NGO Policy Briefing with recommendations for increased participation, recognition, and protection of Land and Environmental Defenders (LEDs)
Together with partners including Natural Justice, Global Witness, CambiaMO, Green Advocates, EarthRights International, Landesa/Rural Development Institute, International Land Coalition - Africa, Civicus, International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL), E-Law, Center for Environmental Concerns Philippines and the Asia Pacific Network of Environment Defenders (APNED), we have prepared the below joint NGO Briefing for UNFCCC COP28 on Land and Environmental Defenders: Recommendations for Climate Justice. Organisations can still endorse these recommendations for advancing climate justice through increased participation, recognition, and protection of Land and Environmental Defenders until 12 December 2023 here.
The recommendations to support defenders'rights are organised across three key recommendations to advance a human rights-based approach to climate action and climate justice:
- Civic space and meaningful participation of LEDs in climate policy-making must be guaranteed, and their role and human rights in advancing climate action should be recognised and protected.
- Indigenous and local LEDs’ land rights and tenure security must be prioritised in national and international policies.
- The Global Stocktake (GST) outcome must be human rights-based and provide recognition and protection of LEDs, which effectively enhances the ambition of the Paris Agreement. The GST outcome must include specific guidance on how parties should increase their intention to fulfill human rights obligations, and how to develop the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by ensuring the promotion, protection, and respect of human rights.
As a group consisting of international civil society organisations working with Indigenous Peoples, local communities and LEDs, including women and girls in all their diversity, we demand the urgent need to recognise the role of LEDs in addressing climate change; protection and expanding their rights including freedom of association, assembly, expression, and privacy; and their meaningful participation at both local and multilateral levels to achieve climate justice. An enabling environment for civil society and defenders is essential for addressing the climate crisis and ensuring a just transition.
Events
During various events at COP28 in Dubai, we work with partners to create spaces for environmental defenders to speak up on the importance of their inclusion in multilateral processes on climate policies.
Join us in person or via the livestream for the following events:
Sunday 3 December at 4.45 pm GST - Land and environmental defenders: Advancing climate justice
Criminalisation and attacks on land and the environment defenders are continuing to increase, but their voices are often not heard. Join us as we bring environmental defenders, policy makers and leaders together to discuss:
- why it’s important for governments to recognise the rights of land and environmental defenders, as well as legally guaranteeing their right to free, prior and informed consent before activities are approved in their territories;
- the UNFCCC policy frameworks to support the safe and meaningful participation of environmental defenders in decision-making, and
- how we must transform our economies by replacing fossil fuels with renewables, industrial agriculture with agroecology, and putting people and planet over profit through a human rights-based approach that enables a truly just energy transition.
Speakers include UN Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders, Michel Forst and Indigenous activist, Txai Surui.
When: Sunday, 3rd December 2023, 16:45-18:15 GST (Gulf Standard Time)
Where: Blue Zone, SE Room 8
Join us online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU-ju3mkWwQ
Co-organised by: Global Witness, Natural Justice, Centre for Environmental Concerns (Philippines), CambiaMO, EarthRights International, and Rural Development Institute.
Supporting organisations: CIVICUS, Green Advocates, International Land Coalition Africa (ILC Africa), Universal Rights Group, E-Law, European Center for Not-for-Profit Law, International Center for Not-for-Profit Law.
Friday 8 December at 9.30 am GST - Putting people at the centre of a just transition: How can we achieve a people-focused approach to the energy transition?
Moving to an equitable energy transition is a hot topic for COP28. It’s clear we need to shift to clean energy and adapt to future climate risks. So how can we ensure the world does not switch from one model of extraction and exploitation to another?
One way to guarantee a just energy transition is by ensuring that land and environmental defenders, activists and impacted communities, including Indigenous peoples, have safe access to civic space and allow them to meaningfully participate in climate decision-making, not just be an observer.
Join us as we bring together activists, representatives of the civil society and audience members to share experiences, discuss solutions and explore opportunities for collaboration.
When: Friday 8th December 2023, 9.30-10.15 GST (Gulf Standard Time)
Where: Nordic Pavilion, Blue Zone
Join us online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55XMqbFfVz8
Speakers include: climate activist Mitzi Jonelle Tan (Philippines), climate activist Mutuso Dhliwayo (Zimbabwe), climate justice activist Evelyn Acham (Uganda).
Co-organised by: Global Witness, Amnesty International, Casa Socio-Environmental Fund, Center for Environmental Concerns – Philippines, European Center for Not-for-Profit Law, International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, International Rivers, Namati and Rise Up Climate Movement / Tard Foundation.
