Climate Justice Frameworks and International Efforts

Rohullah Azhad, M. A. in I.R.
Global classroom II
Justice on Climate change, Sustainable
Development and Human Rights
KazNU Al-Farabi
Almaty – Kazakhstan, 2012

Summary
Heavy snowfall in Ireland causing damages
East of Africa worst drought
The whole world is vulnerable to climate change but scientific and empirical
research has confirmed what was already anecdotally clear:
climate change affects people differently
those who are more socially or poor economically
International community has recognized the direct and indirect effects of
climate change on human rights and the dis-proportionate impact felt by
those who are already vulnerable.
(Where there are rights, there are responsibilities.)
Ensures people’s dignity and respects their rights.
Meets their basic needs and where resources are shared equitably.
Supporting people to cope and adapt their livelihoods.
Not to leave the future to chance.
To increase understanding of the interconnections between lifestyles and
public policy choices. 2 7/5/2012

Summary (Continued)

Recurring food and energy crises and the alarming depletion and
degradation of natural resources and systems on which human life
depends, more than ever call into question how current sustainable
development models are and how should it be?
With its causes and consequences bound up in these convergent crises,
climate change is a particularly ominous symptom of the failure of
development decisions. A change of direction to deal with the climate
crisis must be a symbol of the shift to a new development paradigm.
This paper looks at the frameworks needed to support and secure
action on climate change at global and national levels. Highlighting the
work of partners to support affected communities and their efforts to
influence their governments to bring about policy change, it seeks to
place political and public discussion on climate action in the context of
a debate on the broader issue of sustainable development.
3 7/5/2012

Introduction
Goals of the research:
how can achieve clear environment ,
decrease harm and disadvantages of climate change.
How much important is international efforts and convergence?
In which level actions are more effective; national, sub-national, or international?
list and cite many frameworks and conferences,
proved necessity of Rio+20.
In which level were previous conferences on climate changes much more effective; and
are efforts in many conferences and meetings every year a factor to lead countries to
achieve their goals better?
Individual and political actions for one or two time
Sub-national level actions for a short period
International political frameworks and conferences forever
Organization of the research
Concepts and principles
International Frameworks and conferences specially Rio+20
Conclusion and recommendation
4 7/5/2012

Climate ethics, Climate justice, Programs

Justice on climate ethics

5 7/5/2012

Climate ethics
Climate ethics is generally used as a term for viewing climate change
as an ethical issue and considering how its causes and effects relate
to concepts of justice, particularly social and environmental justice.
For example examining issues such as equality, human rights,
collective rights and historical responsibility to climate change.
Everyone has a right to life, liberty, and personal security.
Humans have rights to life, liberty, and personal security that
create duties in others to refrain from interference with these
basic rights.
In this paper we seek to help clarify our duties to prevent the
neglect or violation of those rights. Of course, climate change policy
making raises additional ethical issues including questions about
duties to protect future generations of humans, plants, animals, and
ecosystems. 6 7/5/2012

Principles of Climate ethics

Respect and protect Human Rights
Support the right to development
Highlight gender equality and equity
Share benefits and burdens equitably
Leave fossil fuels in the ground
Demand real and effective solutions
Equal access to resources
Use effective partnerships to secure Climate Justice
Harness the transformative power of education for climate
stewardship
Ensure that decisions on Climate Change are participatory,
transparent and accountable 7 7/5/2012

Climate justice
Climate Justice is generally used as a term for viewing climate change as an ethical
issue and considering how its causes and effects relate to concepts of justice,
(social justice and environmental justice). This term is also used with reference to
legal systems, where justice is achieved through application and development of
law in the area of climate change.
Climate Justice is a new and growing area of research that focuses on the
ethical dimensions of climate change, and concepts such as climate justice.
Climate Justice links human rights and development to achieve a human-
centred approach, safeguarding the rights of the most vulnerable and sharing
the burdens and benefits of climate change and its resolution equitably and
fairly. Climate justice is informed by science, responds to science and
acknowledges the need for equitable stewardship of the world’s resources.
Climate justice is a vision to dissolve and alleviate the discrimination created by
climate change. As a form of environmental justice, climate justice is the fair
treatment of all people and freedom from unequal burdens with the creation of
policies and projects that address climate change and the systems that create
climate change and perpetuate discrimination.
8 7/5/2012

Climate justice is a fluid concept, however, there are recurring themes across
various definitions. The following definitions taken from 'Organizing Cools The
Planet' give a picture of the various understandings of climate justice:

Demanding Climate Justice section Environmental Justice and
of Hoodwinked in the Hothouse Climate Change Initiative
Climate Justice as Evaluative Model: Roots in Environmental Justice:
“Climate Justice is a struggle over “Climate Justice is a vision to
land, forest, water, culture, food dissolve and alleviate the unequal
sovereignty, collective and social rights; it is a burdens caused by climate change.
struggle that considers “justice” at the basis of any As a form of environmental justice,
solution; a struggle that supports climate solutions climate justice is the fair treatment
found in the practices and knowledge of those of all people and freedom from
already fighting to protect and defend their
discrimination with the creation of
livelihoods and the environment; a struggle that
policies and projects that address
insists on a genuine systematic transformation in
climate change and the systems
order to tackle the real causes of climate change…
Climate Justice addresses four key themes: root that create climate change and
causes, rights, reparations and participatory perpetuate discrimination.”
democracy.” 9 7/5/2012

Principles of Climate justice

Indigenous Environmental Network
Four Principles for Climate Justice: “Industrialized society must
redefine its relationship with the sacredness of Mother Earth:
Leave Fossil Fuels in the Ground
Demand Real and Effective Solutions
Industrialized – Developed Countries Take Responsibility
Living in a Good Way on Mother Earth"

10 7/5/2012

The Program on the Ethical Dimensions of
Climate Change
In December 2004 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Collaborative Program on the Ethical
Dimensions of Climate Change was launched at the 10th Conference of Parties to the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The major outcome of this
meeting was the Buenos Aires Declaration on the Ethical Dimensions of Climate Change.
The program on the Ethical Dimensions of Climate Change seeks to:
Facilitate express examination of ethical dimensions of climate change;
Create better understanding about the ethical dimensions of climate change among
policy makers and the general public;
Assure that people around the world, including those most vulnerable to climate change,
participate in any ethical inquiry about responses to climate change;
Develop an interdisciplinary approach to inquiry about the ethical dimensions of climate
change and support publications that examine the ethical dimensions of climate change;
Make the results of scholarship on the ethical dimensions of climate change available to
and accessible to policy makers, scientists, and citizen groups;
Integrate ethical analysis into the work of other institutions engaged in climate policy
11 7/5/2012

Climate justice actions,

Action Plans on Climate justice

12 7/5/2012

Climate Justice Action
Climate Justice Action (CJA) "is a global network of groups and individuals committed to
taking action to prevent catastrophic climate change". CJA formed as part of the alternative
mobilization around the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen,
and organized mass Direct actions during the conference.
The Network has a strong emphasis on climate justice, and has the following goals:
To promote and strengthen the rights and voices of Indigenous and affected peoples
(including workers) in confronting the climate crisis. To support reparations and the
repayment of ecological debt to the Global South by industrialized rich countries
To build a global movement for climate justice that encourages urgent action to avoid
catastrophic climate change.
To highlight the critical role of biodiversity in weathering the climate crisis, and to defend
the existence of all species.
To expose the roles of false and market-based climate “solutions” as well as corporate
domination of climate negotiations in worsening the climate crisis.
To advance alternatives that can provide real and just solutions to the climate crisis.
Our network is committed to working with respect, trust and unity towards these goals.
To both sharpen our understanding of, and to address, the root social, ecological,
political and economic causes of the climate crisis toward a total systemic
transformation of our society. 13 7/5/2012

Individual and political action on climate change
Individual and political action on climate change can take many forms, most of
which have the ultimate goal of limiting and/or reducing the concentration of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, toward avoiding dangerous climate change.

