La asamblea inaugural de ACT Alianza en Arusha, Tanzania, en 2010, resolvió que el cambio climático era una amenaza para la vida, los medios de vida y toda la creación. Como resultado, se identificó como una prioridad para el trabajo de incidencia de ACT Alianza a todo nivel. Desde entonces, ACT Alianza ha participado en muchas iniciativas de justicia climática, incluido el trabajo de incidencia y campañas en el contexto de la Convención Marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático (CMNUCC), así como en los niveles nacional y comunitario.

Los miembros de ACT Alianza y foros en todo el mundo continúan abogando por la justicia climática (particularmente en apoyo de la resiliencia comunitaria en países en desarrollo), la reducción de la emisión de gases de efecto invernadero, el aumento de la accesibilidad a  nuevo y adicional financiamiento climático, y acciones climáticas que son guiadas por la inclusión de los principios de derechos humanos, equidad, equidad intergeneracional, participación plena y significativa de la juventud, y justicia de género.

Como ACT Alianza, creemos que el Acuerdo de París (AP) proporciona un marco político significativo que tiene el potencial de orientar acciones ambiciosas para afrontar el cambio climático y sus impactos. La meta de mantener el aumento de la temperatura global en 1.5 °C, o bien por debajo de los 2 °C, requiere de  la movilización y acciones climáticas a nivel nacional. Simultáneamente, se necesita realizar esfuerzos significativos para crear una resiliencia global al cambio climático por medio de la transformación de las economías y sociedades hacia una vía de desarrollo basada en bajas emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero. Por lo tanto, la implementación del AP debe estar vinculada a la transformación de todos los sectores económicos y debe hacerse en conjunto con la implementación de otros marcos políticos claves, en particular los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) y el Marco de Sendai para la Reducción del Riesgo de Desastres (MSRRD).

Esta caja de herramientas está diseñada para apoyar las acciones de incidencia de los miembros, foros y socios de ACT Alianza a nivel nacional. Se enfoca en los tres instrumentos estipulados en el AP, las Contribuciones Determinadas a Nivel Nacional (NDC, por sus siglas en inglés), los Planes Nacionales de Adaptación (NAP, por sus siglas en inglés) y las Estrategias de Largo Plazo (LTS por sus siglas en inglés), que son  estrategias de desarrollo hacia mediados de siglo, basadas en bajas emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero. ACT Alianza anima a que todo el trabajo de incidencia climática se guíe por los principios de la justicia climática.

Llamamos  a todos nuestros miembros y foros a usar esta caja de herramientas, no solo con fines de incidencia, sino también para la creación de capacidades y para facilitar las discusiones y reflexiones internas, con el fin de asegurar la integración de las especificidades de los contextos nacionales en nuestro trabajo global de justicia climática.

Esta caja de herramientas está disponible aquí en español y aquí en inglés.

ACT Alliance is pleased to share our new Resource Guide to Climate Finance: An orientation to sources of funds for climate change programmes and action. It is available in English and Spanish.

Ambitious climate action in developing countries depends on the mobilization and accessibility to financial resources. Climate finance is important for mitigation efforts, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and also for adaptation, to support communities in adapting to climate change and reducing the adverse impacts of climate change on their communities.

This Resource Guide is designed to assist ACT Forums, members, partners, Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs), and others to identify some of the funds available within the global climate finance architecture that may be relevant for their climate-related programmes and projects.

The Guide covers 25 multilateral, 16 bilateral, 13 private, 10 faith-based, 3 national, and 1 regional grant providers. It is inclusive of funds with high eligibility criteria, as well as funds that are more accessible for small, less institutionalised organizations with modest climate change project experience.

The Guide explores some of the frequently asked questions related to climate funds including background information, sectoral and regional focus, eligibility criteria, application deadlines (where known), contact details and online links for additional information. Each analysis ends with a brief assessment of the relevance of the fund for ACT members as grant-seekers.

It is recommended that you use this Resource Guide to complement your ongoing search for climate finance sources. We would like to encourage you to use this resource and to share it with your networks and partners. We are pleased to offer any additional support in using the toolkit.  

The English version is available here.

The Spanish version is available here.

For any questions or comments please contact Joanna Patouris, joanna.patouris[@]actalliance.org.

ACT’s General Secretary Rudelmar Bueno de Faria addressed the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) on 15 June 2018 at a Plenary Session entitled Ecumenical Diakonia and Sustainable Development.

