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United States must act responsibly to end climate injustice

  • Publication Date | January 17, 2023
  • Document Type | Letter to the Editor
  • Programmes | Climate Change
  • Tags | CBDR, COP28, Emissions, Green Climate Fund, greenhouse gas, NDC, UNFCCC
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climate change, global warming, environment

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) wishes to respond to the recent statement by the United States Ambassador to Malaysia, Mr Brian Mcfeeters entitled ‘Partners in climate action’, that was featured in a major English daily (6 Jan, 2023, Letter to Editor, The STAR).

While we agree with the US Ambassador that bold action to tackle climate change is more urgent than ever by everyone, the partnership for action among developed and developing countries is based on the fundamental principles of equity and “common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities” (CBDR-RC), recognised under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement.

These international agreements set out the commitments of developed countries to take the lead in emission reductions and to provide financial resources, technology transfer and capacity building to developing countries to enable them to implement their climate actions, including on emissions reductions, adaptation and to address loss and damage.

energy, crisis, emissions-7518664.jpg

To enable developing countries to implement their climate actions in their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, developed countries like the US must fulfil their commitments on the provision of financial resources, including to the existing dedicated climate fund under the UNFCCC, i.e. the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

Under the Obama administration, the US pledged to provide US$3bn to the GCF in the initial resource mobilisation period from 2015-2018. However, only US$1bn was transmitted, as the Trump administration reneged on this, leading to a significant shortfall of US$2bn. This has affected the ability of the GCF to meet the many proposals in the Fund’s pipeline from developing countries. 

With the Biden administration in place since 2021, we have yet to see the US fulfil the Obama pledge to the GCF. To compound matters further, in the GCF’s first official replenishment period (2020 to 2023), the US has yet to make any contribution at all.

Mr Mcfeeters extols the virtues of the Inflation Reduction Act of the US, which he says is providing US$370bil “to solve the climate crisis” but these are for investments in the US only, and is not money for climate action in developing countries.  

The GCF is launching its next replenishment call, and if the US views itself as a true partner in climate action, then it has to meet its unfilled pledge of US$2bn shortfall to the GCF on top of   providing additional significant resources to the Fund for the use by developing countries.

Moreover, at the UNFCCC’s COP 26 in 2021, the US was the biggest blocker to the establishment of a finance facility to address loss and damage, like that faced by Pakistan, which saw devastating floods, affecting 33 million people and with damages and economic losses of over US$30bn. 

It took massive efforts from civil society and developing country governments to move the US at COP 27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to get it to agree to a Loss and Damage Fund, which hopefully this year at COP 28 in Dubai, UAE, will be set up and will be resourced significantly. This again needs the support of the US and whether it will make it happen remains a big question mark.

In addition, while the US wants developing countries including Malaysia to move away from coal, it too must stop its addiction and expansion of fossil fuels on its own shores urgently.

According to US based Oil Change International, the US approved the largest expansion of oil and gas extraction of any country in 2022, and that it also has by far the largest projected emissions from proposed projects that could be finalized between 2023-2025, with anticipated lifetime emissions from those projects of approximately 15 billion metric tons of CO2 – the equivalent of almost three times total net 2020 US greenhouse gas emissions.

Such revelations do not show the US as a responsible partner in combatting climate change, but of one that has and is contributing to the current climate catastrophe that unjustly condemns many millions in developing countries to death and devastation due to climate impacts. And this is climate injustice, and must stop. 

The US is the world’s greatest historical polluter of greenhouse gases and it cannot continue with impunity. It is not enough to talk about being a partner in climate action. It must act responsibly.