Political action Protest movements
Political action can gain media, change laws A number of groups from around the
and regulations that relate to climate world have come together to work
change, such as tax incentives, greenhouse on the issue of global warming. 2005,
gas emissions limits or establishing a a coalition of 50 NGOs called Stop
regulatory framework within which carbon Climate Chaos launched in Britain, to
trading markets can operate. Political action highlight the issue of climate change.
can also gain media and public attention to
climate change. Political action from the The Campaign against Climate
community, however, is often challenged by Change was created to focus purely
interests within the fossil-fuel industry., on the issue of climate change and to
Some climate change sceptic groups are pressure governments into action by
independent of the fossil-fuel industry, such building a protest movement of
as the Australian Youth Climate Change sufficient magnitude to effect
Council (AYCCC). political change.
14 7/5/2012

Sub-national level action
Some states, regions, and cities in the world are taking the lead
on developing emissions reduction methods in the absence of
federal policy and may provide models for future national efforts.
Their efforts are achieving real measurable emissions reductions
and by pursuing policies and programs that have climate benefits,
they have promoted state economic development, improved air
quality and trimmed their vulnerability to energy price spikes. In
the long run, addressing climate change will require
comprehensive national policy and international agreements.
However, in the absence of federal policy, states and regions are
taking the lead on developing policies that may provide models
for future national efforts.
15 7/5/2012

United Kingdom
Ghent, Belgium
The town of Totnes in Devon through its "Transition
Town Totnes" Project has adopted an Energy The city promotes a meat-
Descent Plan, as a response in answer to the twin free day on Thursdays called
problems of greenhouse gas emissions and peak oil. Veggiedag, with vegetarian-
As a result of a series of large, well-attended public only food in public canteens
gatherings with key experts from around the world, for civil servants and elected
and the organization of a number of special interest councilors, soon in all schools,
groups, the community has come together with and promotion of vegetarian
lecturers and trainers shared with Schumacher eating options in town. This
College, through a process of participative strategic campaign is linked to the
planning, to hone their skill in project development. recognition of the detrimental
As a result of the initiatives, a large number of other environmental effects of
communities have started Transition Town projects, meat production, which the
and there are now more than 400 around the United Nations' Food and
world, ranging from small communities to whole Agriculture Organization has
cities (e.g. Berlin). The concepts of including food established to represent
miles or carbon neutral labels on packaging has nearly one-fifth of global
been gaining interest in the UK. greenhouse gas emissions.
16 7/5/2012

International political frameworks
The European Union Emissions Trading Scheme
Under Kyoto, countries with targets can elect to reach these targets in co-
operation with other countries. The European Union has decided to work as a
unit to meet its emissions targets. The European climate change program
attempts to do this by utilizing an emissions trading scheme known as the
European Union Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading Scheme. The principle of this
scheme is quite simple: to make their legally binding commitments under Kyoto,
countries can either make these savings within their own country, or they can
buy these emissions reductions from other countries. These other countries
would still need to meet their Kyoto targets, but the use of a free market system
ensures the reductions are made for the least possible costs. Most reductions are
made where these reductions are cheapest, and the excess reductions can be
sold on to other countries where such cuts would be less economically viable.
South Africa (Ecologize Politics, Politicize Ecology)
South Africa's first National Conference on Environment and Development was held at
the University of the Western Cape in conjunction with the Cape Town Ecology Group and
the Western Cape Branch of the World Conference on Religion and Peace in 1991.
Prominent persons involved in this conference were Ebrahim Rasool, Cheryl Carolus,
17 7/5/2012
Faried Esack, and Julia Martin.

