Can climate justice drive climate ambition?

On the 23rd of October 2019 Veronika Hunt Safrankova, Head of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Office in Brussels, was invited to take part in a panel discussion hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee.

Alongside other panelists, who were representatives of the youth, the European Commission, NGOs, and other organizations, Ms Hunt Safrankova was called to deliver UNEP’s point of view on the existing link between climate justice and climate ambition.

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Noticing that often those who are most impacted by negative effects of climate change are also those who have contributed the least to environmental degradation, UNEP’s Head of Office called for increased multilateral actions and joint efforts to face the global threat that climate change is. Furthermore, she noticed how we should not only focus our attention on the different levels of impact that climate change is having between countries, but also within counties. Suggesting that in situations of risks and natural disasters, it is those who have the least resources that will more likely be those who will have the highest price to pay, she recognized the need to continue to promote concepts such as shared responsibilities and just transition. 

She used this occasion to express praise words for the objectives of the new European Commission, which has placed high importance of delivering, through a systemic change with a holistic approach, policy measures fit to address the climate emergency we are experiencing, and has declared its intent to lead by example in the transition towards a low carbon future.

Ms Hunt Safrankova stressed the key role the policy-science interface will have to play if we are to address issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss, as well as to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Highlighting that promoting the dialogue and the exchange of data-based knowledge was one of UNEP’s main priorities, she promoted the recent presentation of the “Global Environment Outlook Summary for Policy Makers”, which was held at the European Commission and at the European Parliament, indicating UNEP’s strong will for more cooperation in the future.

Informing the audience that 2020 will be biodiversity year, Ms Hunt Safrankova recalled the importance of working with Nature, rather than against it, in our fight with climate change. Pointing out that nature-based solutions (NBS) provide cost-friendly and efficient solutions for both mitigation and adaptation solutions, UNEP Brussel’s Head of Office invited Governments and Institutions to fully recognize and exploit the potential of nature.

“Understanding that nature can be our most valuable ally in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss is imperative. We need to scale up nature-based solutions, especially in countries and regions that are more exposed to risks such as floods and landslides, and protect the rights of those who are trying to protect nature.”