An Open Letter to the Governments of the World Meeting at the UNFCCC in Cancun
People and communities throughout the global South need hundreds of billions of dollars each year to deal with the impacts of climate change, build resiliency and adopt alternative development pathways. The cost of compensation for past, present, and future damages due to climate change will only grow if, in addition, the necessary measures are not taken in the industrialized countries to make a just transition to equitable, non-fossil fuel based economies.
We call on the governments of the world to comply with their obligations to ensure that new and additional public resources for climate finance are made available now in a way that is founded on the principle of historical responsibility, does not add to debt burdens, and is free from policy conditionalities.
We urge you to set up a Global Climate Fund under the authority of the UNFCCC that has an equitable governance structure, prioritizes the participation of affected communities, operates with full transparency and accountability, and provides direct access to funding.
The World Bank and other multilateral development banks must not be given a role in establishing or governing the new Global Climate Fund nor in managing climate finance. Their nature, structure and track record stand in contradiction to what should be the principles of fair and effective climate finance, and the structure and operations of a new fund.
- The World Bank is a lending institution that has long been imposing policy conditions and programs on South countries and peoples through its loans. Giving a role to the World Bank in climate finance will result in a significant part of climate finance flowing as loans, and will very likely come with conditionalities.
- The World Bank’s governance structures are undemocratic, with representation dominated by governments of rich, industrialized countries The Global Climate Fund should have a majority representation of South countries in its governance structure since they are the world’s majority and most affected by climate change. The needs and rights of communities impacted by climate change, and the transition to equitable and sustainable economies based on sovereign, democratic control and governance of natural resources must be at the center of decision-making on climate finance.
- The World Bank has a long track record of undermining human rights and ecological integrity. For example, in 2010 alone, the World Bank financed a record high $6.3 billion to fossil fuel projects, a 138% increase over the previous year. An institution that actively promotes the causes of global warming should not be given a role in global climate finance. Rather, it must be pressed to end such policies and practices, including the many false solutions that the Bank is now promoting.
- The World Bank actively privileges the private sector and private capital markets over public interests. Climate finance must be used to support the public good, not to promote private profit and the commodification of nature. It must come in the form of public resources, not rely on market-based programs for its generation and application. Innovative tools for raising public resources are already in our reach including redirecting fossil fuel subsidies and military spending, and taxing financial speculation.
We call on you, the governments of the world, to keep the World Bank and other multilateral development banks out of the new Global Climate Fund and out of climate finance.
Signed,
International Organizations & Networks
350.org
ActionAid
Friends of the Earth International
Global Anti-Incinerator Alliance (GAIA)
Grassroots International
International Federation of Hawkers and Urban Poor
International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
International Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations (ISMUN)
Jubilee South
LDC Watch
Marianists International
NGO Jeunes Volontaires pour l’ Environnement-International
Oil Change International
People’s Health Movement
Society for Threatened Peoples International
Transnational Institute
Regional Organizations & Networks
Alternatives Asia
Amigos de la Tierra – América Latina y el Caribe (Friends of the Earth Latin America / Caribbean)
Campaña Mesoamericana para la Justicia Climática – Mesoamerican Campaign for Climate Justice
Charter of Human Responsibilities – Asia
Corporate Europe Observatory
European Network on Debt and Development (EURODAD)
