QUICK RESPONSE: Sign CCN to a letter about getting the World Bank out of climate finance?

[Zachary Stark-MacMillan]

Hey CCN core folks, 

I'm very much in favor of the CCN signing onto this. I think it's especially appropriate considering the this blogpost by our delegation in Cancun. 

Does anyone have strong objection to this?

If I don't hear any objections by Sunday night I'll sign it

Thanks!

zach

------------------------------------------------------------

Zachary Stark-MacMillan
Cascade Climate Network - Network Facilitator 
cascade...@gmail.com - 541-357-9CCN

The Sierra Student Coalition Summer Training program (SPROG) literally changed my life. You can ensure such a vital program continues: Donate to NW SPROG Now!

Begin forwarded message:

From: Katherine Philipson <kphil...@gmail.com>

Date: December 3, 2010 10:27:31 AM PST

To: Zachary Stark-MacMillan <zsta...@gmail.com>

Subject: SIGN-ON: World Bank out of climate finance

Hey Zach,

I hope you're well.

An NGO I'm working with is helping to circulate a letter to get the World Bank out of climate finance and call instead for a representative and accountable Global Climate Fund. Would the CCN want to sign-on?

Love,

Katherine

--

Katherine Philipson

Policy and Advocacy Fellow, Jubilee USA Network

212 East Capitol St NE/Washington, D.C./20003

202-783-0214 / kath...@jubileeusa.org

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

The World Bank's governance structure, debt-generating lending mechanisms, environmental and human rights track record, and current fossil fuel-centered energy portfolio makes it the wrong institution to play a role in climate finance.

We urge you to sign on to this Open Letter to Governments (attcahed) who are now meeting at Cancun for the COP16 climate negotiations to keep the World Bank out of climate finance.

Please send your signatures to:  WorldB...@gmail.com by Tuesday, 12noon Eastern time. Then please forward to your allies, especially in Latin America.

Many thanks!
-Janet

----
AN OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNMENTS
Meeting at the 16th COP of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Cancun

People and communities throughout the global South need hundreds of billions of dollars each year to deal with the impacts of climate change, build resiliency and adopt alternative development pathways. The cost of compensation for past, present, and future damages due to climate change will only grow if, in addition, the necessary measures, are not taken in the industrialized countries to make a just transition to equitable, non-fossil fuel based economies.

We call on the governments of the world to comply with their obligations to ensure that new and additional public resources for climate finance are made available now in a way that is founded on the principle of historical responsibility, does not add to debt burdens, and is free from policy conditionalities.

We urge you to set up a Global Climate Fund under the authority of the UNFCCC that has an equitable governance structure, prioritizes the participation of affected communities, operates with full transparency, democracy, participation and accountability, and provides direct access to funding.

The World Bank and other multilateral development banks must not be given a role in establishing or governing the new Global Climate Fund nor in managing climate finance. Their nature, structure, track record, and policies, stand in contradiction to what should be the principles of fair and effective climate finance, and the structure and operations of a new fund.

•       The World Bank is a lending institution that has long been imposing policy conditions and programs on South countries and peoples through its loans.  Giving a role to the World Bank in climate finance will result in a significant part of climate finance flowing as loans, and will very likely come with conditionalities,

•       The World Bank’s governance structures are undemocratic, with representation dominated by governments of rich, industrialized countries The Global Climate Fund should have a majority representation of South countries in its governance structure since they are the world’s majority and most affected by climate change.  The needs and rights of communities impacted by climate change, and the transition to equitable and sustainable economies based on sovereign, democratic control and governance of natural resources must be at the center of decision-making on climate finance.
•       The World Bank has a long track record of undermining human rights and ecological integrity. For example, in 2010 alone, the World Bank financed a record high $6.3 billion to fossil fuel projects, a 138% increase over the previous year. An institution that actively promotes the causes of global warming should not be given a role in global climate finance. Rather, it must be pressed to end such policies and practices, including the many false solutions that the Bank is now promoting.

•       The World Bank actively privileges the private sector and private capital markets over public interests.  Climate finance must be used to support the public good, not to promote private profit and the commodification of nature. It must come in the form of public resources, not rely on market-based programs for its generation and application. Innovative tools for raising public resources are already in our reach including redirecting fossil fuel subsidies and military spending, and taxing financial speculation.

We call on you, the governments of the world, to keep the World Bank and other multilateral development banks out of the new Global Climate Fund and out of climate finance.



Signed,

(initial list only….)
International and Regional Organizations and Networks
ActionAid
Amigos de la Tierra - América Latina y el CAribe (Friends of th Earth Latin America / Caribbean)
Campaña Mesoamericana para la Justicia Climática  - Mesoamerican Campaign for Climate Justice
European Network on Debt and Development (EURODAD)
Friends of the Earth International
Federación de Amigos de la Tierra / Friends of the Earth Federation
Focus on the Global South
Jubilee South
JS-Asia/Pacific Movement on Debt and Development
Jubileu Sul  Américas  - Jubilee South Americas
LDC Watch
Pan African Climate Justice Alliance - PACJA
South Asian Alliance for Poverty Eradication

