Human Rights & Climate Resilient Development are Inextricably Linked
Human Rights & Climate Resilient Development are Inextricably Linked
NEWSLETTER, July 2022—Canadians get climate income payments; Uganda Media Training + 3 Volunteer Groups; CCI supports Early Warning for All; UN recognizes human right to a clean, healthy environment
The climate emergency is unfolding in real time, all around us. We are now facing a global food security crisis. We are long past the time when it was reasonable to tolerate any further degradation of future resilience and wellbeing. More than 3 billion people will soon be facing ongoing acute climate vulnerability. We need to know that policy, investment, and everyday practice are working toward a livable future. There are no more viable excuses for inaction, as major climate investment offers a chance to curb inflation and foster sustainable development, and the tools for fast-paced global decarbonization are coming online.
Canada has become the first country in the world to deliver direct climate income payments
On Friday, July 15th, 2022 Canadians living in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta—provinces where the federal pollution pricing system applies—will receive their first quarterly Climate Action Incentive payment. Thus, Canada becomes the first country in the world to issue direct payments back to citizens from the pollution fee levied on carbon based fuels.
Starting in 2019, oil, coal and natural gas distributors were charged a pollution fee of $10 per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), rising by $10 per year to $170 per tonne CO2e in 2030. The carbon fee for this pollution pricing policy is revenue-neutral. Between 2019 and 2021 the revenue was recycled back to the citizens in their income taxes “climate action incentive“. Of note, 80% of households come out ahead, a finding confirmed by the Parliamentary Budget Office and Clean Prosperity.
This quarterly delivery, which replaces an annual credit from previous years, will ensure that Canadians receive payments on a more regular basis. The first payment will be a “double-up” payment that will return proceeds from the first two quarters of the 2022-23 year (April-June and July-September). Quarterly payments will follow in October 2022 and January 2023. Canadians can register for direct deposit to ensure that payment is fast, convenient and secure.
CCI Africa Coordinator delivers Training on Climate Change Reporting to journalists in Uganda
David Michael Terungwa—CCI Field Development Lead and Africa Coordinator—facilitated the first journalist training on environment and climate change reporting in Uganda at the invitation of Greenwatch, a non-governmental organization based in Kampala, and the Media Council of Uganda under the theme ‘’Covering Climate in the Media Now’’.
The training was aimed at equipping Ugandan journalists with knowledge about environmental and climate reporting in an effort to advance climate change awareness in the country.
The Hon. Chris Bayomunsi, Uganda’s Minister of Information, Communications Technology and National Guidance, opened the training.
Minister Bayomunsi highlighted the importance of climate action to the National Development of Uganda, and noted that the Government is taking steps at building resilience due to the country’s vulnerability.
The training was attended by 25 selected journalists from across Uganda, as well as the Commissioner for Communication and Information Dissemination, Mr. Moses Watasa, and covered:
Understanding climate change and its impact for Africa and Uganda;
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: The opportunities for Africa and Uganda;
An introduction to Climate Justice;
Climate Advocacy;
How to write as a Climate Journalist.
CCI Uganda: Meeting of Three Chapters, with Climate Advocate Training
On Friday, July 29, Citizens’ Climate Uganda volunteers gathered in Kampala. 21 volunteers were in attendance, some travelling long distances from North, Central and East Uganda to participate in the meeting.
The volunteers were delighted to meet with David Michael physically for the first time, and to participate in the CCI Climate Advocate Training. At the meeting, it was agreed that two additional groups should be formed, because many of the volunteers do not reside in Kampala (Central Uganda). The two new groups are Jinja (Eastern Uganda) and Teso (Northern Uganda).
The Citizens’ Climate chapter leaders in Uganda are now:
Jinja Group: Madam Evelyn Namuwolo
Kampala Group: Agnes Birungi
Teso Group: Ann Grace Akiteng
Citizens’ Climate International is beginning work to support Early Warning for All
On World Meteorological Day, in March, the United Nations announced an effort “to ensure every person on Earth is protected by early warning systems within five years.” This is a life-and-death project. All nations should cooperate in the effort to make sure everyone is covered by early warning systems.
Early warning is just one piece of the puzzle, however. We also need to ensure climate crisis response is adequate to the threat posed by climate breakdown. If we don’t rapidly adjust course, innovate, and scale—across the food, energy, and finance sectors—we may be entering a period of prolonged global food insecurity.
With this in mind, and in support of our mission to honor the right to a livable climate future, CCI is now beginning to work, through its Civic Diplomacy and Resilience Intelligence programs, to support the goal of Early Warning for All.
The United Nations General Assembly has declared access to a clean and healthy environment a universal human right
The UN General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to recognize the universal human right to a clean and healthy environment. This is significant, because recognized human rights allow for all other areas of policy and multilateral cooperation to align around preventing degradation of those rights.
There were 161 votes in favor, with 8 countries abstaining. The 161 member states include most of the G7 and G20 countries, and encompass most of the world's climate disrupting emissions. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the historic resolution and said in a statement:
“The resolution will help reduce environmental injustices, close protection gaps and empower people, especially those that are in vulnerable situations, including environmental human rights defenders, children, youth, women and indigenous peoples.”
Additional reading
Food security is a bigger problem than you think – Resilience Intel
France could choose Climate Income – Citizens’ Climate International
Media Release: Almost 1,200 Climate Advocates from 80 Countries urge G7 Leaders to Steer Us to Safety – Citizens’ Climate International
Nations can team up to accelerate decarbonization & build resilience, through Paris Agreement Article 6.8 – Resilience Intel
SB56: Action, Ambition, Inclusion & the Solidarity Test – Citizens’ Climate International
United States Senate poised to pass historic climate legislation – Citizens’ Climate International
NOTE: The cover image for the CCI Newsletter for July 2022 is the “climate stripes” created by Ed Hawkins, Institute for Environmental Analytics, using data from Berkeley Earth, NOAA, UK Met Office, MeteoSwiss, DWD, SMHI, UoR, Meteo France & ZAMG. You can find more information, and download climate stripes for your country or region, at: ShowYourStripes.info
We featured this image, to highlight the rapidly intensifying global heating which is creating new and compounding threats to human health and wellbeing. We believe everyone has a right to, and should play a role in shaping, a livable climate future.