Climate justice in the face of polarization- from the global to the local in Indonesia
29 October 2024 | Indonesia
The climate crisis is a threat that impacts all people, all communities, all nations in the world. ACT Alliance has had a focus on climate justice through its programming and advocacy for many years, and that focus continues in its General Assembly taking place in Yogyakarta, Indonesia October 28-November 1, 2024.
The crisis is of concern to all people, from the youth attending the Youth Pre-Assembly, to leaders of ACT, ACT members, and others speaking to journalists during a press conference, or from those working with local communities in Indonesia to those engaged in the UNFCCC’s Conferences of the Parties.
Brigitta Ra Sekar Laras, Project manager for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, YAKKUM Emergency Unit, said, “In our discussions although we are coming from diverse contexts, there are similarity about great gaps and injustices experienced by women, vulnerable groups and youth as a result of the climate crisis mainly in the access to information, education, and employment that make young people increasingly pressured and anxious about the uncertainty of the future. The absence of political will from the state that narrows freedom of expression and puts youth in an unsafe position.”
Sekar was one of the organizers of the youth climate event during the Youth Pre-Assembly, where young people from around the world raised their voices in solidarity, calling for climate justice in Yogyakarta and around the world. “As young people, we must actively engage in understanding these issues and leading the conversation,” she said. “By raising awareness among our peers and communities, we can motivate collective action. Community-led initiatives have shown to be effective and sustainable, especially when they involve our voices and experiences.”
Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, General Secretary of the ACT Alliance, spoke about the additional challenges posed by polarization, but also the role of churches and other faith actors, “Yet, it is precisely in these challenging times when the role of civil society, and particularly faith-based organizations, becomes even more vital. ACT Alliance members are rooted in communities and have the trust of those we serve. In moments of crisis, faith-based actors are often the first to respond and the last to leave, because we are already part of the communities.”…
This news was originally published on actalliance website.