By Kaah Aaron in Paris
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
The International Youth and Students’
Movement of the United Nations(ISMUN) in collaboration with the Pan African
Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA)have noted that world leaders will be held
accountable if the 1.5*C target is not signed on Paris.
Holding under the theme “Leaving No
one behind and Establishing Climate Justice”as one of the side events in
this ongoing climate change arrangement, Budi Tjahjono advocacy officer for a
Voice at the United Nations lamented that a 1.5*C temperature rise will make
more suffers in the poor regions of the world like Africa, the Caribbean’s and
Latin America where people depended on natural resources for hope more desperate.
He argued that the US position of blocking the use of a human rightslanguage in
the drafted agreement had serious consequences for humanity. “An aspect of
human rights in the agreement calls for
a historic responsibility and engagement with the rich countries which has much
to do with compensations” Budi argued.
Calling for human rights to be put on
the center of the discussions, Budi stressed that this could assist government
s and member states under this treaty to act accordingly. Speaking for the
Caribbean Youth Environment Network Dickson Barry saidtheir youth Movement was
advocating for a 1.5*C temperature fixing agreement to be finalized on Paris.
According to Barry nothing less than that, was like “putting a gun to their
heads”. This youth leader said 1.5 *C for all the 800 youths in the 50different
states in the Caribbean meant justice and staying alive. “We want a world that
we will inherit and hand to posterity”. Barry added. Weeping that the Caribbean
would be at risk if global warming wasn’t checked, Barry cited sea rise and
floods as the existing daily challenges that people of his region had to gamble
with. “Anything above 2*C is not agreeing at all and we will hold our leaders accountable”.
Barry believed. Barry took the liberty to call on governments in the world to
create enabling structures for the youths to engage in climate change
discussions.
Cooperation Jackson a local coalition
for the people of the Africa decent form the USA wondered why the negotiators
were putting trade and politics first in the heart of the negotiation process.
Explaining how the USA was selfishly trying to control the way people were
living on earth, Cooperation Jackson said many cities in the US will be underwater
in 2020 if real measures were not taken to address global warming. “1.5*C is
relevant even for the US people” Jackson remarked. While calling on members of
the global civil society movements to look beyond this particular Cop and for
what the future holds , He concluded that the US government didn’t have
humanity at heart if it resisted to
append a 1.5*Csettlement on Paris. “We have to speak out for this is an issue
of social injustice “. Jackson added.
Speaking from an African civil society
perspective, SamsonSamuel Ogallah andShaddadMuawia of Pan African Climate Justice
Alliance PACJA said if the temperature
rise exceeded 1.5*C more people in Africa would be left behind in the execution
of the SDG’s Sustainable Development Goal’s, “A setback for the development and
progress of Africa and more and more people in the troubles of climate change
impacts would face moredaring challenges as a result of
temperature rise”Ogallah Said. Adding that climate justice meant that the
vulnerable in the world received compensations Shaddad expressed
disappointments that the US and other industrialized countries were playing to
the gallery. “There is need to have a human rights council and reporter who
will formulate legal instruments on which states must act”.Shaddad demanded.
Accepting that Justice means human
rights Jan Lonn, the secretary general
of the International Youth and Students Movement for the United Nations
requested that climate change had to be approached from a human rights
perspective. “Article II and the preamble of the Draft carry issues of human
rights and must be considered”. He said. Asking for the legalization of a 1.5*C
agreement to be declared for the survival of mother earth, JanLonn noted that
enacting a 2*C pact was not agreeing at all on Paris. “Our message is clear-
signing a 1.5*C treaty is respecting our human rights and justice for all.” Jan
ended.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
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