Category: International Political Engagement

In August 2022, QUNO submitted to a consultation on “Net Zero” to the United Nations Secretary General. This consultation emphasized the need for real transformation of the root causes driving climate change, and avoidance of “greenwashing” under some “net zero” approaches.  In particular, the submission drew attention to the need for rapid reduction and use of fossil fuels for a safer chance to remain within a 1.5C temperature rise limit. Along with highlighting the need for rapid reduction, the submission draws attention to threats in renewable energy investment being sidelined by investment into geo-engineering such as off-sets and carbon capture storage, the latter technology being expensive, not yet available to scale, prone to emission leakage and enabling ongoing fossil fuel extraction and burning activities. QUNO’s submission draws attention to the actions we can take to achieve net zero emissions and emphasizes the importance of conserving and restoring ecosystems.

To read the entire submission, click here.

This month many in the international sphere are joining the meetings of the Stockholm +50, commemorating the 1972 United Nations Conference on the Human Environment. Colleagues from QUNO Geneva will be joining this event marks, which marks 50 years of global environmental action. AT the meeting, QUNO’s Peace and Disarmament Team are joining advocacy efforts to make the case for why human rights and conflict sensitivity are central to sustainable and just responses to plantary crisis. The team write:

Stockholm+50 presents an urgent opportunity for policymakers to make bold decisions on climate change and the environment. Our planetary crises have impacted every element of our global systems and our responses must be cross-sectoral in their approach. How we respond to these challenges can also be an opportunity to cooperate and build peace.

We share these policy messages on behalf of a group of 18 organizations and nearly 30 individuals representing the Environment, Climate, Conflict and Peace (ECCP) group at the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform, containing bold and practical policies for action at Stockholm +50 and beyond. 

Peace and conflict sensitivity are inextricably linked to environmental policy because:

• The environment and policies around it can fuel conflict.
• Damage from conflict has a significant negative impact on the natural environment.
• Cooperation to respond to climate change and manage natural resources can contribute to building peace.
• A just transition and prosperity for all is realised by enhancing peace.
• Responding to environmental and climate challenges requires an interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral approach.

The responsibility of the private sector in environmental policy:

We would also like to take this opportunity to highlight the role and responsibilities of private sector actors – as key stakeholders in taking sustainable and just environmental and climate action by:

• Conducting ongoing conflict mapping and human rights and environmental impact due diligence assessments (HRDD) of business activities throughout supply chains and investments and ensure that their activities are in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and ensuring exit strategies prevent and mitigate harm.
• Ensuring meaningful engagement and inclusive consultation of affected communities, including human rights and environmental defenders, small-holders, women, indigenous people and youth; and enhancing transparency by making information on business activities publicly accessible and easily understandable,
• Taking steps to ensure that their investment decisions are consistent with a pathway toward a low-carbon economy and are committed to reducing endless growth through adoption of a degrowth business model.

For further information see the team’s latest blog: “Stockholm+50: why human rights and conflict sensitivity are central to sustainable & just responses to planetary crisis”  & their contribution to the White Paper on Environmental Peacebuilding “The case for human rights & conflict sensitive approaches to business activities’ – a joint contribution to the future of environmental peacebuilding”, both written with Swedwatch and Frient.

Below, you can also read a 2-page policy brief on building conflict-sensitivity into environmental policy.

In the second part of a series of contributions, Friend Kees Nieuwerth is sharing a paper on the European Green Deal. The paper is a contribution to the Conference of European Churches’ Thematic Report on the topic.

Kees is a member of the Board of the European Ecumenical Peace Movement Church and Peace, which is a partner organization of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) based in Brussels. CEC brings together 114 churches from different traditions and across Europe “for dialogue, advocacy, and joint action.”

The shared paper was written by Kees as part of the CEC working group on Economic and Ecological Justice and a Sustainable Future, which he also moderates. The CEC working group is in the process of developing an critical analysis of the European Green Deal from the churches’ perspective. This paper is therefore a contribution from the author to this work in progress which –it is hoped- will result in an document for dialogue with the European institutions and the member churches of CEC entitled ‘From a Green Deal to a Green Economy – Inspired by Green Theology.’

The author is a member of Netherlands Yearly Meeting. Read his previous contribution to the Resource Hub here.

Working together American Friends Service Committee, Britain Yearly Meeting, Friends Committee for National Legislation, Quaker Council for European Affairs and Quaker United Nations Office have developed a statement on migration drawing on Quaker foundations and work with migrants and on migration. The core of the statement says:

Rooted in our belief that there is that of the sacred in everyone, our spiritual leading to uphold the inherent value and agency of every human being, and our commitment to building a world without violence, we are heartbroken by migration policy that dehumanises some members of our human family on the basis of where they come from. We reject the notion that security for some can be achieved through means that use or result in violence and insecurity for others. We abhor the many forms of violence used in the management of migration and the effect current migration systems have in dividing our human family. 

We are committed to working for a world where dignity and rights are upheld regardless of migration status and not on the basis of citizenship or perceived deservedness.  Our faith calls us to work alone and with others for migration justice.  

Meetings, Quaker organisations and Friends’ groups or associations are encouraged to consider supporting the statement and signing on to it. For further information please email the Quaker UN Office’s Human Rights and Refugees team: Laurel Townhead ltownhead@quno.ch and Najmah Ali nali@quno.ch

The month of September saw significant strides being taken within the area of climate change and human rights.

A global call for the United Nations to recognise the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment was launched at the start of the month. The call came ahead of the 45th Session of the Human Rights Council. The Council is an intergovernmental body within the UN which meets three times per year to promote education, follow up on commitments and prevent human rights violations. FWCC, QEW and AFSC added their signatures to those of over 900 civil society, NGO and Indigenous Peoples’ organisations worldwide.

The 45th Session also saw the adoption of a Resolution on Child Rights and the Environment, which urges states to consider recognizing a right to healthy environment in their national legislation. The resolution is a critical step forward on the recognition of a global right and comes at the same time as the opening of consultations on this topic by the core group of States responsible for the annual resolution on human rights and the environment.

The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres delivered a powerful message where he shared that “The current crisis is an unprecedented wake-up call. We need to turn the recovery into a real opportunity to do things right for the future.” He continued by proposing a six-step plan for action. On the same link you will also find the message of General Assembly President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande who wrote that “We will only preserve Mother Earth through a paradigm shift from a human-centric society to an Earth-centred global ecosystem.”