On Tuesday, civil society organizations launched the statement of the regional campaign "Sustainable Climate", which is directed by representatives of these organizations represented by the Misr El Kheir Foundation to world leaders participating in the Cop27 conference, which will be hosted by Sharm El-Sheikh in a few days.
The statement came in both Arabic and English, as representatives of civil society organizations sent a message through their statement.
As the representatives of civil society organizations, we believe that consolidating peace, sustainable economic development and political stability are indispensable to promoting effective climate action on the African continent and Arab Region, and that effective climate action cannot be achieved without an inclusive and equitable society.
Accordingly, we urge world leaders to assume their role and responsibility to safeguard the planet and humanity and ensuring that no one is left behind. This can be achieved by honoring previous commitments and pledges to address climate change, including the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, and the negative direct and indirect implications facing humanity.
In this context, we cannot underestimate the threats facing our developing societies due to climate change and its impacts. It is projected that the global economy could lose up to 4% of global economic output by 2050, 5 million people could perish every year from high temperature and extreme weather conditions that are expected to worsen over the next several years.
As representatives of civil society organizations, we call on world leaders to:
1) Accelerate climate action across all sectors, including mitigation, adaptation, and financing as well as the adoption of more ambitious mitigation measures to maintain temperature rise below 1.5°C.
2) Save future generations from the scourge of climate change and its devastating and damaging effects.
3) Honor climate pledges and promoting collaboration to implement sustainable development policies and programs.
4) Ensure community and stakeholders’ engagement in policy formulation and implementation.
5) Provide adequate Finance for adaptation and mitigation adaptation plans and create a database for associations working in the field of climate change and assisting them in securing financial support and grants necessary to implement their ambitious programs.
6) Ensure the engagement and participation of civil society in the decision-making processes.
7) Emphasize shared and mutual climate benefits for different stakeholders and for both developed and developing countries.
8) Develop clear frameworks for global climate governance.
9) Promote a transparent and participatory process with the aim of achieving secure and politically stable societies, enabling countries to adapt, mitigate, and honor their national commitments
10) Support local communities and build their capacities to withstand and adapt to climate change
11) Reduce the risks of climate change to societies and individuals by supporting mitigation and adaptation mechanisms.
12) Enhance the transfer and development of environmental technologies and their dissemination in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the social cost of emissions.
13) Encourage green innovation and contribute to the rapid and global dissemination of new technologies and knowledge, by strengthening intellectual property systems, particularly patents.
14) Acknowledge the necessity of shifting to a carbon-neutral society and introduce controls and incentive measures to achieve this end.
15) Preserve biological diversity from threats and risks attributed to climate change.
As representatives of local and regional non-governmental organizations, we are deeply concerned about the current multiple crises and threats to our societies, and what world leaders can do to respond to the growing needs of the region. We however believe that concerted action, and the mobilization of different actors to engage effectively in addressing climate change, is the only way to bring our societies to safety, as we have a great responsibility to work together to reduce the effects
Accordingly, as representatives of civil society organizations, we pledge the following:
1) Commitment to the agreed international treaties, agreements, charters, national strategies, and action plans related to the environment and climate change.
2) Create institutions that function according to sustainability and good governance standards.
3) Support climate governance mechanisms within the community and disclose harmful environmental and climate practices.
4) Promote cooperation and joint climate action in order to formulate effective policies and programs to adapt to climate change.
5) Promote the concept of climate justice.
6) Digital transformation and contribution to building a knowledge-based society.
7) Maximize the importance of partnerships, networking, and working within local and regional networks.
8) Provide the necessary support to vulnerable groups and those least able to adapt to climate change.
9) Support the societal orientation towards green transformation socially and economically.
10) Rationalize the use of natural resources and localize renewable energy applications.
11) Preserve biological diversity and ecosystems that are the main life support systems for human beings.
12) Support the efficiency of health services to face expected health diseases as a result of climate change
13) Support the move towards climate-smart agriculture.
14) Support scientific research in the field of climate change.
15) Support the transition to renewable energy.
Support the financing of climate action activities.
Therefore, civil society organizations within the regional campaign "Sustainable Climate" have accepted this joint statement, urging world leaders meeting at the International Conference of the States Parties COP 27 in Sharm El-Sheikh to commit to their active roles and historical responsibilities before all humanity.
Contributed by Israa Farhan
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