Civil Society Statement on how to strenghten the Post-2015 declaration with respect to climate change, July 2015
POST-2015 INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATIONS- INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATIONS ON THE OUTCOME DOCUMENT
20th July, 2015
Speaker: Noelene Nabulivou, Fiji
My name is Noelene Nabulivou, I am from Fiji, in the Pacific. I am here to remind us all, that climate change is real and happening.
We welcome the opportunity to offer comments on today’s discussions, giving special attention to the issue of climate change. Several member states have already acknowledged that the new draft contains some welcome references to climate change, resilience, sustainable energy and of course CBDR. It has been also mentioned and we agree, that climate change, gender equality, healthy ecosystems, human rights, poverty eradication, and respect for planetary boundaries are inextricably linked.
However occasional and inconsistent references are not enough. The text still falls short of a vision to embrace a future in which we completely phase out fossil fuel emissions, phase in renewable energy and remain within planetary boundaries.
We urge governments to give people hope by including a reference to limiting global warming to 1.5ºC and remaining within planetary boundaries; and to heighten trust by explaining how we will achieve this goal with specific references to phasing-out greenhouse gas emissions completely and by taking immediate urgent mitigation action.
We also need a clear reference to climate justice by acknowledging that the poorest are hit hardest and that support for adaptation, loss and damage will be available.
People need certainty that governments will act to protect their fundamental and universal human rights from the adverse effects of climate change, in a manner consistent with existing legal obligations and principles in line with best available science.
Further, the Post-2015 agenda must ensure private sector accountability, including for transnational corporations in their cross-border activities.
Finally, we urge governments to be explicit about both infrastructural and psychosocial resilience; to replace all reference to “modern energy” with “safe, clean, sustainable and renewable energy services”; and to have a clear reference to ocean acidification and phase-out emissions.
These proposals will strengthen the draft and people's understanding of the challenges ahead. The Post-2015 agenda must speak to everyone – No more must drown, no more must die of thirst and hunger, and no one need to leave their countries because of climate crises.
Endorsements:
Climate Action Network, PICAN, Pacific Partnerships on Gender, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Pacific CSO COP21 Urgent Action Campaign (Fiji], DIVA for Equality; DAWN, International-Lawyers.Org, and Centre for Human Rights and Climate Change Research, and the Psychology Coalition of NGOs at the UN, Centre for Human Rights and Development Studies (CHRDS), Pathways to Peace (PTP), Institute for Planetary Synthesis (IPS), Women's Environment and Development Organization (WEDO), Christian Aid.