OUR MEMBERS
OUR MEMBERS
UK YOUTH CLIMATE COALITION
YOUTH DEMANDS FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE
UK YOUTH ARE ASKING THE UK GOVERNMENT TO ACHIEVE CLIMATE JUSTICE, ON THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL STAGE
REPARATIONS
REPRESENTATION
RESPONSIBILITY
We call for reparations, representation and responsibility from the government.
These measures should seek to target systemic imbalances that are the underlying drivers for continued climate injustice.
REPARATIONS a material correction of past and ongoing harms taking into account adaptation needs, by governments and companies accountable for carbon emissions, including (but not limited to) the following actions;
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Remove Global South debt
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Support and fund a mechanism for effective Loss and Damage financing, such as the Climate Damages Tax
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Implement a just and adequate system for climate financing
REPRESENTATION - actively advancing the inclusivity and accessibility of climate decision-making for climate justice campaigners, with particular emphasis on the inputs of marginalised and indigenous communities most significantly impacted by climate change. Actions including (but not limited to) the following actions;
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Prioritise bottom up processes and local knowledge (in particular indigenous peoples and local communities) in all projects
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Facilitate knowledge-sharing regarding adaptation internationally and recognising the experiences of the Global South in adaptation
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Implement stronger global legal protection of natural ecosystems and indigenous peoples rights in the process of environmental protection
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Mainstream gender equality across all elements of climate change planning and policy (such as through a Gender Action Plan)
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Ensure transparent and continued consultation with, and contribution from, those most affected by the climate crisis on all levels of climate policy in a way that is racially and socioeconomically diverse and accessible for people with different levels of disability (this includes frontline communities, small island states, indigenous peoples and youth)
RESPONSIBILITY - admitting the complicit role the UK government, other governments, and companies have had in creating climate injustice and making efforts to change behaviours and practises to undo this harm including (but not limited to) the following actions;
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Implement a just Conflicts of Interest policy (free from loopholes) to make sure negotiations are not influenced by stakeholders profiting from fuelling the climate crisis e.g. the fossil fuel industry
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Incorporate both consumption and production based emissions into emissions targets, as well as including aviation and shipping that are currently left out
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Improve education on climate change by incorporating it into the national curriculum and higher education across all disciplines, and by implementing non-formal education programmes through media, networking and partnerships that empower young people. This should be done with specific focus on intersectionality.
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End all UK Government investment or financial support for fossil fuels overseas, and make a concerted diplomatic effort to build an alliance of countries seeking to end fossil fuel subsidies.
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Ensure the UK takes a leading role in honouring the Paris Agreement 1.5 degree target
YOUTH DEMANDS FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE (explained)
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Remove Global South debtDue to historical exploitation, the current pandemic, and increasing pressures from more frequent extreme weather events caused by climate change, Global South countries are battling unforeseen levels of debt. In trying to repay this debt countries are increasing the rate of extraction of natural resources further driving the climate crisis. Resources are also diverted from other basic needs to the point where many countries are spending more on debt repayment than healthcare. Now more than a 100 countries have sought help from the International Monetary Fund for repayment. Global South debt should be removed to allow more funds to be used on healthcare, climate adaptation and mitigation, and for fighting inequality.
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Support and fund a mechanism for effective Loss and Damage financing such as the Climate Damages TaxLoss and damage refers to the impacts of climate change that cannot be adapted to or rebuilt. It includes the loss of lives, livelihoods, cultures and ecosystems. Compensation for this loss is needed because the countries that are experiencing the greatest losses are often not responsible for the impacts of climate change, and are often not in an economic position to recover from these impacts. A Climate Damages Tax holds those most responsible, the fossil fuel industry, to account. This concept which taxes the extraction of fossil fuels to create a fund for compensation could raise approximately 300 billion USD a year to help the most vulnerable to deal with the worst impacts of climate change and up to 700 billion USD a year for the global just transition to renewable energy, jobs and transport.
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Implement a just and adequate system for climate financingThe current state of climate finance funding for both mitigation and adaptation in the Global South does not fulfill the goals of the Paris Agreement. It is inadequate, focuses heavily on mitigation at the expense of adaptation, and does not reach those most vulnerable to climate change. Additionally, the UK (among other donors) continues to use climate finance to advance their national interests. We demand a considerable scale-up, balance between adaptation and mitigation, and increased efforts to target the most vulnerable by objective allocation in climate finance.