Meenakshi Raman
President

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Testimonials

Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah satu badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang telah sekian lama berjuang mempertahan kelestarian alam. Ia juga mendidik masyarakat tentang pentingnya kebersamaan dalam pemikiran dan tindakan agar alam ini dapat kita wariskan kepada generasi hadapan dalam keadaan yang elok dan terpelihara. Dalam pada itu juga SAM giat membantu golongan nelayan pantai dalam memperjuangkan hak-hak mereka sehinggalah tertubuhnya Persatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING). Nelayan pantai sepenuh masa ini dididik oleh SAM sehingga mereka mampu memainkan peranan sebagai pemimpin nelayan yang meneruskan kesinambungan memperjuangkan hak-hak nelayan pantai lainnya. Sebagai contoh SAM telah berjaya menyedarkan masyarakat nelayan keperluan menjaga hutan paya bakau untuk kebaikan hasil tangkapan nelayan itu sendiri.
Jamaluddin Mohamad Bualik
Jamaluddin Mohamad BualikPersatuan Pendidikan dan Kebajikan Jaringan Nelayan Pantai Malaysia (JARING)
During the 1980s, I used to read about the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) in the news. After retirement, some time in 2001, while lazing around, I read news about the construction of a carbon in leach plant using sodium cyanide to extract gold in Bukit Koman. My friends and I visited CAP and we were introduced to SAM and her legal team. We discussed the details of filing a case against the gold mining company and the department of environment with Ms Meenakshi Raman and her legal team. That was the beginning of a beautiful friendship between lawyers from SAM and many of us from Bukit Koman. We had many ups and downs in our struggle to shut down the gold mine that was causing a nuisance in our village. But, as a community we never gave up because SAM had our backs.
Hue Fui How
Hue Fui HowSecretary, Bukit Koman Ban Cyanide in Goldmining Action Committee (BCAC)
Sahabat Alam Malaysia adalah sebuah NGO yang memperjuangkan nasib masyarakat luar bandar khasnya. SAM menerima aduan-aduan masyarakat dan menyelesaikan masalah yang dihadapi. SAM telah mewujudkan ramai aktivis-aktivis sosial dan alam sekitar. Pada era 1980 dan 90an SAM sangat dihormati oleh masyarakat dan agensi kerajaan. Apabila media sosial menguasai maklumat maka SAM pun terkesan dan masalah masyarakat terus disalurkan dengan pelbagai cara. SAM perlu mewujudkan aktivis-aktivis pelapis yang muda untuk terus membantu masyarakat. SAM juga perlu membuat perubahan supaya banyak turun kelapangan dan jangan mengharapkan laporan media sahaja. Tingkatkan prestasi sebagaimana pada zaman kegemilangan SAM di era 80-90an.
Che Ani Mt Zain
Che Ani Mt Zain
SAM taught me the importance of social activism and the role it plays in upholding the rights of people and the protection of the environment. In my experience, SAM has never hesitated to speak up in defence of people and their environment, and has gone the extra mile to champion their rights, by helping communities take their battles to the higher ups and even to the courts.
Jessica Binwani
Jessica BinwaniPublic/Private Interest Lawyer
Semenjak kami kenal SAM, banyak pengalaman dan pengetahuan yg kami dapat. Kami telah belajar cara membuat baja asli daripada SAM. Semenjak itu, bermulalah minat kami dalam aktiviti pertanian. Dengan memperolehi kemahiran dalam membuat baja asli dan penanaman lestari, kami juga telah dapat menambahkan pendapatan sampingan kami. Ini lebih baik daripada tanah kami terbiar dan tidak diusahakan. Terima kasih SAM kerana sudi memberi bantuan dan tunjuk ajar kepada Persatuan kami.
Chedo Anak Nyuwen
Chedo Anak NyuwenPersatuan Penduduk Sg Buri, Bakong, Marudi
My journey with SAM started when her community organisers took me to the meet the paddy farmers of Kedah, connecting my growing interest in environmental law with our people who struggle to work the land in the face of pollution, replacement of traditional seeds with commercial hybrids and their accompanying chemical package of fertilisers and weedicides. I then had the honour to work with SAM in the struggle for the rights of the native communities of Sarawak, in defence of their forests from massive logging and destructive mega-projects. In every issue that SAM takes up, she combines rigorous research with the realities and voices of the communities to advocate for policies and laws that care for people and nature. From the courts to the elected legislators to policy makers and implementers and to the United Nations, SAM walks side by side with the communities in Malaysia. How can I not be inspired by the vision and passion of the generations of women and men who coalesce to form SAM?
Chee Yoke Ling
Chee Yoke Lingstudent of SAM, Executive Director of Third World Network, SAM’s sister organisation

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Tel: +604 827 6930
Fax: +604 827 6932

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Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Headquarters)
No. 1, Jalan Joki, 11400 Penang,
Malaysia
Tel: +604 827 6930
Fax: +604 827 6932

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Marudi Office)
129A, First Floor,
Jalan Tuanku Taha,
P.O.Box 216,
98058 Marudi, Baram, Sarawak,
Malaysia
Tel & Fax: +6085 758 973

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