International political frameworks
United Nation conferences and frameworks

United Nations Conference on the
Human Environment, 1972
The UN's first major conference on international Climate Justice Now!
environmental issues, marked a turning point in
CJN is a global coalition
the development of international environmental
of organizations and
politics which convened under United Nations
networks campaigning
auspices, held in Stockholm, Sweden.
for climate justice. The
113 countries, 19 inter-governmental agencies, coalition was founded at
about 400 IGOs and NGOs the UNFCCC meeting in
The meeting agreed upon a Declaration Bali, and has since
containing 26 principles concerning the mobilized for UNFCCC
environment and development; an Action Plan meetings in Bangkok,
with 109 recommendations, and a Resolution. Copenhagen and Cancun.
18 7/5/2012

UNCED: UN-FCCC/Kyoto Protocol/Earth summit 1992 (Rio)
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an international
environmental treaty produced at the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development (UNCED), held in Rio de Janeiro from June 3 to
14, 1992. (172 governments 2,400 NGOs)
The objective of the treaty is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the
atmosphere at a level that prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with
the climate system. (Non-binding)
The treaty provides for updates (called "protocols") that would set mandatory
emission limits. The principal update is the Kyoto Protocol, which has become
much better known than the UNFCCC itself.
The parties to the convention have met annually from 1995 in Conferences of
the Parties (COP) to assess progress in dealing with climate change. In 1997,
the Kyoto Protocol was concluded and established legally binding obligations
for developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Another
agreement was to "not carry out any activities on the lands of indigenous
peoples that would cause environmental degradation or that would be
culturally inappropriate".
The Earth Summit resulted in the following documents:
Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Agenda 21, Forest Principles
19 7/5/2012

WSSD, Earth Summit 2002 (Rio+10)
World Summit on Sustainable Development took place in
Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 Aug to 4 Sep 2002. It was
convened to discuss sustainable development by the United
Nations. WSSD gathered a number of leaders from business and
non-governmental organizations,
The Johannesburg Declaration was the main outcome of the
Summit; however, there were several other international
agreements. It laid out the Johannesburg Plan of
Implementation as an action plan. Agreement was made to
restore the world's depleted fisheries for 2015. It was agreed to
by negotiators at the World Summit.
The initial informal discussions on a possible new Summit in 2002
were held in February 1998 and hosted by Derek Osborn who co-
chaired the preparatory meetings for Rio+5 and Stakeholder
Forum for a Sustainable Future.
20 7/5/2012

United Nations Climate Change Conference, 2009
Copenhagen Summit, was held at the Bella Center in
Copenhagen, Denmark, between 7 - 18 Dec. COP 15 - MOP 5
According to the Bali Road Map, a framework for climate
change mitigation beyond 2012 was to be agreed there.
The Copenhagen Accord was drafted by the United States,
China, India, Brazil and South Africa on December 18, and
judged a "meaningful agreement" by the United States
government. It was "taken note of", but not "adopted", in a
debate of all the participating countries the next day, and it
was not passed unanimously. The document recognized that
climate change is one of the greatest challenges of the
present day and that actions should be taken to keep any
temperature increases to below 2°C. Many countries and non-
governmental organizations were opposed to this agreement,
but, throughout 2010, 138 countries had either formally signed
on to agreement or signaled they would.
21 7/5/2012

Was held in Cancún, Mexico, from 29 Nov to 10 Dec 2010. COP 16 - CMP 6
The outcome of the summit was an agreement adopted by the states'
parties that called for a large "Green Climate Fund", and a "Climate
Technology Centre" and network. It looked forward to a second
commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol.
The agreement further recognizes that deep cuts in global greenhouse
gas emissions are required, with a view to reducing global greenhouse
gas emissions so as to hold the increase in global average temperature
below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and that Parties should take
urgent action to meet this long-term goal, consistent with science and
on the basis of equity; and recognizes the need to consider, in the
context of the first review, strengthening in relation to a global average
temperature rise of 1.5°C. The agreement also notes that addressing
climate change requires a paradigm shift towards building a low-carbon
society. The agreement calls on rich countries to reduce their
greenhouse gas emissions as pledged in the Copenhagen Accord, and
for developing countries to plan to reduce their emissions.
22 7/5/2012