ACT, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the WCC have developed a study document on Ecumenical Diakonia with the aim of encouraging dialogue and building the capacity of churches and ecumenical partners to engage in diakonia and sustainable development.

In his address, de Faria acknowledged the efforts and influences of churches and faith based organizations (FBOs) in communities. “Historically, churches have played a prophetic role, they have shaped local and global political and development agendas and have emphasized values of inclusion and human dignity,” he said.

Despite these positive contributions, there is at the same time a growing level of polarization occurring between communities on certain social and political issues. The increased amount of segregation and discrimination occurring in different parts of the world is bringing the human rights framework and sustainable development under attack. “Even some churches are associating themselves with populist politicians, political parties and economic groups that promote agendas that deepen exclusion and undermine human dignity,” said de Faria.

De Faria acknowledged the crisis of values that is occurring around the world and urged churches and FBOs to raise their prophetic voice to support marginalized communities. “The time is ripe for ecumenical diakonia. We need to leverage our Christian values and uniqueness as FBOs and to establish strategic partnerships with religious and secular organizations that are fighting to uphold human dignity, peace and justice,” he continued.

Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals provides churches and diaconal organizations and institutions with a political and transformational framework to engage in ecumenical diakonia and to address the factors that are undermining development and human life and are putting God’s creation at risk.

De Faria further noted that the increasing recognition of the role of religion in development also presents an opportunity for diakonia and building alliances with people of faith and religious communities in the struggle for justice.

“We have to recognize that we are in an era of change and we should together identify the potential for the prophetic and political engagement of churches and diaconal organizations,” he said. “Although there is much work to still be done, the first step is to recognize that we are a part of one ecumenical movement and we will work together,” concluded de Faria.

In the past few months more than 2000 children have been separated from their parents as their families tried to cross the US border. Audio of children wailing in agony as they are ripped away from their parents continue to be broadcast by the media around the world.

“The actions of the US administration not only violate a range of international human rights conventions but contradict basic human decency,” says Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, ACT Alliance General Secretary.

Earlier in the month, member organizations of ACT Alliance based in the USA joined a range of faith-based groups in decrying the action of the US government, saying that they were ‘unnecessarily cruel and detrimental to the well-being of parents and children.’

“Today, on World Refugee Day, there is a record high number of displaced persons in the world, most of them in developing countries, with little solidarity coming from the OECD countries regarding refugee reception and resettlement,” de Faria continues. 

ACT Alliance reaffirms the spirit and the letter of the convention on the rights of the child and reiterates the importance of protecting children and their families that nurture them.

The preamble of the convention states: “Convinced that the family, as the fundamental group of society and the natural environment for the growth and well-being of all its members and particularly children, should be afforded the necessary protection and assistance so that it can fully assume its responsibilities within the community.”

“What is happening in the USA takes away any assurances that these children will be protected and provided for. It demeans the concept of rule of law, which should serve people and communities rather than expose them to danger and suffering,” says de Faria.

The US action takes place in a political climate that includes the US’s stated withdrawal from the UN Human Rights Council and Germany’s crisis over refugee reception. Hungary is locking its asylum seekers into prison-like transit zones and Australia has mastered offshoring asylum.

“As ACT Alliance, drawing from our mandate and mission as a church-based humanitarian and development organization, and guided by our faith values, we condemn this approach that targets children and families. We strongly urge the US government to stop separating children from their families and to implement a policy that is in conformity with international human rights and humanitarian law and basic human decency,” says de Faria.

“Our hearts, thoughts, prayers and solidarity are with the children and the families affected by these monstrous actions.  Today and every day, as ACT Alliance we stand for human rights and today specifically the right to seek and enjoy asylum,” concludes de Faria.

For more information, please contact:
Isaiah Toroitich (isaiah.toroitich [at] actalliance.org)
Global Advocacy and Policy Coordinator, ACT Alliance

Simon Chambers (simon.chambers [at] actalliance.org)
Head of Communications, ACT Alliance

This week, ACT’s General Secretary Rudelmar Bueno de Faria joined leaders from the world’s major Christian denominations in a joint letter calling on communities to engage in the Season of Creation.

Season of Creation is celebrated every year from September 1 to October 4 by Christians around the world through prayer and action to protect the environment.

The letter affirms the growing commitment of Christian leaders to environmental protection across various denominations. “As the environmental crisis deepens, we Christians are urgently called to witness to our faith by taking bold action to preserve the gift we share,” the letter reads.

“As a faith based network, ACT Alliance recognizes the moral and spiritual obligation to care for creation and for the people and communities that are most affected by environmental degradation,” said Bueno de Faria. “I encourage ACT members to mobilize their communities and networks to engage in the Season of Creation through prayer and action for environmental protection and for solidarity with the most vulnerable,” he continued.

“The ACT Alliance will continue to engage with governments, civil society, people’s movements, faith based organizations, and others for environmental protection. The Season of Creation provides us with a moment to acknowledge the role of human impact on the environment and importantly to reflect on the gift of creation,” said Bueno de Faria.

The letter is available below and on our website here.

______________________________________________

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?” (Job 12:7-9, NRSV)

Once every year, from September 1 to October 4, members of the Christian family set aside time to deepen our relationship with the Creator, each other, and all of creation. This is the Season of Creation, which began in 1989 with the first recognition of the day of prayer for creation by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the Orthodox Church, and which is now ​embraced by the wider ecumenical family.

During the Season of Creation, we join together to rejoice in the good gift of creation and reflect on how we care for it.  This season offers a precious opportunity to pause in the midst of our day-to-day lives and contemplate the fabric of life into which we are woven.

As the environmental crisis deepens, we Christians are urgently called to witness to our faith by taking bold action to preserve the gift we share. As the psalmist sings, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.” (Psalm 24:1-2)  During the Season of Creation, we ask ourselves: Do our actions honor the Lord as Creator?  Are there ways to deepen our faith by protecting “the least of these,” who are most vulnerable to the consequences of environmental degradation?

We invite you to join us on a journey of faith that challenges and rewards us with fresh perspective and deeper bonds of love. United in our sincere wish to protect creation and all those who share it, we join hands across denominations as sisters and brothers in Christ.  During this season, we walk together towards greater stewardship of our place in creation.

“O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.”  (Psalm 104:1-2)  

With you, we give thanks for the community of believers around the world that is bringing love to creation this season, and we praise the Creator for the gifts we share.

In God’s grace,

Archbishop Job of Telmessos, Permanent Representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the WCC, on behalf of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

Most Rev. & Rt. Hon Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury

Cardinal Peter K.A. Turkson, Prefect, Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development

Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary of World Council of Churches

Rev. Dr. Chris Ferguson, General Secretary, World Communion of Reformed Churches

Bishop Efraim Tendero, Secretary-General of the World Evangelical Alliance

Rev. Dr. Martin Junge, General Secretary, Lutheran World Federation

Mr. Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, General Secretary, ACT Alliance

Fr. Heikki Huttunen, General Secretary, Conference of European Churches

More information is available at the Season of Creation website SeasonOfCreation.org

_____________________________________

The Season of Creation Steering Committee is comprised of ACT Alliance, Anglican Communion Environmental Network, ARocha, Christian Aid, Global Catholic Climate Movement, Lausanne/World Evangelical Alliance Creation Care Network, Lutheran World Federation, and World Council of Churches.

The anti-government protests which started on April 18 have resulted in further political instability and a rising death toll in Nicaragua. Initially spurred by President Daniel Ortega’s plans to change social welfare conditions, protests became deadly after violent clashes with police. Last week, conflict across various cities in Nicaragua, escalated as a demonstration held by mothers and relatives of disappeared and deceased youth was violently repressed by military and paramilitary groups.

The National Dialogue for Peace which aimed to facilitate discussions between government representatives, students, unions, farmers, and other members of civil society has broken down and has been suspended indefinitely. Growing frustrations over corruption and an autocratic government has exacerbated the situation and protesters are calling for the resignation of President Ortega.

“As ACT Alliance, we express our solidarity with the Nicaraguan people and our concern about the escalation of confrontations across the country.  In this moment, it is crucial to find ways to immediately stop the violence and resume the dialogue– with broad participation– to overcome the current crisis and agree on a national pact to find sustainable solutions to the causes of these conflicts,” says Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, General Secretary of ACT Alliance.

The ACT Alliance Nicaragua Forum has issued a Statement reaffirming the need for reconciliation, peace and democracy in Nicaragua. “As faith-based organizations, we work for peace, justice, solidarity, dialogue, inclusion and peaceful coexistence among Nicaraguan brothers and sisters, we reiterate our solidarity and accompaniment to all expressions in favour of reconciliation based on justice and we raise our prayers to the Creator so that the conflict in Nicaragua ceases, the doors to understanding are opened, the rights of all are respected and the welfare of each person is guaranteed,” the Statement reads.

