Parties didn’t even manage (yet) to put L&D on the agenda for COP27.
ECO wonders why Parties thought they were coming to Bonn. Are you confused about your target or is it too many trips to the Biergarten? Here’s a friendly reminder: you’ve come here to target the climate crisis, not the people! You’ve come here to target fossil fuels, stay below 1.5°C, deliver climate finance, increase communities’ resilience, protect the natural world on which we all depend, and ensure justice for peoples and their planet. You’ve come here to protect the climate, and those who defend it.
So, dear Parties, before packing your bags for Sharm el-Sheikh, do some target practice, because you keep missing the mark!