Climate justice discussed internationally as a social issue

On 26 September, corsus moderated the symposium ‘Climate justice as a social issue’ in Schwerin. The hybrid event, organised by the Association of One World Regional Networks in Germany (agl) and the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, brought together local actors and international activists from India and South Africa to share their experiences. In addition to the participants in the Wichernsaal, other guests took part online, including a school class from South Africa.

Jörn Mothes, Head of the Climate Protection Department at the Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment, welcomed the attendees. He emphasised the imbalance between those causing climate change, mainly in the global North, and those affected, mainly in the global South, and the associated responsibility. He also made the connection to the legislative process for the Climate Protection Act for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

In a moving speech, climate ambassador Uwineza Petety Mukagatare from the Helmholtz Centre Bremen explained the importance of climate justice for people in the Global South and appealed for joint action.

Katja Voigt from the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation presented the facts on the inequality of causation and impact of climate change and addressed the downside of our hunger for raw materials – including for climate-friendly technologies. Her conclusion: climate protection must be fair.

As a highlight of the event, Krishan Gairola (PhD) from corsus moderated a virtual panel discussion with activists for land, water and housing rights from Cape Town (South Africa) and Bangaluru (India). They showed how economically disadvantaged people are affected and what effective measures can be taken to protect them. They emphasised the crucial role of involving local communities, especially women. The dialogue encouraged networking beyond the event. David Schacht from the regional water board added the regional perspective on drinking water supply and emphasised how important it is to view drinking water as a common public good and to protect it from commercial interests.

In the afternoon, the event continued without the online participants with a world café. Climate protection and climate impacts were considered and discussed from a wide variety of perspectives at ten themed tables. The principle was to continue the dialogue at each new table, bringing along and incorporating ideas and impulses from the previous table. This allowed the topics to be interlinked. Topics included ‘acting for a just future’, ‘sustainable action in a Mecklenburg village’, moorland protection and municipal partnerships.

After Mr Mothes and Ms von Kessel from the One World Network Mecklenburg-Vorpommern summarised the results and said goodbye, the event ended with a fantastic musical finale with world music by Vincente Patice from the Ore Mountains.

All the people and institutions involved in the programme can be found in the event programme.

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