“Scaling up pressure on the North’s governments”

Toban Black/flickr (by-nc)

For years, the Rosa-Luxemburg-Foundation has been actively engaged in various networks on climate justice. In Dakar, as well, it will participate in the networks’ activities. Judith Dellheim has been talking to Maria Theresa Nera-Lauron, coordinator of the Peoples Movement on Climate Change and representative of the IBON Foundation.

Which activities did you stage in Cancún?

Being an accredited NGO, IBON presented its own research and publications on climate change. We were actively involved in the Klimaforum and Dialogo Cambio Climático, organising workshops and having one of our people speak on a panel discussion. As a member of Climate Justice Now! we participated in strategy meetings and various actions. And, of course, we joined the Global Day of Action’s mass demonstration.

Which are the challenges facing the climate justice movement today?

In response to the disastrous outcome of Copenhagen and Cancún, we have to support farmers, fishers, workers, women and youths in building up strong mass movements for climate justice. Particularly people from developing countries should scale up pressure on the North’s governments to sign binding agreements on emission cuts and to provide financial assistance to poor countries for adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change.

After Cancún, what are your expectations for the WSF 2011?

The World Social Forum in Dakar is of particular importance for the global climate justice movement to debate on its strategies for COP17, that is going to take place on African soil.