Social Organizations Demand ‘1.5’ in Paris

Social organizations joined climate change activists at the Paris Climate talks to stage an eye and ear-catching protest against what they say is a “weak and unacceptable” draft climate change agreement issued Wednesday.

The protesters are calling for stronger action to protect the most vulnerable communities and countries in the world. They say the talks will end in a matter of hours and the draft fails to address the call to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times. Some rich nations are calling for the cap to be 2 degrees.

“We are fighting for our survival and the survival of generations of young girls,” said Kamalah Ramesh of India, part of a group wearing t-shirts with the message “There is no Gender Justice without Climate Justice.”

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The organizers of the protest say it gained over 500 participants, who chanted “what do we want? Climate Justice. When do we want it? NOW.” They also drew a large crowd of COP21 attendees, who took pictures and videos to circulate globally.

Social organizations say it is time for less talk and more meaningful action from rich nations.

“Some developed countries are expressing support for 1.5, but my concern is that they say one thing in public and when it comes to negotiating text, their actions speak differently. We must be careful to insist that those who say they support 1.5 are not doing so on the premise that they will employ false solutions. They must state clearly the means by which it can be achieved,” said Flavia Cherry, representative of the Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action (CAFRA).

Dec. 10 is International Human Rights Day and the United Nations issued its latest report on Thursday, stating that “recognizing the link between the two areas is an important step towards protecting the fundamental rights of communities across the planet.” Entitled “Climate Change and Human Rights” it listed climate change as the “largest, most pervasive threat to the natural environment and human rights of our time.”

On Thursday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon met with grassroots organisations and highlighted their role in helping to keep governments accountable.

Leaders and negotiators are trying to hammer out a deal by the end of the week.