Federación de Amigos de la Tierra (Friends of the Earth Federation)
Focus on the Global South
Iniciativa contra los Agronegocios – America Latina
JS-Asia/Pacific Movement on Debt and Development
Jubileu Sul / Américas – Jubilee South / Americas
Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA)
South Asian Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE)
South Asian Dialogues on Ecological Democracy (SADED)
Country Organizations & Networks
ASIA
BANGLADESH
Bangladesh Jatiyo Sramik Jote
Bangladesh Krishok Federation
Coastal Association for Social Transformation Trust (CoasTRUST) – Bangladesh
Coastal Development Partnership (CDP) – Bangladesh
Community Development Friend (CDF) – Bangladesh
Community Development Library – Bangladesh
EquityBD – Bangladesh
HumanityWatch – Bangladesh
ISDE- Bangladesh
Participatory Reserach and Development Initiative (PRDI) – Bangladesh
SUPRO – Bangladesh
VOICE – Bangladesh
HONGKONG
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation of the Missionary Society of St Columban – Hongkong
INDIA
Abasan Jeebika Raksha Sangram Committee- India
All India Bank’s Deposit Collector’s Federation
Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha – India
Calcutta Hawker’s Men’s Union – India
Environics Trust – India
EQUATIONS – India
Himalaya Niti Abhiyan – India
Humanity Watch – India
Indian Social Action Forum – India
Intercultural Resources Delhi – India
Janapriya Bazar Hawker Sangram Committee- India
mines, minerals and People (mmP) – India
National Forum of Forest People & Forest Workers – India
National Hawkers Federation – India
Sanitary, Pipe & Painting Workers Union – India
Pannya Paribahan Sangram Samity – India
United Investors Forum – India
INDONESIA
Institute for Essential Services Reform
Koalisi Anti Utang – Indonesia
KruHA (People’s Coalition on Rights to Water) – Indonesia
Sari – Solo Indonesia
Serikat Buruh Indonesia (Indonesia Labour Union-SBI)
Serikat Nelayan Indonesia (Indonesia Fisherfolk Union-SNI)
Serikat Tani Merdeka (SETAM)- Indonesia
Solidaritas Perempuan – Indonesia
Suluh Muda Indonesia (SMI)– North Sumatra
JAPAN
ATTAC – Japan
Jubilee Kanasai Network – Japan
KOREA
Energy and Climate Policy Institute for Just Transition (ECPI) – Korea
KYRGYZSTAN
Citizens against Corruption – Kyrgyztan
MALAYSIA
Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation (MSN) – Malaysia
NEPAL
All-Nepal Peasant Federation (ANPFa)
National Alliance for Human Rights and Social Justice – Nepal
Rural Reconstruction Nepal
GEFONT – Nepal
Jagaran – Nepal
PAKISTAN
AWAMI Party Pakistan
CADTM – Pakistan
Labour Party Pakistan
Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum
Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee
PHILIPPINES
Aksyon Klima – Pilipinas (Climate Action – Philippines)
Aniban ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (Union of Agricultural Workers –AMA) –Philippines
Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (Solidarity of Filipino Workers-BMP)-Philippines
Bukluran Student Alliance – PLM -Philippines
Ecological Society of the Philippines
Envi-Watchers and Movers – Philippines
Faith-based Congress against Immoral Debts (FCAID)-Philippines
Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) – Philippines
Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) – Philippines
KAISA – Nagkakaisang Iskolar para sa Pamantasan at Sambayanan (United Scholars for the University and the People) – UP Diliman -Philippines
KAISA KA (Unity of Women for Freedom) – Philippines
Kilusan para sa Pambansang Demokrasya (Movement for Nationalism and Democracy-KPD) – Philippines
Koalisyon ng Pabahay sa Pilipinas (KPP)-(Coalition for Housing Rights-Philippines)
MAKABAYAN-Pilipinas
Manggagawa para sa Kalayaan ng Bayan (Workers for National Democracy- MAKABAYAN) – Philippines
Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ)
Sagip Sierra Madre Environmental Society, Inc. (SSMESI) – Philippines
SANLAKAS – Philippines
Sarilaya –Philippines
Sibuyan Island Sentinels League for Environment Inc. (Sibuyan ISLE) – Philippines
Xaverian Missionaries- Philippines
Youth for Nationalism and Democracy (YND) – Philippines
SINGAPORE
Environmental Challenge Organisation –Singapore
THAILAND
Tourism Investigation & Monitoring Team (TIM-Team) – Thailand
LATIN AMERICA and the CARIBBEAN
ARGENTINA
ATTAC – Argentina
Diálogo 2000 – Argentina (Dialogue 2000 – Argentina)
BRAZIL
Amigos da Terra Brasil (Friends of the Earth Brazil)
FASE – Solidarity and Education – Brazil
Fórum Mudanças Climáticas e Justiça Social – Brasil (Brazil Forum on Climate Change and Social Justice)
