Centering Voices from the Global South
This week’s theme, Decolonizing Climate Action: Centering Voices from the Global South recognizes that that the voices of those most impacted by climate change are often ignored or face barriers to participate in climate decision-making. KAIROS and its partners recognize that years of agreements from COP (Conference of the Parties) meetings have privileged voices and positions from the Global North and focused on proposed solutions that have failed to be equitable and to incorporate the global range of actors and their positions.
People and communities in the Global South have done the least to cause the climate crisis but have been experiencing its impacts first and disproportionately, compared to the Global North. Despite this, they are already finding innovative and holistic solutions to climate problems. Local and traditional knowledge, and lived experience are critical in informing sound policies and programs to address climate change.
In 2022, KAIROS and For the Love of Creation supported a joint delegation to COP27 in Egypt. The delegation’s objective was to amplify the importance of meaningful participation and leadership of women human rights defenders and peacebuilders, youth and Indigenous peoples from Canada and the Global South in decision-making spaces related to climate policy and programming. The delegates recommended ongoing support to global partners to participate in climate decision-making spaces in their regional and local communities, as well as globally.
Thanks to a grant from OPSEU Social Justice Fund this year, KAIROS has been able to support participation and leadership of Global South partners at the UN Regional Climate Weeks, in the lead up to COP28. This week, we’ll hear insights from partners who attended the Africa Climate Week and Africa Climate Summit in September and the Latin America and Caribbean Climate Week in October. We’ll also hear from delegates who are attending the Asia-Pacific Climate Week taking place this week in Johor, Malaysia.
Check the KAIROS Climate Action Week blog every day this week for articles, reports and resources that amplify voices from the Global South demanding climate justice!
There is still time to register for our webinar, Churches’ Advocacy on Loss and Damage – Tuesday, November 14 at 7:30 pm EST. Simultaneous English/French interpretation will be available.