We, the ecumenical and faith-based organizations members of the ACT Guatemala Forum, concerned about the latest events that highlight the complex situation and adverse environment regarding human rights, the search for justice and the struggle against corruption and impunity in Guatemala, state:

• Our concern due to the deep deterioration of Human Rights Defenders in Guatemala. Recently, between May 9 and 14, three community leaders were killed in Guatemala: Luis Arturo Marroquin from the Peasant Development Committee (CODECA); José Can Xol and Mateo Chaman Paau both from the Peasant Committee of the Altiplano (CCDA). Two of these murders took place immediately after the visit of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, who denounced the lack of access to justice and the lack of a guarantee to respect of the rights of Indigenous communities, as well as the high rates of criminalization of their leaders, among other problems.
• Our concern about the continuous trend of shrinking spaces for democracy and the promotion of several laws designed to limit the full exercise of basic and fundamental rights in Guatemala, the proposals for reforms to the Law on Non-Governmental Organizations, the Law on prior Consultation[1], the Anti-Terrorism Law and the Electoral Law in particular.
• Our concerns with the increased hostility towards foreign missions and partners who are supportive of human rights and democracy in Guatemala, including the expulsion of the ambassadors from Sweden and Venezuela. This trend could have a negative and irreversible impact on the fundamental work of institutions working in defence of justice in Guatemala, such as the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) and other state institutions such as the Public Ministry.

The sum of all these actions represents an adverse and regressive environment for democratic institutionalism, governance, justice and human rights in Guatemala which become serious threats to the fight against corruption and impunity. Therefore, we not only express our solidarity with the families and communities who have lost their loved ones, but we also want to call attention to the great risk these events pose to  justice, democracy and respect for human rights in Guatemala.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  (Matthew 5:10-12)

Genève May 31^st, 2018

Read the statement in Spanish here: Comunicado Foro ACT Guatemala

[1]  Related to ILO Indigenous and Tribal Convention No. 169

“Slavery violates the free will and the integrity of every human being created in the image of God.” – Rudelmar Bueno de Faria.

Earlier this month, an International Forum on Modern Slavery was convened by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, under the auspice of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Argentina. The Forum, “Old Problems in the New World,” was cosponsored by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Buenos Aires and South America, and Patriarch Athenagoras of the Orthodox Institute of Berkeley, California.

The Forum brought together civil society, faith leaders, government representatives and others to discuss modern slavery. Participants explored the connection of modern slavery to trafficking, the role of Christians and Churches, and some of the initiatives that Faith Based Organizations have adopted in responding to the crisis of modern slavery.

Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, General Secretary of ACT Alliance, delivered the keynote address. “Slavery violates the free will and the integrity of every human being created in the image of God,” said Bueno de Faria.

Modern slavery broadly refers to a situation where one person takes away the freedom of another. The world’s most widespread form of slavery is debt bondage which occurs when someone borrows money that they cannot repay and is required to work to pay off the debt. Often in these cases there is little chance to fully repay the debt and the type and duration of work is unknown.

Other forms of modern slavery include forced labour, where people are threatened or punished to do something against their will. Forced and early marriage, which is when someone is married against their will or at a very young age. And human trafficking, which involves the transporting, recruiting or harbouring of people for the purpose of sexual and other exploitation.

“As Churches, our prophetic voice is important and must be heard. We have to denounce this injustice, we have to push national governments to implement strict laws against modern slavery, and to provide resources and services for trafficked victims,” he continued.

According to the International Labour Organization and the Walk Free Foundation in partnership with the International Organization for Migration, the rate of modern slavery in 2016 was highest in Africa where there was 7.6 victims of modern slavery for every 1,000 people.

Modern slavery and its human rights implications is of concern to ACT Alliance, particularly in the context of ACT’s work on migration and displacement. Women make up half of the world’s 244 million migrants and half of the world’s 65 million displaced people. It is estimated that 71 percent of modern slaves are women. As a large share of modern slavery can be traced to migration, improved migration governance is essential to prevent forced labour and to protect victims.

“In addition, it is important that Churches make their structures available for social protection and provide the support necessary to reduce the vulnerabilities that may push people into various forms of modern slavery,” said Bueno de Faria.

Putting an end to modern slavery will require a multi-faceted response that addresses the root causes of various economic, socio-cultural (including gendered), legal, and other factors that contribute to vulnerability which often enable abuse.

“As Christians we have a moral responsibility to promote life in abundance, as well as to restore human dignity to all,” said Bueno de Faria. “We have to point out modern slavery as a shameful sin, acknowledging that our ignorance and indifference leads to a tolerance and complacency of the trafficking of persons,” he continued.

“There are many other actions that we can take as Churches to eradicate the trafficking of people. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. The best way to identify the solutions is to have frank discussions with our congregations on the problem in our specific contexts and to identify our roles as Christians to respond to the crisis,” concluded Bueno de Faria.

Over one month has passed since political upheaval engulfed Nicaragua’s capital city, Managua. Demonstrations started on April 18 as Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega planned to change the nation’s social welfare conditions. The decision was met by resistance and protests which became violent after clashing with police. The clashes have had severe consequences including illegal arrests, media censorship, road blockades, injury, and death. President Ortega has since withdrawn this plan and although the violent protests declined, political unrest has prevailed.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) conducted an investigation and a subsequent report on the situation, identifying that at least 76 people have been killed and 868 injured, while the government has only acknowledged 18 deaths. The IACHR also reported that 438 people were detained by authorities in the process.

The ACT Alliance Nicaragua Forum has been closely monitoring the situation. Deeply concerned by the infringements of human rights, the Nicaragua Forum expresses its solidarity with the people of Nicaragua in a Statement released on May 18th, 2018.

“We are concerned in the current conflict, about the suffering of the affected families who have lost their loved ones, the mistreatment of the detainees, the uncertainty of those who do not find their relatives, the economic loss due to the destruction of businesses and public goods, censoring of the media, the bad international image the country is projecting as well as lack of trust that the population has of the National Police, whose mission is to safeguard order and citizen security,” the Statement reads.

The ACT Alliance Nicaragua Forum has called on national authorities, “to respect human rights, freedom of speech, allowing every citizen to make use of their right to peaceful protest within the legal and civic frameworks of the nation.”

On May 16, a series of National Dialogues for Peace was launched by National Authorities in the hope that peace could be restored in Managua. The Dialogues, mediated by the Episcopal Conference of the Catholic Church brought together various interest groups including government representatives, students, unions, farmers, and other members of civil society. The most recent Dialogue that took place on May 23rd was suspended indefinitely by the Catholic Church as no progress had been made between the government and civil society.

“The Dialogues are crucial to guarantee peace, justice and the rights of all people as well to ensure that an inclusive monitoring mechanism is implemented with key sectors including Faith Based Organizations,” said Carlos Rauda, ACT’s Regional Representative of Latin America and the Caribbean.

The IACHR developed 15 recommendations for the State of Nicaragua to implement to safeguard human rights including an immediate stop to the repression and detention of people who participated in the protests.

Safeguarding the rights of the people of Nicaragua is of utmost importance and the ACT Alliance Nicaragua Forum calls on national authorities and the people of Nicaragua to prevent any hatred and revenge that has the potential to further threaten life and exacerbate the crisis.

The ACT Nicaragua Forum’s Statement concludes, “As faith based organizations, we believe in the power of God to bless our nation with lasting peace and consequently call upon our faithful to continue to pray for peace in our beloved country. Our hope and faith are in our great and mighty God. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the communion of the Holy Spirit and the love of the Father be with us in this difficult time.”

The full Statement is available for download here.

For many years Bread for the World together with its partners, and particularly through ACT Alliance’s advocacy work on climate justice, has supported and enabled communities to fight for changes in policy and practice to ensure that the most vulnerable communities are protected from the worsening impacts of climate change.

More often than not, the difference between a community’s resilience and complete devastation in the wake of intensified climate impacts and disasters is the availability of resources and the capacity to anticipate, prepare for and respond to these impacts in a timely manner. It is against this backdrop that ACT Alliance member Bread for the World (BfdW) organized a study tour around Germany for its partners from around the world.

The study tour brought together 16 BfdW partners from Fiji, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Bangladesh, Nepal, Tanzania, Ethiopia, India, and Philippines. The main objective of the study tour was to enhance the knowledge of BfdW partners on the technical, socioeconomic and political issues related to climate change adaptation, climate risk reduction, and climate risk insurance and risk financing in Germany.

The study tour visited some of Germany’s regions that are prone to and are frequently affected by extreme weather events including the city of Hamburg, the Island of Föhr in the North Sea, and the Island of Hooge in the Wadden Sea. Partners also met with decision makers, researchers, experts on climate related insurance and risk management, and with community leaders and people affected by extreme weather events.

