Shared by Triana Wardani (OBR Indonesia Coordinator)
Source: FB: Seruni

SERUNI and OBR Indonesia supported the PRCJ (People Rising for Climate Justice) action on Dec 4th at COP28 Dubai.

Triana Wardani, OBR Indonesia coordinator, also spoke at an adjacent event on behalf of rural women from the global south countries, and shared the theme and message of One Billion Rising 2024.

Int’l climate group demands developed countries to stop funding wars, focus on just transition instead.

As the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties 28 (COP28) unfolds in Dubai, grassroots communities under Peoples Rising for Climate Justice (PRCJ) gathered in solidarity for the Global Day of Action against Bombings and Militarism. Under the theme “Climate Finance: Financing the Transition, Finance for Loss and Damage,” representatives of impacted communities demanded that funds intended for climate justice be directed towards loss and damage and a just transition, not wars and militarism.

“The Global North’s support for wars and militarism perpetuates a cycle of destruction, exacerbating the challenges faced by climate-vulnerable nations,” said Lia Mai Torres of Peoples Rising for Climate Justice. “It’s time to redirect resources towards genuine climate action and ensure funds go to loss and damage, not the machinery of war.” The group reported how in recent months, “a horrific series of bombings and aerial strikes” has taken place globally. PRCJ cited the ongoing occupation of Palestine, the use of drones in India,increased bombings in Myanmar, displacement in the Philippines, and bombings in West Papuain Indonesia as examples of these attacks. In a statement, the group said that “the full extent of the effects of these bombing campaigns on greenhouse gas emissions and ecological devastation” has not been thoroughly investigated. “Our world is witnessing a grave imbalance. On one hand, we have the Climate Loss and Damage Fund with a meager $427 million, while NATO’s military spending in 2023 alone stands at an astronomical $1.26 trillion. This stark contrast is an indictment of the skewed priorities that perpetuate environmental devastation and human suffering,” said Torres.

As the COP28 negotiations progress, PRCJ emphasized that any meaningful outcome must include a commitment to end bombing campaigns supported by developed nations. Accordingto the group, the call for demilitarization and the abolition of the global military-industrialcomplex is “central to mitigating global warming and achieving climate justice”.

“We stand in solidarity with communities targeted for attacks due to their commitment toenvironmental and human rights,” Torres said. “The relentless bombings and militaristicinterventions must cease for us to achieve true climate justice.”

*Peoples Rising for Climate Justice is a global network of grassroots organizations committedto fighting for climate change. Founded in 2022, PRCJ is an organization driven by a diversecommunity of activists, advocates, and concerned citizens dedicated to addressing the urgentchallenges posed by climate change.*