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Remove Global South debtDue to historical exploitation, the current pandemic, and increasing pressures from more frequent extreme weather events caused by climate change, Global South countries are battling unforeseen levels of debt. In trying to repay this debt countries are increasing the rate of extraction of natural resources further driving the climate crisis. Resources are also diverted from other basic needs to the point where many countries are spending more on debt repayment than healthcare. Now more than a 100 countries have sought help from the International Monetary Fund for repayment. Global South debt should be removed to allow more funds to be used on healthcare, climate adaptation and mitigation, and for fighting inequality.
-
Support and fund a mechanism for effective Loss and Damage financing such as the Climate Damages TaxLoss and damage refers to the impacts of climate change that cannot be adapted to or rebuilt. It includes the loss of lives, livelihoods, cultures and ecosystems. Compensation for this loss is needed because the countries that are experiencing the greatest losses are often not responsible for the impacts of climate change, and are often not in an economic position to recover from these impacts. A Climate Damages Tax holds those most responsible, the fossil fuel industry, to account. This concept which taxes the extraction of fossil fuels to create a fund for compensation could raise approximately 300 billion USD a year to help the most vulnerable to deal with the worst impacts of climate change and up to 700 billion USD a year for the global just transition to renewable energy, jobs and transport.
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Implement a just and adequate system for climate financingThe current state of climate finance funding for both mitigation and adaptation in the Global South does not fulfill the goals of the Paris Agreement. It is inadequate, focuses heavily on mitigation at the expense of adaptation, and does not reach those most vulnerable to climate change. Additionally, the UK (among other donors) continues to use climate finance to advance their national interests. We demand a considerable scale-up, balance between adaptation and mitigation, and increased efforts to target the most vulnerable by objective allocation in climate finance.
-
Remove Global South debtDue to historical exploitation, the current pandemic, and increasing pressures from more frequent extreme weather events caused by climate change, Global South countries are battling unforeseen levels of debt. In trying to repay this debt countries are increasing the rate of extraction of natural resources further driving the climate crisis. Resources are also diverted from other basic needs to the point where many countries are spending more on debt repayment than healthcare. Now more than a 100 countries have sought help from the International Monetary Fund for repayment. Global South debt should be removed to allow more funds to be used on healthcare, climate adaptation and mitigation, and for fighting inequality.
-
Support and fund a mechanism for effective Loss and Damage financing such as the Climate Damages TaxLoss and damage refers to the impacts of climate change that cannot be adapted to or rebuilt. It includes the loss of lives, livelihoods, cultures and ecosystems. Compensation for this loss is needed because the countries that are experiencing the greatest losses are often not responsible for the impacts of climate change, and are often not in an economic position to recover from these impacts. A Climate Damages Tax holds those most responsible, the fossil fuel industry, to account. This concept which taxes the extraction of fossil fuels to create a fund for compensation could raise approximately 300 billion USD a year to help the most vulnerable to deal with the worst impacts of climate change and up to 700 billion USD a year for the global just transition to renewable energy, jobs and transport.
-
Implement a just and adequate system for climate financingThe current state of climate finance funding for both mitigation and adaptation in the Global South does not fulfill the goals of the Paris Agreement. It is inadequate, focuses heavily on mitigation at the expense of adaptation, and does not reach those most vulnerable to climate change. Additionally, the UK (among other donors) continues to use climate finance to advance their national interests. We demand a considerable scale-up, balance between adaptation and mitigation, and increased efforts to target the most vulnerable by objective allocation in climate finance.
Glossary:
Mitigation - reducing the seriousness of the impacts of climate change, by reducing the quantity of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Adaptation - transforming the way we live to enable us to live with the impacts of climate climate, e.g. installing high river walls to prevent flooding
Patriarchal - a social system in which men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege and control of property.
Conflict of interest - a situation in which the concerns or aims of two different parties are incompatible - e.g. fossil fuel companies and climate change negotiations
BAME - Black and Minority Ethnic
Nationally Determined Contribution - a document each country must submit to the UN explaining how and by how much they will reduce their national emissions and how they plan to adapt to climate change impacts
Committee on Climate Change - an independent non-departmental public body, formed under the Climate Change Act to advise the United Kingdom and devolved Governments and Parliaments on tackling and preparing for climate change.
Womxn - a term used to specifically include people whose gender identity doesn’t fit in the traditional binary boxes, this includes transgender, gender fluid and non-binary individuals.
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