Sign on letter until 5th of December…
Climate change is one of the gravest crises faced by humanity and the earth itself. Unprecedented levels of finance is needed to enable people, communities and nations to deal with present and as well as future impacts of climate change and to make the systemic and technological transformation necessary to prevent worst catastrophes and heal the planet.
Many northern country governments and the World Bank itself have been actively pushing for the World Bank to be given the mandate to play a central role in Climate Finance. This is one of the critical issues being debated in the international negotiations taking place now in Cancun, Mexico among governments of more than 190 countries. It will continue to be so in UNFCCC sessions in the near future.
The World Bank’s nature as lending institution, its structures, track record and policies, and the ‘development’ paradigm it promotes are in contradiction to the principles of just, fair and effective climate finance. International financial institutions which have contributed to the debt burdens of countries of the South, impose policies that harm people and the environment finance fossil fuel projects that deepen the climate crisis, support private corporations at the expense of public interests, governed by undemocratic structures and operate without full transparency and accountability – these institutions cannot and should not be trusted with climate finance.
Join us in an international campaign calling for the WORLD BANK OUT OF CLIMATE FINANCE!
1. Sign on to the OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNMENTS meeting in CANCUN (see below) – email [email protected] on or before December 5, 2010
2. Join or organize different actions in your countries on from December 6 to 8, 2010 :
- Release press statements, letters to the editor; organize press conferences
- Join online actions (check WWW.FOEI.ORG on that day)
- Organize mobilizations in front of World Bank offices, Embassies of the US, UK, France, Germany and other EU countries
3. Join the mobilization in CANCUN on DECEMBER 8 (details to be announced)
4. Sign up as a participating organization at www.worldbankoutofclimate.org
An Open Letter to the Governments
Meeting at the 16th COP of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (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, democracy, participation 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, track record, and policies, 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,
(as of Nov 30 only….)
International/Regional Organizations & Networks
ActionAid
Friends of the Earth International
Jubilee South
LDC Watch
NGO Jeunes Volontaires pour l’ Environnement-International
Oil Change International
Transnational Institute (TNI)
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
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 (JSAPMDD)
Jubileu Sul / Américas – Jubilee South / Americas
Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA)
South Asian Alliance for Poverty Eradication (SAAPE)
Country Organizations & Networks
ASIA
BANGLADESH
Bangladesh Jatiyo Sramik Jote
Bangladesh Krishok Federation
Community Development Library – Bangladesh
Coastal Association for Social Transformation Trust (CoasTRUST) – Bangladesh
EquityBD – Bangladesh
SUPRO – Bangladesh
Participatory Research and Development Initiative (PRDI) – Bangladesh
VOICE – Bangladesh
INDIA
Indian Social Action Forum – India
National Hawkers Federation – India
Pannya Paribahan Sangram Samity – India
Calcutta Hawker’s Men’s Union – India
United Investors Forum – India
Sanitary, Pipe & Painting Workers Union – India
Himalaya Niti Abhiyan – India
EQUATIONS – India
Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha – India
mines, minerals and People (mmP) – India
Environics Trust – India
INDONESIA
Institute for Essential Services Reform
Koalisi Anti Utang – Indonesia
KruHA (People’s Coalition on Rights to Water) – Indonesia
Solidaritas Perempuan – Indonesia
KYRGYZTAN
Citizens against Corruption – Kyrgyztan
MALAYSIA
Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation (MSN) – Malaysia
NEPAL
National Alliance for Human Rights and Social Justice – Nepal
Rural Reconstruction Nepal
GEFONT – Nepal
Jagaran – Nepal
All-Nepal Peasant Federation (ANPFa)
PAKISTAN
Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee
Labour Party Pakistan
CADTM – Pakistan
PHILIPPINES
Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) – Philippines
SANLAKAS – Philippines
Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ)
Koalisyon ng Pabahay sa Pilipinas (KPP)-(Coalition for Housing Rights-Philippines)
MAKABAYAN-Pilipinas
Bukluran Student Alliance – PLM -Philippines
KAISA – Nagkakaisang Iskolar para sa Pamantasan at Sambayanan (United Scholars for the University and the People) – UP Diliman -Philippines
Sarilaya –Philippines
Sibuyan Island Sentinels League for Environment Inc. (Sibuyan ISLE) – Philippines
Ecological Society of the Philippines
Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) – Philippines
JAPAN
ATTAC – Japan
LATIN AMERICA and the CARIBBEAN
ARGENTINA
Diálogo 2000 – Argentina (Dialogue 2000 – Argentina)
BRAZIL
Sindicato dos Professores de Nova Friburgo e Região /Union of Professors, Nova Friburgo and Region – Brasil
Amigos da Terra Brasil (Friends of the Earth Brazil)
Rede Brasil sobre Instituições Financeiras Multilaterais – Brazil Network on Multilateral Financial Institutions
Fórum Mudanças Climáticas e Justiça Social – Brasil / Brazil Forum on Climate Change and Social Justice
Instituto Políticas Alternativas para o Cone Sul /Institute of Alternative Policies for the Southern Cone PACS – Brazil
Jubileu Sul Brasil – Jubilee South Brazil
FASE – Solidarity and Education – Brazil
COSTA RICA
Red Costarricense de Agendas Locales de Mujeres RED CALM ACAMUDE (Costa Rican Network of Local Women´s Agendas)
EL SALVADOR
Unidad Ecológica Salvadoreña UNES – Salvadoran Ecological Unit UNES – El Salvador
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)
AFRICA
KENYA
Daughters of Mumbi Global Resource Center – Kenya
Jesuit Hakimani Centre – Kenya
Kenya Debt Relief Network – KENDREN
SENEGAL
Third World Forum – Senegal
SOUTH AFRICA
Centre for Civil Society Environmental Justice Project – 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
South Durban Community Environmental Alliance – South Africa
Surplus People Project – South Africa
Timberwatch Coalition – South Africa
Zwartkops Conservancy – South Africa
EUROPE
BELGIUM
11.11.11 – Belgium
CADTM – Belgium
FRANCE
AITEC-IPAM – France
ATTAC – France
Friends of the Earth – France
World Forum for Alternatives – France
GERMANY
URGEWALD – Germany
FDCL – Berlin – Germany
HUNGARY
ATTAC – Hungary
ITALY
CRBM – Italy
Mani Tese – Italy
NORWAY
The Development Fund – Norway
RUSSIA
Russian Far East NGO BROC
SPAIN
ATTAC – Spain
Ecologistas en Accion – Spain
SWITZERLAND
Aktion Finanzplatz Schweiz
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
World Development Movement – UK
North America
UNITED STATES
Crude Accountability – USA
Institute for Policy Studies – Sustainable Energy and Economy Network – USA
Jubilee USA Network
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
CANADA
Polaris Institute – Canada