5 November 2024. As state representatives and civil society prepare to gather in Baku for COP29 (29th Conference of Parties), FIDH urges negotiating parties to pursue climate justice as the paramount goal in negotiations of urgently needed climate action. With only a few years left to prevent further devastation, strong climate action is more than ever needed to address the root causes of systemic injustices and ensure the fulfilment of human rights.
FIDH was granted COP observer status for the first time this year, ahead of a conference expected to focus on crucial issues of climate finance, operationalisation of loss and damage, and carbon trading mechanisms. FIDH strongly believes that all negotiations must aim for the phaseout of a fossil fuel-dependent economy. Any actions taken must address the challenges posed by climate change while simultaneously preventing their negative impacts on human rights and equality.
Climate negotiations cannot be separated from considerations of justice. The current growth-oriented and extractivist economic model has enshrined historical and systemic inequalities and discrimination. It has pushed Global Majority countries and frontline communities least responsible for emissions into increased vulnerability and vicious debt circles. This hinders their capacity to respond to the challenges arising from climate breakdown, all while preventing them from investing in human rights.
The interconnection of the drivers of the climate crisis with other crises such as growing conflict and socio-economic inequality calls for immediate, bold and transformative action at all levels of society for systemic change. Just transition pathways must be grounded in human rights, be respectful of nature, and not rely on false solutions or enable impunity for corporate contributions to climate breakdown.
Such an approach is even more crucial as governments and businesses often co-opt the multifaceted concept of a "just transition" as a rhetorical device to indicate actions, policies or projects which while supposed to tackle climate change, are already resulting in human rights violations. The latter might skyrocket as efforts to "green the economy" gain speed without any hope of absolute decoupling.
Moreover, environmental human rights defenders work to make states and private actors accountable for environmental degradation and human rights violations, including in the context of business activities linked to the transition away from fossil fuels. Yet, they face unacceptable harassment and violence for their essential work due to a shrinking civic space worldwide. Their protection must be paramount to governments’ action, including and not only at the COP29.
FIDH will advocate for comprehensive and immediate climate action that has justice and the fulfilment of human rights as its foundation. At a time of polycrisis, we must use climate action to change the paradigm and ensure that the rights and livelihoods of global communities are protected and strengthened.
Read the full position here (in english).