Instituto Políticas Alternativas para o Cone Sul – PACS (Institute of Alternative Policies for the Southern Cone PACS) – Brazil
Jubileu Sul Brasil – Jubilee South Brazil
Rede Brasil sobre Instituições Financeiras Multilaterais – Brazil Network on Multilateral Financial Institutions
Sindicato dos Professores de Nova Friburgo e Região (Union of Professors, Nova Friburgo and Region, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil)
COSTA RICA
Red Costarricense de Agendas Locales de Mujeres RED CALM ACAMUDE (Costa Rican Network of Local Women´s Agendas)
COLOMBIA
Reta Tu Lado Verde! – Colombia
EL SALVADOR
Unidad Ecológica Salvadoreña UNES – Salvadoran Ecological Unit UNES – El Salvador
HAITI
Batay Ouvriye – Haití
HONDURAS
Bloque Popular Honduras (Popular Block Honduras)
MEXICO
Red Mexicana de Accion frente al Libre Comercio (RMALC) – Mexico
Otros Mundos AC/Amigos de la Tierra México (Other Worlds / Friends of the Earth Mexico)
PANAMA
FRENADESO – Panamá (National Front on Economic and Social Rights – Panama)
VOCES ECOLÓGICAS (Ecological Voices) – Panama
AFRICA
GHANA
Abimbimman Foundation – Ghana
African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC )- Ghana
Centre for Youth Development Advocacy (CYDA) – Ghana
Ghana National Youth Coalition on Climate Change (GNYCCC)
KENYA
Daughters of Mumbi Global Resource Center – Kenya
Jesuit Hakimani Centre – Kenya
Kenya Debt Relief Network – KENDREN
MOROCCO
Moroccan Youth Climate Coalition (MYCC)
SENEGAL
Third World Forum – Senegal
SOUTH AFRICA
Centre for Civil Society Environmental Justice Project – South Africa
Climate Justice Now! – South Africa
Cooperative and Policy Alternative Center (COPAC) – South Africa
Earthlife Africa Cape Town – South Africa
Economic Justice Network of the Fellowship of Christian Councils – South Africa
Institute for Zero Waste – South Africa
Jubilee South Africa
Renewable Energy Centre– South Africa
South Durban Community Environmental Alliance – South Africa
Southern Africa’s People’s Solidaritary Network (SAPSN)
Surplus People Project – South Africa
Timberwatch Coalition – South Africa
Trade Strategy Group – South Africa
Zwartkops Conservancy – South Africa
ZIMBABWE
Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD)
EUROPE
AUSTRIA
Begegnungszentrum fuer aktive Gewaltlosigkeit (Center for Encounter and Active Non-Violence) – Austria
ECA Watch – Austria
BELGIUM
11.11.11 – Belgium
CADTM – Belgium
FRANCE
Action Consommation –France
AITEC-IPAM – France
Alter Ekolo –France
ATTAC – France
CADTM -France
Friends of the Earth – France
World Forum for Alternatives – France
GERMANY
ATTAC – Germany
FDCL – Berlin – Germany
NaturFreunde Deutschlands
ROBIN WOOD– Germany
URGEWALD – Germany
Zukunftskonvent – Germany
World Economy, Ecology and Development – Germany
HUNGARY
ATTAC – Hungary
IRELAND
East Cork For a Safe Environment – Ireland
ITALY
A Sud – Italy
Campagna per la Riforma della Banca Mondiale (CRBM) – Italy
Comitato Italiano per il Contratto Mondiale per l’Acqua (CICMA) – Italy
Fair – Italy
Forum Italiano dei Movimenti per l’Acqua – Italy
Mani Tese – Italy
Servizio Civile Internazionale – Italy
NORWAY
The Development Fund – Norway
RUSSIA
Russian Far East NGO BROC
SPAIN
ATTAC – Spain
Ecologistas en accion
Verdegaia – Spain
SLOVENIA
Sissi Siko – Slovenia
SWEDEN
Forum Syd
SWITZERLAND
Aktion Finanzplatz Schweiz – Switzerland
La Coordination Climat et Justice Sociale de Genève Suisse – Switzerland
Le Comité pour l’Annulation de la Dette du Tiers Monde de Suisse – Switzerland
UNITED KINGDOM
Jubilee Debt Campaign – UK
People & Planet – UK
Platform – UK
Share The World’s Resources (STWR) – UK
The Corner House – UK
World Development Movement – UK
NORTH AMERICA
CANADA
Council of Canadians
KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives
Polaris Institute – Canada
UNITED STATES
Advocates for Environmental Human Rights – USA
Amazon Watch – USA
Cascade Climate Network – USA
Crude Accountability – USA
EcoEquity – USA
Green Delaware – USA
Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters – JPIC – USA
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
Institute for Policy Studies – Sustainable Energy and Economy Network – USA
Jubilee San Diego – USA
Jubilee USA Network
Labor/Community Strategy Center and Bus Riders Union – USA
Leadership Conference of Women Religious – USA
Little Village Environmental Justice Organization – USA
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns– USA
New York Climate Action Group – USA
Rainforest Action Network – USA