“We demand an end to policies and programs that violate the integrity of nature, plunder the environment, and expose already vulnerable communities to further sufferings and miseries. We reject false solutions to the climate crisis such as the corporate “Green Economy” and profit-oriented schemes like carbon trading and offsets, pay- ments-for ecosystem-services, large- scale biofuel production, geo- engineering schemes, corporate- controlled renewable energy, the liber- alization of environmental goods and services, and other measures being ped- dled by some global institutions, North- ern governments and corporations. These measures and policies are but attempts to greenwash capitalism, com- modify nature’s life-giving and life- sustaining capacities, and further con- centrate resources in the hands of the elites and their big corporations. The advanced capitalist countries have the historical responsibility to undertake more ambitious climate actions for hav- ing contributed most to global warming. These countries must commit to quanti- fiable goals that will keep 80% of known fossil fuel reserves to remain in the ground and ensure that the concen- tration of greenhouse gases in the atmos- phere return to 300 ppm. They must provide the means to prevent, minimize, and deal with damages arising from their cumulative pollution of the atmosphere as part of their ecological debt to peo- ples in the global south. They must also bear the costs of transferring technology to developing countries necessary to mitigate climate change. These demands must be reflected in a binding agreement among governments currently negotiating a new climate agreement and a new development agenda to be concluded in 2015. A new international mechanism to address loss and damage associated with the impacts of climate change in develop- ing countries should be adopted to provide adequate and non-debt creat- ing financing for loss and damage, including compensation funds, debt cancellation, universal social protec- tion schemes, and community-led gen- der-responsive adaptation and mitiga- tion programs. There must be full and effective participation of affected communities, including women, in all levels of decision making for address- ing climate change. But most importantly, we must collec- tively struggle against the current sys- tem which is the main cause of the looming environmental disaster. It is clear that the basic driving force of capitalism – that is to expand, grow and accumulate more profit for the few – is in contradiction with the real- ity of the earth’s finite and (shrinking) natural resources. We need to found an alternative sustainable system that must ensure the basic material and non -material needs of all peoples, while protecting the wellbeing and balance of the biosphere. As we mark the anniversary of Ty- phoon Haiyan and honor the memories of our families, relatives and friends, we resolve to continue to build peo- ple’s resilience against climate change through solidarity. We vow to fight for climate justice, and build a new sys- tem based on the rational, collective, and democratic management and use of resources in the interest of the peo- ple and the well-being of the planet. phmovement.org/sites/phmovement.org/files/Newsletter%204%20-%20sept-Oct-Nov%202014pressed.pdf
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 03:15:03 +0000
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