learn more about climate affected peoples and impacted communities
The people of the Global South and Indigenous Peoples worldwide are most vulnerable to climate change. This is because their livelihoods are intimately tied to the land and water, to the diversity of their ecosystems and to their traditional knowledge about these resources. This knowledge is a fundamental element of the sustainable societies we need to build, andit is now severely threatened by the climate crisis.
The problem
Climate change is already impacting access to water and food, exacerbating extreme weather, droughts and disasters, all of which is fostering more hunger, thirst, disease and displacement. The climate crisis facing the planet today has already caused irreversible damage to many ecosystems; these impacts will only become more severe, intensifying social and economical conflicts.
In addition some of the so called solutions to climate change are making communities more vulnerable to its effects. Oil and gas pipelines, coal mines, uranium extraction, large hydroelectric projects, agrofuel plantations, and carbon offset projects such as monoculture tree plantations all have detrimental effects to the communities they come into contact with.
The solution
Friends of the Earth International believes that a diverse and effective global movement is necessary to stop climate change and allow communities to generate their own means of building resilience and generating energy rather than relying on the private sector. Linking communities to share experiences and build a political identity is an essential element of this goal. Communities around the world must be given the means to reduce their vulnerability to climate change.
What we’re doing
Friends of the Earth International provides public and political spaces for affected peoples to share their experiences and demand climate justice for their communities. Communities across the world are joining together to form an international movement for solidarity and survival and to demand their human rights and sovereignty are protected. Friends of the Earth International is also supporting affected communities in securing their rights through legal means and resisting the false solutions being put on the table by large corporations, governments and financial institutions.
The Climate Justice Program is an international and collaborative project that encourages enforcement of the law to combat climate change and to put a stop to the associated human rights injustices. Climate liability and litigation is an increasingly common campaign tool to enforce the law to combat climate change.
´voices of the peoples affected by climate change´
Friends of the Earth International produced a testimonial publication with 9 case studies from communities from across the world documenting the way in which climate change is impacting on their lives and the resilience of communities to protect themselves from these impacts through co-operation and organisation. Download the publication.