Country Organizations
BANGLADESH
Bangladesh Jatiyo Sramik Jote
Community Development Library - Bangladesh
Bangladesh Krishok Federation
VOICE - Bangladesh
EquityBD – Bangladesh
INDIA
Indian Social Action Forum – India
INDONESIA
Institute for Essential Services Reform - Indonesia
Koalisi Anti Utang - Indonesia
KruHA (People’s Coalition on Rights to Water) - Indonesia
Solidaritas Perempuan – Indonesia
NEPAL
National  Alliance for Human Rights and Social Justice - Nepal
Rural Reconstruction Nepal
GEFONT – Nepal
PAKISTAN
Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee
Labour Party Pakistan
PHILIPPINES
Freedom from Debt Coalition - Philippines
SANLAKAS – Philippines
Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ)
Koalisyon ng Pabahay sa Pilipinas (KPP)-(Coalition for Housing Rights-Philippines)
MAKABAYAN-Pilipinas
Bukluran Student Alliance PLM – Philippines
ARGENTINA
Diálogo 2000 / Dialogue 2000 - Argentina
BRAZIL
Sindicato dos Professores de Nova Friburgo e Região / Union of Professors, Nova Friburgo and Region, Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
Amigos da Terra Brasil / Friends of the Earth - Brazil
Rede Brasil sobre Instituições Financeiras Multilaterais - Brazil Network on Multilateral Financial Institutions
Fórum Mudanças Climáticas e Justiça Social - Brasil / Brazil Forum on Climate Change and Social Justice
Instituto Políticas Alternativas para o Cone Sul – PACS  / Institute of Alternative Policies for the Southern Cone PACS - Brazil
Jubileu Sul  Brasil - Jubilee South Brazil
COSTA RICA
Red Costarricense de Agendas  Locales de Mujeres  RED CALM ACAMUDE  / Costa Rican Network of Local Women´s Agendas
EL SALVADOR
Unidad Ecológica Salvadoreña UNES - Salvadoran Ecological Unit UNES - El Salvador
HONDURAS
Bloque Popular Honduras / Popular Block Honduras
MEXICO
Otros Mundos AC/Amigos de la Tierra México / Other Worlds - Friends of the Earth Mexico
PANAMA
FRENADESO – Panamá (National Front on Economic and Social Rights) - Panama
KENYA
Daughters of Mumbi Global Resource Center - Kenya
BELGIUM
11.11.11 – Belgium
ITALY
CRBM – Italy
SPAIN
Ecologistas en Accion – Spain
UNITED KINGDOM
Jubilee Debt Campaign - UK
World Development Movement - UK
UNITED STATES of AMERICA
Institute for Policy Studies – Sustainable Energy and Economy Network - USA


-----

Janet Redman
Co-director, Sustainable Energy & Economy Network
Institute for Policy Studies
1112 16th Street, NW Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036 USA
mobile: +1-508-340-0464
office: +1-202-787-5215
ja...@ips-dc.org
skype: janet.redman4

--

[Lauren Ressler]

I agree!

LAUREN

--
Lauren Ressler
Seattle University '11
206-226-3387

[Chelsea Thaw]

I second Lauren!

Chelsea

--
Chelsea Thaw

541-602-9314

The Sierra Student Coalition and the passionate people who put together Sprog changed my view and relationship with the world, my family and myself. To continue Sprog, the heartbeat of my organizing world, we need to raise $6,000 by December. We have the passion, and the people power we just need you to donate!

[Rachel Young]

Hey, I know I am no longer in "the core" with an official position but, having been a part of the CCN for several years, here is my input.

I think that the CCN should sign this because it seems like most of the CCN is in favor of signing it and it is a rather harmless letter.

However, I have a few stipulations.

The biggest issue I have is that the Global Climate Fund is just another international development fund and that it is absolutely absurd to create an another inefficient, ineffective, poorly thought out pot of money that will go to corrupt governments in the developing world. The whole reason the majority of these countries are involved in the climate negotiations is so a few political officials can get a check that will go towards their personal wealth. That is just the symptom of the UN and these international institutions. I think this would be significantly more powerful if it were a demand that we move development, natural disaster relief and urban construction in the global south back to concentrated international development organizations who desperately need the money and the intellectual support to get things done. OR we should be ensuring that this money goes to well trained and well placed non-profits or for-profit organizations that can assess the effectiveness of adaptation development projects and execute them most effectively.

Like I said before though, I think that the CCN should sign this so long as doing so is consistent with the mission statement. But for the future, it is important that these sorts of things are taken seriously and read into with thought and a clear understanding of the implications.

Best,
Rachel

--
Rachel Young
rmari...@gmail.com
rmy...@lclark.edu
952-200-7084

The Breakthrough Institute: Fellow
www.thebreakthrough.org
Show Me Democracy: Outreach Director
www.showmedemocracy.com
Cascade Climate Network
www.cascadeclimate.org

[Adrian Guerrero]

I agree hardcore with just about everything Rachel has said; which is why I am extremely critical of any finance that puts governments, especially openly corrupted governments, in charge of "climate adaptation and mitigation," and especially when it threatens to cut out the grassroots. I am working on an article with a Belgian reporter from an interview we had with Nnimmo Bassey, chair of FoEI and winner of the Right Livelihood Award, about this exact topic.

Let's sign it!

By the way, cancún is awesome.

- interview with nnimo bassey and opportunity to write an internationally acclaimed article
- our delegation is on the front page with SSC of the quintana roo state newspaper for the "heads in the sand" action
- our delegation was featured on Chinese national television with the Chinese delegation
- we are super connected to independent media projects
- we were interviewed for a potential major documentary on the climate movement
- we've gotten amazing interviews with everyone from Wisconsin farmers to Dominican youth to Bolivian highland natives on how climate change/environmental disaster has affected them

it's basically dream-come-true land.

-adrian

--
"What I believe is a process rather than a finality. Finalities are for gods and governments, not for the human intellect." -- Emma Goldman

"It is disingenuous to invoke 'democracy,' 'due process of law,' 'non-violence,' to rationalise the absence of action. For meaningful concepts under such conditions become meaningless... they justify the relentless exploitation of the masses; at once a denial of democracy and a more sinister form of violence perpetrated on the overwhelming majority through contractual forms." -- from "Chomsky on Anarchism," AK Press