What is Climate Justice?

“For those living on the brink of survival, climate change is a very real and dangerous hazard. For many, it is a final step of deprivation.” – Kofi Annan

Climate change isn't just something to worry about in the future. For many of the world’s poorest people, those without a voice to protest, climate change is a problem now, even though their countries have contributed almost nothing to global greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.

‘Climate Justice’ is urgently needed by today’s and tomorrow’s victims of climate change. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people in developing countries die because of climate change-related crises. Environmental disasters cost governments billions, so people suffer even more as economies are hit. Climate Justice is needed by those whose communities and economies are ruined by abnormal and increasing tropical storms, floods, droughts and crop failures. Climate Justice is needed by the world’s children, because it is they who will face greater catastrophes tomorrow if something isn't done soon.

To avoid the worst impacts of climate change - rising sea levels, widespread flooding and drought - global emissions of greenhouse gases around the world have to drop before 2020. But at the moment, emissions are still increasing rapidly. Scientists point to a warming effect that continues for 20 years following any reductions in emissions. That will mean runaway climate change that we cannot stop - unless action happens now. Emissions know no borders, and neither do the destructive consequences of global warming.

But who takes responsibility? No one, really. Political leaders have a duty to act. Talk is easy, but action is limited, and now time is running out. Action needs to start with a binding agreement for change: tomorrow will be catastrophic unless the world takes action now. The climate summit in Copenhagen was a historic opportunity for world leaders to agree on a fair, ambitious and binding climate agreement, but the summit did not deliver Climate Justice. It is the world’s poorest people who continue to suffer most from the adverse impacts of climate change. We need to continue to put pressure on our political leaders to deliver Climate Justice. The next key opportunity for a global climate agreement is COP-16 in Mexico in November 2010.

The fight for climate justice continues.

Learn more about Climate Justice:
http://www.ghf-ge.org/Portals/0/pdfs/KeyPointsonClimateJusticeTextWeb.pdf

Join the fight for Climate Justice

The movement for Climate Justice is focused on uniting and mobilizing people from around the world to raise awareness about Climate Justice and the human impact of climate change. ‘Tck Tck Tck’ symbolizes that time is ticking down and urgent action is needed for millions of people already suffering from climate change, and for those communities who will suffer most in the future.

We need a global agreement that will lead to progress in reducing the burden on poor communities impacted by climate change now and in the future. Together we can pressure our political leaders to reach a “fair, robust and binding” climate agreement to succeed the Kyoto Protocol before it expires in 2012.

We know we can't leave it up to politicians alone. History shows that ‘People Power’ has an enormous influence on governments, and together we can help bring about a global revolution, make governments take climate change seriously and actually tackle it.

So, if up until now you've felt helpless and without a voice, this is your chance to make a difference. Now is the time to join the movement for Climate Justice, spread the ‘tck tck tck’ logo far and wide and let people know what is at stake.

Become a Climate Ally with just a click and join Jet Li, Clarence Seedorf, Desmond Tutu, Bob Geldof, Ted Turner, H.M. Queen Rania of Jordan, Vitali Klitschko, Muhammad Yunus, Dan Carter, Jamie Burke, Mélanie Laurent, Angélique Kidjo and many more:

Join the movement on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube or introduce us to your own social media community. You can use the ‘Tck Tck Tck’ logo and material however you see fit. Put it on a T-Shirt; start a blog; put the logo on your email footer; write to a politician, or your local newspaper; create leaflets and hand them out on your streets; send a viral video, or get even more creative and make your own film and post it on YouTube. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination!

Global Humanitarian Forum

The Tck Tck Tck: Time for Climate Justice campaign is an initiative of the Global Humanitarian Forum (GHF) and its strategic communications and advertising partner HAVAS Worldwide/EuroRSCG. Founded in 2007, the Global Humanitarian Forum is led by Nobel Peace Prize recipient Kofi Annan and brings together stakeholders, including government, business, international organizations, civil society and the general public, to help solve humanitarian challenges. Located in Geneva, the Forum’s current focus is to increase awareness on the human face of climate change and to boost support to vulnerable populations worst affected by global warming.

Find out more about the Global Humanitarian Forum:
http://www.ghf-geneva.org