What will PWYP do at COP?
PWYP delegates from different regions will attend COP. Their objectives are to:
- Influence: increasing awareness of CSOs, international organisations, and government representatives about the needs and concerns of people living in resource-dependent countries, as those are not central to climate action discussions. There will be a focus on MENA oil and gas producing countries, and on African countries that are rich in transition minerals.
- Build relationships: strengthening and building new relationships with CSOs in the climate and energy transition sphere to identify potential joint work.
- Learn: understand how COP works and how we can influence it, as well as governments and companies positioning on the energy transition, the arguments and rhetoric being used and how other CSOs organisations answer to it.
Our 4 key messages for COP28
→The views and concerns of people living in resource-dependent countries must be heard by world leaders.
To ensure the transition to cleaner and safer energy is just, world leaders at COP must take into account the voices of people living in oil, gas, and mining countries. Local populations in oil and gas countries must be involved in fossil fuel phase-out and clean energy project planning. In mineral producing countries, communities affected by mining must be meaningfully consulted and participate in any decisions affecting their lives. Indigenous peoples’ Free, Prior and Informed Consent must be prioritised and respected, including the right to give or withhold consent for any action that would affect their lands, territories or rights as aligned with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
→ A cleaner, fairer energy future for everyone.
The richer countries, which are historically responsible for climate change, must support lower-income nations to plan for and manage the energy transition. They need to support countries that phase out fossil fuels with the finances and technologies they need to turn to cleaner energy. They must also support transition minerals producing countries with the technologies needed to create value in the continent and help them develop stronger economies. Wealthier countries also have the duty to prioritise policies and investments aimed at reducing consumption to limit the amount of needed minerals.
→ Countries dependent on fossil fuels need to start their transition to cleaner energy as soon as possible. Continuing to produce oil and gas is a dangerous bet both for climate, economies and the people near extraction. As the global oil and gas demand is set to decline, populations in fossil fuel dependent countries could suffer from increasing losses of jobs and revenues if their governments don’t plan. These countries need to set clear and ambitious targets for fossil fuel phase-out, diversify their economies, and turn to cleaner and safer energy. We call them on to become leaders on renewables, kickstarting a new era of clean development, affordable energy access, and sustainable revenues.
→ The mining sector and governments must be held accountable for the environmental and social impacts of mining of transition minerals. We need effective and binding mechanisms. This must be a priority in climate action. Mining for transition minerals marred by poor governance, corruption, overconsumption and little care for people and the planet will only slow climate action. World leaders at COP must ensure the energy transition is also fair for the people living in mining countries and does not repeat abuses of the past. COP is a decisive moment for world leaders to ensure the emerging transition minerals market is well-regulated, transparent, just and equitable, and at the same time, to look at solutions that will reduce dependence on mining.
Source: PWYP Messaging for COP28