We are transforming the system from the grassroots up. Will you join us?
As we near the end of a particularly challenging year marked by escalating conflicts, rampant corporate power, the global rise of the far right, our fight for environmental and social justice is more important than ever.
At Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) we wholeheartedly believe in Peoples’ Power. As a federation of more than 70 member groups around the world, we support peoples’ solutions and their power to change the system from the grassroots. Radical and lasting change, that puts people and the planet first, is a necessary condition for achieving our vision of a society based on social, economic, gender and environmental justice and free from all forms of oppression and exploitation, such as neoliberalism, corporate globalisation, neo-colonialism and militarism.
Building a Brighter Future: Highlights of Our 2024 Journey
We are thrilled to share some highlights from this year, that illustrate our commitment to mobilise, resist and transform our society.
At the UNFCCC climate talks (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, together with our allies, we called out the hypocrisy of rich countries that once again failed to deliver the climate finance needed to adequately address the impacts of climate change (adaptation, loss and damage), and transition to an equitable energy system, whilst fuelling the genocide in Gaza and promoting harmful carbon markets and false solutions.
At the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) in Cali, Colombia, we celebrated a huge victory for Indigenous Peoples and local communities, who will now have a dedicated work body under the Convention. We also welcomed the approval of a new work plan by the CBD which will further enhance the role of Indigenous Peoples, local communities and Afro-descendant peoples in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. At the same time we denounced the push of corporations towards false solutions, especially biodiversity offsetting and the lack of sufficient funding for the global South.
Hopes to reach a just, people and planet-centred international agreement to end plastic pollution vanished in Busan, Korea, at the UN Plastics Treaty (INC-5). Insufficient progress was made, and negotiations have been extended to 2025. Despite the disappointment, we will keep fighting: postponing the plastics treaty doesn’t postpone the plastics crisis!
2024 was also an opportunity for us to build our narrative on food sovereignty as a justice-centred solution. The aim is to shift the discourse on agribusiness solutions by discrediting agribusiness’ false solutions among decision-makers, grassroots movements and civil society organisations (CSOs). In the report False solutions, real profits: agribusiness’ tactics uncovered, FoEI exposed the corporate strategies on false solutions and how they prevent food sovereignty and perpetuate systems of oppression.
Our work on Internationalist Solidarity was a key component of 2024. We stood in solidarity with Gaza, firmly demanded an immediate ceasefire, the end of the occupation and the liberation of Palestine, granting its people indigenous rights and sovereignty on their land. We denounced the genocide of Palestinians and the ecocide of their land.
We also stood in solidarity with peoples’ struggles in Argentina, Mozambique and El Salvador where authoritarian governments are repressing democratic rights and have arrested, killed and injured peaceful protesters.
We looked inward to strengthen and improve the capacities of our member organisations. Our commitment to gender justice and dismantling patriarchy is embedded in our pathways to system change work, and reflected in our commitment to a policy on the prevention of violence and sexual harassment to ensure that our member groups and joint spaces are safe, healthy and free from violence.
Finally, we welcomed two new groups to our federation, UDAPT from Ecuador, and EDEN from Albania, which will increase the representation of marginalised voices, provide local insights and broaden advocacy efforts.
To close on a high, Anabela Lemos from JA!/Friends of the Earth Mozambique and FoEI executive committee member has been honoured with the 2024 Right Livelihood Award. This is an important recognition of a member of our federation who has tirelessly fought with communities against exploitative mega-projects and demanded environmental justice.
Help us ignite the change – join us in our fundraising efforts!
We would like to end the year by thanking all the people who donated to us, for their generosity and for supporting our actions. Our work is made possible by the many people who support us as donors, as we don’t accept funding from corporations in order to remain free and independent. To all of you, thank you!
As we close out 2024 and reflect on the work we have accomplished, we recognise that while our successes have been significant, the challenges we face are even greater. To continue our fight for a fairer and more sustainable society, your financial contribution is crucial. On our donation page, we ask you to consider:
- making a one-time gift, to make an immediate impact on our current initiatives; or
- setting up a recurring donation, to support our actions in the long-run
Your generosity, whether through a single contribution or ongoing support, plays a vital role in ensuring that we can achieve our mission and drive meaningful change.
We would also like to encourage more people to join our journey towards system change by following our work here on our website, or on our social media: Facebook, LInkedin, X, and by sharing it widely.
Our children’s future will be better because of the work we do together!
