Fw: UNFCC-COP27 appeal
Robert Rattle
Dear all,
We hope you are well. The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre and the Indigenous Peoples Rights International (IPRI), together with a number of allies, have prepared an open letter which we will be addressing to UNFCCC and State parties, prior to COP27. The core message of the letter is that the energy transition needs to be just, in particular for the Indigenous and other frontline communities, otherwise it will continue to be resisted, delayed, and will ultimately backfire. We are challenging the climate agenda that maintains existing industrial models, is opening doors to unsustainable investments and expects communities that contributed the least to the climate crisis to bear the brunt of the transition, without benefiting from it and without being able to shape it. We hope to bring together a broad and diverse coalition of signatories, so we are pointing out human rights issues arising alongside the whole of the renewable energy value chain, from the extraction of transition minerals to renewable energy projects, and we are bringing attention to the attacks that human rights defenders are facing as they raise concerns. We hope you will consider adding your organization’s signature to this letter - the deadline for sign-on is Monday October 3 COB.
Who are we trying to influence and how?
The letter will be delivered to UNFCCC and State parties, but we will be circulating this letter through various social media channels, and we will be reaching out to journalists proactively about it, including through a virtual media conference.
What is the timeline, who can sign on and how?
We are aiming to launch the letter on the 10th of October, 1 month before the start of COP27. Please feel free to circulate the letter to your networks among climate justice, environmental, corporate accountability, and human rights groups. Everyone can sign on using Google forms – if you have any issues opening or signing the document, please reach out to zb...@business-humanrights.org.
Can I read this letter in any other language?
Yes, here are the Spanish and French translations of the letter, for anyone who may prefer to read and sign the statement in these languages. These are informal translations by us, so please excuse any potential mistakes. Translations are for accessibility purposes only – if you decide to sign on, your organisation will be signed onto the official English version of the letter and the English version will be the only one sent and publicly circulated.
Thanks for considering!
In solidarity,
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, Indigenous Peoples Rights International (IPRI) & partners