‘Silenced’ voices deliver #MyCOPMessage to climate talks
This year’s UN environmental summit has limited representation for the world’s most vulnerable communities. We hear from the local and regional experts denied a platform in Baku.
Earlier this year, it was announced that budget constraints meant the UNFCCC had to cancel Regional Climate Weeks. These vital platforms are designed to amplify the concerns of people most affected by climate change.
It’s also been confirmed that COP29 has half the delegation as last year’s summit, with many of those left out of negotiations also coming from frontline communities and NGOs. This is particularly worrying given 2024’s focus is on the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance, which promises relief for those same communities.
According to Tim Wainwright, Chief Executive of WaterAid, these people are ‘currently picking up the tab for a crisis they have done the least to cause and their voices are being closed out of crucial conversations’. In response, the charity has now launched the #MyCOPMessage, asking specialists who were not given access to negotiations in Baku to deliver a statement about urgency, needs, hopes, and demands.
In addition, WaterAid is also calling for a number of things from COP29. The list includes;
- Calling on the UNFCCC climate negotiators to align behind a New Collective Quantified Goal that meets the ambitions and needs for realizing the Paris Agreement.
- Calling on national governments to develop climate adaptation plans that strongly consider the water and sanitation needs of communities – particularly in the next round of submissions for Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in 2025. Governments must work with local experts, civil society, and communities to develop and implement these plans.
- Calling on donor governments and multilateral financial institutions to provide accessible and timely finance for countries most affected by the climate crisis, so that low-income country governments can implement their climate adaptation plans in full, and support communities to build resilience to climate change.
- Calling on communities to raise their voices and call for action, wherever they live. WaterAid encourages communities affected by climate change to share their expertise and solutions, and demand their governments to provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene, especially in the face of the climate crisis.
Take a look at the messages below;
Pierre Panda, Secretary-General at the Green Ark Committee in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
‘More than half of the world’s population in extreme poverty lives in Africa; Africa accounts for 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions compared to 75% of the so-called ‘developed’ countries.
‘In any case, Africa remains the continent hardest hit by the devastating effects of climate change: water shortage, floods, droughts, infectious diseases, degradation of public infrastructures, energy crisis, conflicts over lands, ecological migrations, etc. Meanwhile, the phantasmagorical promises of billions of dollars by North countries in favour of developing countries remain pious hopes!
On the occasion of this COP29 which is taking place in Azerbaijan, as African civil society, our message to the governments, political decision-makers and donors is clear: As much as commitments and efforts are made in the direction of reducing greenhouse gases emissions and mitigating climate change, as reaffirmed at the previous COP28 in Dubai, it is essential to increase the resources to support.
‘The time for good intentions is over; keep your promises, it is time to act.’
Durga Sob, Founder-President of Feminist Dalit Organisation in Nepal
“We marginalised people have been facing multiple discrimination for centuries. Our settlements are often located in fragile lands of remote and rural area. We have been experiencing the rise in temperature, frequent natural disasters like floods, landslides, earthquakes, droughts due to which our homes, livelihood, survival and the future of our children have been threatened the most.
“It is crucial that at COP29 developed countries take responsibility for the loss and damage. They must commit to financial support and climate adaptation measures that are specifically target marginalised communities like Dalits. We call for increased climate funding, technology transfer and policies that ensure the most vulnerable groups are included in decision making process. Let’s stand together, fight for justice and protect the future of all.”
Mary James Gill, lawyer and human rights activist from the Center for Law & Justice in Pakistan
‘As a representative of the Center for Law & Justice (CLJ), I urge decision-makers at COP29 to recognize that marginalized communities in Pakistan, and across the globe, bear the brunt of climate change’s devastating effects. In these communities, inadequate sanitation systems are already strained, and climate impacts such as flooding, extreme temperatures, and water scarcity exacerbate their vulnerability.
‘When sanitation fails, public health collapses, leaving the most disadvantaged populations at even greater risk. We call on global leaders to invest in sustainable, climate-adaptive sanitation infrastructure that not only protects the environment but also upholds human dignity and the basic right to health, safety, and well-being for all. We call on global leaders to not only invest in sustainable sanitation solutions but to ensure that these investments reach the communities most in need.’
Amaka Nweke from the Network of Water Rights Initiative in Nigeria
‘To world leaders and policymakers, one of the critical areas that need urgent attention is Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH). Access to clean water and proper sanitation is vital for the health and productivity of our communities.
‘I urge all world leaders and policymakers to intentionally prioritize the provision of safe water to every household by improving water infrastructure, expanding piped water systems, and rehabilitating damaged facilities.
‘Additionally, enforcing sanitation regulations and supporting community-led sanitation initiatives to help eliminate open defecation and improve hygiene. This investment in WASH will not only enhance public health but also strengthen our economy and the well-being of future generations.
Ismail Suleiman from the African Humanity Initiative in Kenya
‘As a representative of the African Humanity Initiative, I would urge decision-makers at COP to prioritize equitable access to climate adaptation resources for vulnerable coastal communities.
‘These communities are on the frontlines of climate change, facing rising sea levels, biodiversity loss, and increasing food insecurity. We must ensure that sustainable solutions, such as marine conservation and climate-resilient agriculture, are backed by policies that empower local populations, especially women and youth, to take charge of their environmental and economic futures.
Phearum Sorn, Deputy Governor of Kandal Stueng District in Cambodia
‘Human activities are accelerating climate change, and it’s essential for each of us to take responsibility for protecting nature through simple actions, like the ‘one person, one tree’ initiative.
Climate change is also impacting our water resources, leading to slow water supply and sanitation services. By working together, we can reduce environmental degradation, enhance climate adaptation, and bolster ecosystems to better withstand climate change.’
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Images: Top – unknown via Openverse / All other images (C) WaterAid