Justice

justice

Environmental issues, such as air pollution, access to green space and climate change should not affect the more vulnerable in society unfairly. Sustainability can help diverse communities thrive, whether in the UK or around the world.

Climate breakdown is impacting on us differently depending on where we live and our circumstances. It is often the case that poorer nations – who despite being less responsible for carbon emissions and having less resources to adapt, are being more directly impacted by climate change.

Early morning, a raft boat takes students across a flooded area to a road from where they can go to school. Their usual road to school collapsed due to abrasion caused by rising sea levels. Sayung subdistrict, Demak, Central Java, Indonesia. For more information, read Aji Styawan's project proposal here. — Early morning, a raft boat takes students across a flooded area to a road from where they can go to school. Their usual road to school collapsed due to abrasion caused by rising sea levels. Sayung subdistrict, Demak, Central Java, Indonesia. For more information, read Aji Styawan’s project proposal here.

The UN climate talks should be an opportunity for poorer nations to have their voices heard and for the international community to agree a deal that supports developing nations to move to a low carbon economy, while supporting an improvement in quality of life.

However, there is a great risk that their voices will be drowned out by wealthy countries and corporations that have the resources to out-lobby poorer nations.

A woman transports water in a jerrycan by rolling it along the ground. Most of the wells in the region have dried up or the water has become too salty for human consumption. The severe drought has extended across East Africa after the rainy season expected in October 2005 failed to arrive, continuing a decade of low rainfall.

Friends of the Earth International has 73 member groups across the globe fighting for climate justice, and now more than ever it is vital that we make the link between what happens here in the UK and other over- developed countries, and its impact on other nations. Due to the current economic and financial structures and Europe’s historical exploitation of many developing nations- we have a responsibility to play an active role in addressing these injustices by showing solidarity and ensuring practical and meaningful change.

As a local Friends of the Earth group we would like to increase our awareness of the environmental campaigning that is happening across the world and share this with our supporters. We welcome the sharing of ideas and stories.

Mozambique

Mozambique – Friends of the Earth Mozambique has been campaigning with Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland to halt the proposed Natural gas project in the Cabo Delgado region of the country due to both climate change and human rights abuses.

This is of direct interest to the UK taxpayer as the Government has invested £1 billion in the project.

Late in 2021 Friends of the Earth took the UK Government to court over their investment – for an update on the outcome of this hearing and what action you can take now, see more here.

Indonesia

Friends of the Earth International is standing in solidarity with WALHI Yogyakarta (Friends of the Earth Indonesia) in their support of the Wadas community who are rejecting a plan from the Indonesian Government to take over their land for an andesite mining site. They fear the potential negative impacts on the local environment and their livelihoods. To read more here to find out what you can do to help.