Evizda

Wednesday’s release of a weak and vague draft climate deal touched off angry and energetic protests, including a large sit-in at the COP21 summit, where civil society and social movement groups from around the world demanded global leaders take the truly ambitious action necessary to address the climate crisis.

“Our governments must not settle for the draft text as it stands,” said Sara Shaw, Friends of the Earth International climate justice and energy coordinator, in a press statement released Wednesday. “People on the frontline of climate change, who are already suffering as a result of climate change, demand that rich countries to do their fair share of emissions reductions and provide necessary finance for an energy transformation in Southern countries. The draft deal fails these frontline communities.”

To the disappointment of global campaigners, the 29-page draft deal between representatives of 195 countries leaves numerous key climate demands unaddressed or unresolved. According to news reports and early analyses, the draft:

• Indicates lack of agreement on climate reparations—or financial help in adapting to climate change—from the rich countries that are disproportionately responsible for driving global carbon emissions.
• Does not take a firm position on goals regarding an aggressive move away from fossil fuels extraction, even though scientists warn that the vast majority of fossil fuels must remain in the ground in order to stave off the worst of the climate crisis.
• Omits language regarding fuels used for shipping and aviation.
• Signals support for some market-based “solutions,” such as Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+), despite widespread opposition among Indigenous groups and climate justice campaigners.

“Key demands like reparations for those who suffer irreparable losses and damages because of climate change are still highly contested in this draft,” said Friends of the Earth International. “There is no agreement on finance. Developed countries are still planning to use a disproportionately large carbon budget, shirking their responsibilities and pushing the burden onto developing countries.’

The draft deal contrasts sharply with the People’s Test on Climate released ahead of the summit by “representatives of Southern social movements of climate-impacted communities and of international faith, labor, development and environmental organizations.” These demands include: “urgent and drastic emissions reductions”; “adequate support for transformation”; “justice for impacted people”; and “transformational action” that turns away from carbon markets.

Many who are rallying at the COP21 talks argue that, to truly take on the climate crisis, global societies must undergo a “just transition” away from fossil-fuel-dependent and environmentally-destructive economies altogether.