Was held in Durban, South Africa, from 28 Nov to 11 Dec 2011 to establish a
new treaty to limit carbon emissions. COP 17 - CMP 7
The conference agreed to a legally binding deal comprising all countries,
which will be prepared by 2015, and to take effect in 2020. There was also
progress regarding the creation of a Green Climate Fund (GCF) for which a
management framework was adopted.
A primary focus of the conference was to secure a global climate agreement
as the Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period (2008–2012) was about to
end. It was also expected to focus on "finalizing at least some of the Cancun
Agreements", reached at the 2010 Conference, such as "co-operation on
clean technology", as well as "forest protection, adaptation to climate
impacts, etc.
Forcing countries for the first time to admit that their current policies are
inadequate and must be strengthened by 2015, it has snatched 2 °C from the
jaws of impossibility. At the same time it has re-established the principle that
climate change should be tackled through international law, not national,
23 7/5/2012
voluntarism."

The UN Conference on Sustainable Development, known as Rio+20, is
almost here. The year 2012 marks the 20th anniversary of the UN
Conference on Environment and Development, referred to as the
Earth Summit, a milestone in the global sustainability process and the
birthplace of the Local Agenda 21 movement
The decision to hold the conference in 2012 in Rio de Janeiro was
made by UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/64/236 on 24
December 2009.
In 2012 the United Nations will convene the United Nations
Conference on Sustainable Development, also known as Rio 2012 or
Rio+20, hosted by Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, as a 20-year follow-up to the
historic 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development (UNCED) that was held in the same city. The conference
is organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and
Social Affairs.
The conference will focus on two themes: building a green economy
and creating an effective institutional framework for sustainable
development. 24 7/5/2012

In the run-up to and during the Rio+20 conferences, ICLEI will
organize two main events aimed at accelerating action on global
sustainability. The ICLEI World Congress 2012, and parallel event
Urban Nature (12-14 June) will bring together Members, partners,
experts, researchers and businesses, to find solutions to the urban
and global challenges we face:
Strongly linked to Rio+20, the Congress is a unique opportunity to
exchange with other large and leading cities facing similar
challenges and to develop partnerships to strengthen your work
in this area.
The Rio+20 Global Town Hall is the place where the sustainable
urban future will be discussed at Rio+20. Local government
leaders can connect with UN officials, country negotiators, leading
private sector executives and other important individuals in an
interactive situation close to Rio+20 seeks to build global political
consensus on a pathway towards greater environmental, social
and economic sustainability. 25 7/5/2012

International Community, European Union

Conclusion and
Recommendations

26 7/5/2012

In recent years calls for climate justice have gained support among
global civil society and other actors. While there is no one definition of
climate justice, the importance of the concept is that it broadens the
debate on climate change beyond technical and political discussion to
a focus on people and on rights and responsibilities. This is a critical
contribution.
Although efforts of every unique country, regardless in governmental
level, media or civil society, help reducing harms and damages on
environment caused by climate change, there is need coordination for
sum up these gains and attempts in a global level to achieve the goals
quickly and easily. It is right that climate change is different in every
region and places around the world, but indirectly, it has effect for
whole atmosphere surround the earth. Therefore all regulations,
activities, and funds should be synchronized in international
conferences and summits to achieve this aim better. But continuing of
climate change in the future compels humans that follow their plans
every year in many different meetings and conferences. Of course
Rio+20 emphasis previous achievements and adds new tools and ideas
for future measures.
27 7/5/2012

While recognition of the need to protect the environment in
development has increased markedly in the last decades, this
has largely focused on reducing the impacts of existing practices
rather than rethinking the way in which humans view and
interact with the earth. Many climate justice movements
advocate a profound rethink of the way we manage the natural
environment and its resources.
Which we believe that the EU and international community need
to urgently implement in order to address the issue of climate
change in ways which benefit those living in poverty. These
recommendations, whilst they are numerous, are not enough.
They represent the first step towards redirecting development
towards a more sustainable and equitable future for all.
We need to maximize synergies and minimize risks in
addressing agriculture and climate change
We need strong EU leadership – a key to progress
We need fair, ambitious and binding global action
28 7/5/2012

Thank you!

29 7/5/2012

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