|
||
 |
||
On the occasion of the Human Rights Day Climate Alliance presents the "Luxembourg Appeal"Press Release from 10 December 2010 |
|
Forest and climate protection agreements endanger rights of indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are already today strongly affected by the effects of climate change although they contribute to it the least. Their survival and their rights are increasingly threatened by climate change and the CO2 emissions in the industrial countries.
Market-oriented climate protection instruments like the Clean Development Mechanism intensify the situation of indigenous peoples additionally. Their right on free prior and informed consent will be undermined by forest protection and compensation agreements like REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation). The generation of further certificates - here for the CO2 tied in the trees - doesn't contribute to climate protection and enables private businesses to emit as much greenhouse gas as now. But furthermore the land rights of indigenous peoples are endangered.
Therefore Climate Alliance demands with the Luxembourg Appeal together with partner organisations of the EU project EnergyBridges that the funds promised in the framework of the Copenhagen Accord are deposited for adaptation to climate change and that concrete protection measures like the Yasuní-ITT Initiative in Ecuador are implemented. The funds have to be provided additionally to existing promises and cannot be used as political leverage since human lives depend on.
Since the exploitation of fossil energies as well as uranium and the cultivation of agrofuels cause extensive environmental damage and in most cases at the expense of human rights, the EU should gradually cut back the import of these raw materials from the south. Furthermore the industrial countries should reduce three quarters of their emissions in their own country since no greenhouse gas will be reduced by the bare obligation to the purchase of emission certificates.
Luxembourg Appeal: http://energybridges.eu/index.php?id=49&L=1 --------------- The "Climate Alliance of European Cities with Indigenous Rainforest Peoples" is Europe´s largest city network dedicated to climate protection. Since 1990, more than 1,500 cities and municipalities have joined and made the commitment to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent every five years. Climate Alliance´s European Secretariat helps its members by providing methods and tools to efficiently implement local climate change policies and to evaluate the achievements in terms of CO2 emission reductions. It also promotes the exchange of experiences and lobbies for improved framework conditions at national, European and international levels. Climate Alliance cooperates with indigenous peoples for the conservation of the tropical rainforests. Partner is COICA, the coordination of the nine national indigenous organisations in the Amazon basin. -------------------- Climate Alliance / Klima-Bündnis / Alianza del Clima e.V. Angela Hanisch, Public Relations and Newsletter
Related News:
|
|
|