UN Secretary-General Seizes The Just Transition Moment: CAN Reaction
In response to the 'Moment of Opportunity' speech today by the UN Secretary General, and the associated energy report, Climate Action Network welcomes the meaningful mention of the need for a Just Transition. The renewable energy transformation is here and it is unstoppable, as Mr. Guterres stated today, but without effort and political will, this power shift risks being unjust, exploitative and unsustainable.
Jacobo Ocharan, Head of Political Strategies, Climate Action Network International, said: 'The Secretary-General was on the money when he said that the energy transformation must deliver equity, dignity and opportunity for all - this is the beating heart of what a just transition means. The just transition is about embracing the future and not being stuck in the polluting and unfair past, which is where the fossil fuel industry wants us trapped. COP30 can and must deliver on just transition with a path grounded in human rights, justice and equity. The brief mention of nuclear needing to be in the energy mix was a shame, but the focus overall was on the just transition to renewable energy.
The call for international cooperation to support low-income countries that are highly dependent on fossil fuels is timely and welcome, especially as the world is in the throes of massive division and nationalism. Likewise, the calls to reform the global financial architecture and debt for developing countries are positive, while the creeping mentions of investment opportunities and private finance are a concern.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
7 hours ago
- Scoop
Palestine Action Ban ‘Disturbing' Misuse Of UK Counter-Terrorism Legislation, Türk Warns
GENEVA (25 July 2025) – The UK Government's decision to proscribe the 'Palestine Action' protest group under terrorism legislation raises serious concerns that counter-terrorism laws are being applied to conduct that is not terrorist in nature and risks hindering the legitimate exercise of fundamental freedoms across the UK, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk warned today. The UK Government proscribed Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000 after some of its members broke into a military airfield in June and reportedly spray-painted two military aircraft, among other incidents of property damage. 'UK domestic counter-terrorism legislation defines terrorist acts broadly to include 'serious damage to property'. But, according to international standards, terrorist acts should be confined to criminal acts intended to cause death or serious injury or to the taking of hostages, for purpose of intimidating a population or to compel a government to take a certain action or not,' said Türk. 'It misuses the gravity and impact of terrorism to expand it beyond those clear boundaries, to encompass further conduct that is already criminal under the law.' The ban, among other things, makes it a criminal offence to be a member of Palestine Action, express support for the group, or wear an item of clothing that would arouse 'reasonable suspicion' that a person is a member of or supports the organization. Such conduct is punishable by criminal penalties, including fines and prison sentences of up to 14 years. 'The decision appears disproportionate and unnecessary. It limits the rights of many people involved with and supportive of Palestine Action who have not themselves engaged in any underlying criminal activity but rather exercised their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association,' the High Commissioner said. 'As such, it appears to constitute an impermissible restriction on those rights that is at odds with the UK's obligations under international human rights law.' 'The decision also conflates protected expression and other conduct with acts of terrorism and so could readily lead to further chilling effect on the lawful exercise of these rights by many people,' he added. Since the UK Government's ban came into effect on 5 July, at least 200 people have been arrested under the UK Terrorism Act 2000, many of them while attending peaceful protests. 'I urge the UK Government to rescind its decision to proscribe Palestine Action and to halt investigations and further proceedings against protesters who have been arrested on the basis of this proscription. I also call on the UK Government to review and revise its counter-terrorism legislation, including its definition of terrorist acts, to bring it fully in line with international human rights norms and standards,' the High Commissioner said.
NZ Herald
a day ago
- NZ Herald
Israel allows aid airdrops to Gaza as famine looms
Israel has said it would allow food to be airdropped to Gaza and designate humanitarian corridors for UN aid convoys, as thousands of Palestinians face the threat of widespread famine. Before Israel announced that the flights would resume, the United Arab Emirates had said it would restart aid drops and
Scoop
a day ago
- Scoop
UN Experts Urge Brazil To Halt Serious Regression On Environmental Licensing
UN human rights experts* today expressed grave concern over Brazil's General Environmental Licensing Bill approved by the Chamber of Deputies on 17 July and by the Senate last May. The law is pending presidential enactment. 'The bill introduces significant regressions to Brazil's environmental licensing system and threatens the human rights to life, health, an adequate standard of living, and a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment,' the experts said. The approved licensing bill PL No. 2159/2021 includes measures such as simplified environmental licensing through developers' self-declarations and automatic renewal of permits. Several activities would also be exempt from licensing despite potentially severe environmental and human rights impacts, including industrial agriculture and energy-related infrastructure. 'These changes risk exacerbating the planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, toxic pollution, and worsening inequalities. They would also weaken the rights to access to information, public participation, and access to justice, particularly for marginalised peoples and groups,' the experts said. They stressed that the licensing amendments would disproportionately affect Indigenous Peoples, and Quilombola Afro-descendant communities, who are already severely impacted by environmental and climate harms, violating Brazil's obligations of non-discrimination. 'While procedural efficiency in environmental licensing is important, it must not be achieved at the expense of effective regulations, controls and monitoring, and accountability, and human rights and environmental protections,' the experts said. They noted that Brazil's obligations to prevent significant environmental harm by public and private actors, including to prevent transboundary environmental harm, encompasses conducting comprehensive and integral environmental, social and human rights impact assessments before authorising any activity that threatens human rights or the environment. 'This legislative rollback contradicts Brazil's international legal obligations,' the experts said. 'It is paradoxical that this law might be enacted shortly after historic Advisory Opinions of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which clarified States' obligations to adopt all necessary measures to respond to the climate emergency and prevent harm by all actors, including effective regulation and supervision relating to fossil fuels, agriculture and deforestation.' The experts reaffirmed that the principle of non-regression is fundamental to international human rights and environmental law, requiring States to refrain from weakening existing legal protections. 'As the ICJ and the IACtHR underscored, States have an enhanced due diligence obligation to protect the climate system and the environment on which all human rights depend, and must prevent irreversible harm to the climate and life-supporting systems,' they said. The experts warned that the bill would undermine Brazil's credibility as the host of the upcoming COP30, the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference in Belém. As a global climate leader, Brazil must ensure that its domestic legislation is aligned with its international commitments, including under the Paris Agreement. We call on President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to veto parts of the licensing bill that contradict Brazil's constitutional and international obligations. Protecting the environment is essential to safeguarding the rights and dignity of present and future generations. * Experts: Astrid Puentes Riaño, the Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment; Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation ; Elisa Morgera, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change; Bina D'Costa, the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent; Albert K. Barume, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; Pichamon Yeophantong, the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises
