In a joint appeal, they recalled that now different country governments are busy with intense climate negotiations at the ongoing UNFCCC sessions in Bangkok. As people all over the world have realised, the face of climate negotiation has dramatically altered with the call given by a large number of developing country governments, in their official submission to the UNFCCC, demanding that the climate debt of developed countries must be repaid and this payment must begin with the outcomes to be agreed in Copenhagen.

 

For example, the Bolivian submission clearly states that “Developed countries climate debt, the sum of their emissions debt and adaptation debt - are part of a broader ecological debt reflecting their heavy environmental footprint, excessive consumption of resources, materials and energy and contribution to declining biodiversity and ecosystem services.”

 

Within the same climate justice understanding, many poor states and communities - all victims of the reckless over consumption of the northern countries and the over consuming elite of the south, are also demanding drastic cuts in the emissions by these over consumers. The Indian government should support these demands.

 

Seven developing countries have already signed the official call for reparations and 49 countries have inserted the phrases ‘climate / ecological debt’ and ‘historical responsibility’ in their official submissions to the UNFCCC.

 

While India has very recently used ‘historical responsibility’ in its official submission, it is not felt sufficient enough. India needs to strongly support the call for reparations against climate and ecological debt in the ongoing negotiations and stand solidly with the other developing countries.

 

Though the Union government has taken a stand for using public finance for climate funds as against World Bank, GEF and other IFI funds, this stand needs to be reiterated against sourcing of climate funds from IFIs and GEF.

 

India should also endorse the Bolivian demand that the developed north should be ready to pay reparations against their climate and ecological debt. Any effort to bring in the private sector into climate funding needs to be strongly resisted by developing countries.

 

Moreover, developing countries including India, should ensure that the principle of common but differentiated responsibility is taken beyond the currently employed narrow interpretation only at international levels and should be taken right up to the community and household levels.

 

Similarly, mechanisms need to be put in place to ensure that the real ecological solutions are decided in a democratic way and that such steps directly benefit the poor rather than bring additional costs to them.

 

The joint appeal was signed by Nadi Ghatti Morcha, MATU Jan Sanghattan, South Asia Network for Dams, Rivers and Peoples (SANDRP), Delhi Forum and Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha.