Both ENDS

News / 4 november 2022

Both ENDS to attend climate conference in Egypt

Climate action is urgently needed to slow down global warming. The effects of climate change are already showing themselves. Floods in Pakistan and closer to us, in the Netherlands, are causing loss of life and much emotional and economic damage, while local climate solutions are still largely being ignored. That's why Both ENDS is going to participate in COP27, the climate conference in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

From 6 to 18 November, countries from around the world will be talking about how much money will go to developing countries to protect them against the effects of climate change, will have to honour their commitment stop providing export support for fossil fuels, and decide about a loss and damage fund. In other words, it's time for action.

Time for action

At last year's climate conference in Glasgow the Dutch government and 38 other governments and financial institutions pledged to stop support for fossil fuels as of the end of this year. Both ENDS will monitor whether these countries honour this pledge and call on other countries like Australia to do the same.

Together with our partners, Both ENDS is organizing two side events at COP27 on the importance of fair climate finance: gender-just climate finance and climate finance for agroecology. Food systems are responsible for 33% of greenhouse gas emissions but receive only 3% of climate finance. There is an urgent need for climate finance to fund solutions for food systems that can deliver real impacts and major benefits in widely varying contexts. In addition, only a small percentage of climate finance goes to local communities, and to women and indigenous peoples in particular, while these groups are crucial and already have climate solutions to offer.

Human rights in Egypt

Both ENDS made a considered choice to attend COP27 because of the urgency of the climate crisis. At the same time, together with many civil society organisations around the world, Both ENDS is seriously concerned about the human rights situation in Egypt, and especially about the restrictions imposed by the government on the freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, which threaten to undermine the prospects of a successful, inclusive and participative climate conference.

We support the call by the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association for the work of civil society organisations to be recognised publicly and at the highest level as essential to the progress of climate measures and a fair transition. We also stress the importance of the right to freedom of expression and independent journalism to promote efforts to tackle the climate crisis.

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