Charities hold ‘climate justice’ day of action
AN afternoon of action has been planned by charities to raise awareness of climate justice and demand that governments and big companies take steps to tackle the issue.
A series of events will be held in Leicester on Saturday – the Global Day of Action for Climate Justice – to highlight how climate change disproportionately affects the poorest in our communities, and how that should be addressed.
Climate Action, the Race Equality Centre, Muslim Green Guardians, Leicester Friends of the Earth and City Retreat will hold a silent vigil at the Clock Tower at 2.30pm.
This will be followed by the taking of an aerial photo, most likely in Jubilee Square, of attendees standing in the shape of an eye.
Organisers said the image will be sent to Boris Johnson, along with the message “Leicester is watching you – act for climate justice.”
There will also be a gathering in the City Retreat in Church Gate, where there will be a clothes swap and vegan and vegetarian food, and people will be able to write postcards to Leicester’s MPs calling for action.
Among other measures, the groups are calling for the UK, US and EU “to agree and pay $100 billion per year (about £73 billion) to help developing countries transition to a green future”.
Zina Zelter, a Climate Action Leicester and Leicestershire member, said: “Climate justice means requiring that the countries and companies which have contributed the most to climate change now contribute the most to dealing with it.
“The wealthy UK has been a key carbon emitter and has profited in the process.
“Fossil fuel companies have known they are causing climate change for decades but have deliberately blocked action to reduce carbon emissions.
“The UK must pay a fair share to help the countries, communities and people worst affected to cope with the climate crisis and develop sustainably – and work to ensure fossil fuel companies and other major carbon polluters do the same.”
Shaykh Shafi Chowdhury, director of the City Retreat, said: “Our actions, habits and lifestyles are devastating the planet we all share and every day bringing us closer to a global catastrophe.
“Already, numerous species, natural habitats and millions of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable populations are at a crisis point.
“The City Retreat is committed to this important cause and believe the international day of action is an important way of holding governments and multinational corporations to account for meaningful action, while also highlighting what individuals and communities can and must do to make a difference.
“This is a responsibility on all of us and one we cannot afford to ignore, especially in the world’s wealthiest countries where we exert the greatest carbon footprint while the poorest pay the price for our lifestyles with their lives.”