Tag Archives: climate

WTO’s creep into climate policy fails, for now…

by Victor Menotti, DCJ US Coordinator


Collapse of World Trade Organization’s 13th Ministerial (WTO MC13) is good news for climate justice because the Abu Dhabi agenda was old free-trade-wine in new greenwashed-bottles.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports 40% of global GHG emissions have happened since WTO was established in 1995, with WTO’s export-driven economic model intensifying use of fossil fuels while reducing protections for the environment and equity. If trade ministers want to help counter today’s climate crisis, they should support UN climate convention commitments for the transfer of climate-friendly technologies by allowing developing countries to waive monopoly patent rights enforced by WTO’s Agreement on Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights.

Too many trade ministers still see more “trade in environmental goods and services” as their main solution on offer. Given the disaster for small farmers resulting from 30 years of WTO rules on farm subsidies, and now seeing the similar disaster that would befall small-scale fisherfolk from WTO’s proposed rules on fisheries subsidies, we are relieved there is no new WTO mandate to now take up fossil fuel subsidies; this urgent challenge must happen in another venue guaranteeing their equitable elimination.

Outcomes from Abu Dhabi for WTO’s Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE) almost included language to keep WTO from expanding its mandate over climate and energy policies, emphasizing instead that trade officials explore the impacts of unilateral trade measures in climate policies by developed countries that unfairly hit developing countries.

The Philippines had proposed a paragraph for the official outcome document, but ultimately was not accepted, calling for WTO’s CTE “foster dialogue…on trade related aspects of environmental measures and their effects on market access, and on experiences of environmental and climate technology transfer, particularly focusing on needs of developing and least developed countries.”

The EU’s Green New Deal imposes a Carbon Border Adjustment Measure (CBAM) to “establish a level playing field” between European companies and imports from countries with lower pollution standards.

However, UNCTAD studies show CBAM would prevent only 0.1 percent of global emissions while raising revenue in the EU by $2.5 billion yet costing developing countries $5.9 billion, resulting in a substantial transfer of wealth from rich to poor.

Developed countries should instead deliver on their commitments from thirty years ago in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to provide finance and technology to developing countries who have much less historical responsibility for creating today’s climate crisis. For example, North America’s 4% of the global population is responsible for almost 25% of the global emissions since 1850, whereas Southern Asia’s 25% of the global population produced only 4% of the global emissions, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

WTO’s most significant contribution to countering today’s climate crisis could be to facilitate UNFCCC commitments for the transfer of climate-friendly technologies by allowing developing countries to waive patent rights enforced by WTO’s Agreement on Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). TRIPs currently keeps costs too high for developing countries who want to use cleaner technologies.

Roundup from Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice’s Activities and Events at Bonn Climate Change Conference SB56

Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice (DCJ) and its members took part in the Bonn Climate Change Conference for the 56th session of the subsidiary bodies, which took place from 6 to 16 June 2022, at the World Convention Center Bonn, Germany to prepare for the UN Climate Change Conference COP27 in November this year. This year the June sessions were focused on greenhouse gas emission reductions, adapting to climate impacts, and providing financial support for developing countries to cut emissions and adapt to climate change.

Scroll down for a roundup of DCJ’s activities in collaboration with its members during the 11 days of the Bonn Climate Change Conference.

False Solutions, Fossil Farces, and Fake Finance: What to Expect at Bonn Climate Change Conference, press conference by DCJ and members on June 7 2022

The Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice (DCJ)  held a press conference on June 7 2022 during the United Nations’ Conference on Climate Change at Bonn. DCJ and its members shared the demands and expectations of grassroot communities and frontline climate crisis defenders from this conference. They will also highlight the corporate capture of climate change dialogue perpetuating false solutions and greenwashing by the fossil fuel industry as well as lack of government action to address and mitigate loss and damage and provide climate finance for the Global South communities.

SPEAKERS

Meena Raman – Third World Network (TWN)

Claire Miranda – Asian Peoples Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD)

Rachel Rose Jackson – Corporate Accountability International (CA)

Moderated by Alex Rafalowics – Fossil Fuel Non Proliferation Treaty

False Solutions, Fossil Farces, and Fake Finance: What to Expect at Bonn Climate Change Conference, a press conference by DCJ and members

Put Loss and Damage on COP27 Agenda NOW: DCJ and its members joined other CSOs for action on Loss and Damage on June 7 2022

Action demanding loss and damage to be put on #COP27 agenda by CSOs and DCJ members at Bonn during SB56
Action demanding loss and damage to be put on #COP27 agenda by CSOs and DCJ members at Bonn during SB56

Climate Justice Pathways for Real Zero, Real Finance, and Real Action: SB56 Side Event on June 10 2022

DCJ joined its members Corporate Accountability International, Global Forest Coalition, Asia Pacific Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD) and Friends of the Earth Togo to co-host side-event ‘Climate Justice Pathways for Real Zero, Real Finance, and Real Action’ at Bonn Climate Change Conference where they discussed pathways to rapidly enact a 1.5-centered just transition that decreases emissions to #RealZero, how to urgently scale up finance for adaptation, and Loss and Damage. 

SPEAKERS

Gadir Lavadenz, Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice

Claire Miranda, Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development

Kwami Kponzo, Friends of the Earth Togo/Global Forest Coalition

Simone Lovera, Global Forest Coalition

Moderated by Rachel Rose Jackson, Corporate Accountability

Climate Justice Pathways for Real Zero, Real Finance, and Real Action: Side Event by DCJ and its members

Click below to view the full side event.


Pay Up for Loss and Damage: CSO Action on Loss and Damage Finance on June 11 2022

Pay Up for Loss and Damage: CSO Action on Loss and Damage Finance
Claire Miranda of DCJ’s member organization Asian Peoples Movement on Debt and Development during the CSOs action on Loss and Damage at SB56

Two weeks of all talk and no walk: A rocky road to Sharm el-Sheikh: Press Conference by DCJ and members, June 15 2022

The Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice (DCJ) held a press conference on June 15 2022 during the United Nations’ Conference on Climate Change at Bonn. With just hours left for climate talks to conclude in Bonn before negotiators reconvene at COP 27, representatives of DCJ explained the current state of play at UNFCCC’s SBs, share African civil society’s core demands, and what to expect on the ground in Sharm el-Sheikh in November.

SPEAKERS

Meena Raman, Third World Network

Tetet Lauron, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation

Colin Besaans, Powershift Africa

Rachel Rose Jackson, Corporate Accountability International 

Moderated by Gadir Lavadenz, Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice

Two weeks of all talk and no walk: A rocky road to Sharm el-Sheikh: Press Conference by DCJ and members

ACT NOW on Climate Crisis: DCJ and its members joined a CSO Action on last day of Bonn Climate Change Conference

DCJ and its members joined other CSOs on last day of Bonn Climate Change Conference calling out for governments to stop talking and ACT NOW on climate crisis, to pay up for loss and damage and climate finance and to support real solutions and not false solutions.

ACT NOW on Climate Crisis: DCJ and its members joined a CSO Action on last day of Bonn Climate Change Conference
ACT NOW on Climate Crisis: DCJ and its members joined a CSO Action on last day of Bonn Climate Change Conference

Check out some of the other resources on Bonn Climate Change Conference from DCJ and it’s members below.

CSO intervention by DCJ during the joint opening plenary

CSO intervention by DCJ during the closing plenary

Closing comments from climate justice voices around the world on the conclusion of Bonn Climate Talks

Daily Newsletter by Third World Network on Bonn Climate Talks