During a tour of the flood protection initiative of Hamburg guided by Jan-Moritz Mueller from the city’s Flood Protection Unit, participants were informed of the various technologies and capacities that the city has invested in to enhance its resilience to flooding. The protection strategy which also includes an early warning system costs the city upwards of 50 million Euro per year.

“It is incredible to see the robust programmes and initiatives to address the risks and to reduce the impacts of the floods. What came to my mind immediately is the abundance of finances, knowledge and technology in this part of the world. This is what enables action,” said Frances Namoumou, one of the participants from the Pacific Conference of Churches in Fiji.

The visit to the islands of Föhr and Hooge particularly resonated with participants from small, climate vulnerable islands in the Pacific. Not only were the impacts of climate change familiar, but so were the stories from the communities living on the islands. During a local church meeting community members expressed their wishes of not having to leave their homes despite the risk of floods. “It was an eye-opener that climate induced displacement was an issue here as well, and what resonated very much was the fact that the people on these German islands do not want to leave their land, just like we do not want to leave ours,” said Frances.

Tetet Lauron from Ibon International in the Philippines related the connection between communities that are affected by climate change and other risks as a reaffirmation of our shared humanity. “It is interesting to see that people here face similar challenges and difficult questions that we face in our own countries. We have the shared human value of protecting ourselves and the ones that we love,” she said.

Rex Solo from the Solomon Islands was quick to notice the high level of adaptive and risk reduction infrastructures such as dykes, dunes and sea walls on the German Islands. “If there was a way to ensure that funding, technology and capacity could somehow reach us in our countries, then we could build our own adaptive capabilities,” he said.

Tetet further elaborated on the issue of differing country capacities, a concern that is shared by many developing countries. “There is a stark difference in capacity between a rich country like Germany and the countries that we come from. The inequality that we have seen in global development and specifically related to capacities and resources to address climate change is huge. While many of the issues that we face are similar, the difference is also massive”.

According to Vijeta Rattani from India, some of the technologies that she has seen on the tour could benefit people from her country. “There is still very little sharing of resources and capacities between developed and developing countries. This needs to be encouraged in the context of climate action and for the implementation of the Paris Agreement. In addition, some of the technologies could be adjusted so that we get low cost, accessible alternatives,” said Vijeta.

According to Sabine Minninger, Bread for the World’s climate change policy adviser, and the organizer of the study tour, “The main purpose of the study tour was to create a sense of solidarity between the North and South with the understanding that the impacts of climate change are the same.” Sabine continued, “The people from the Hooge and the people from Tuvalu are facing the same threats, the main difference is that Germany is a rich country and has the financial means to avoid the worst havoc even if the global temperature rises beyond 1.5 degree Celsius, while this will be life threatening for the people from Tuvalu.”

Recognizing this reality, ACT Alliance’s global climate justice work focuses on supporting and building the resilience of communities in developing countries. It also calls for developed countries to take responsibility and to provide leadership on climate action.

“All partners taking part in the study tour are involved in project work on the frontlines of climate change or in political advocacy work within the UN climate negotiations. Together, we continue to call for climate justice and for appropriate means of implementation from rich countries to the poor countries. Comparing the adaptation projects in Germany and seeing the suffering of the poorest people in Bangladesh clearly shows the lack of proportionality of access to technical support and finance for the poorest people to protect themselves,” said Sabine.

The study tour also presented the opportunity for partners to meet and engage with representatives from key German institutions that are pioneering policy and political approaches for addressing climate change, including climate insurance. Partners engaged with representatives from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the G7/ G20 InsuResilience Secretariat, the Munich Climate Risk Insurance Initiative, and the German Bank for Reconstruction and Development (KfW). In addition, partners met representatives from the UNFCCC and also visited the Agricultural University of Geisenheim, where cutting edge research and development on adaptation in the context of Viniculture is currently underway.

Sophie Gebreyes, country representative of ACT Alliance member the Lutheran World Federation in Ethiopia said, “We are constantly experiencing humanitarian situations that are either induced or exacerbated by climate change. This study tour has been a wonderful opportunity for me to reflect on how a developed country like Germany is addressing these challenges and how we may be able to do the same in our own contexts.” Sophie added, “I had never met anyone from Tuvalu before.”

____

Written by Isaiah Toroitich, Global Advocacy and Policy Coordinator, ACT Alliance