APN | Amman – Zoom

4 September 2024

APN was invited to present a session as part of the American Friends Service Committee’s (AFSC) series titled “Climate Justice in the Arab Region: Where Do We Stand?”. The lecture, titled “Climate Action: Between Meaningful Agreements and False Solutions”, offered a critical examination of climate agreements through the lens of climate justice.

The session, presented by APN Advocacy and Research Officer Lisa Shahin, highlighted various climate action strategies, focusing on both mitigation and adaptation efforts. It explored the challenges and root causes that hinder the achievement of true climate justice, including the double standards prevalent in the current world order. Shahin emphasized the need for responsible countries and corporations to be held accountable, addressing the absence of binding liability and compensation mechanisms. She pointed out that strategies allowing Global North countries to offset their climate debts often come at the expense of the environment and local communities in the Global South.

Furthermore, the discussion delved into the implications of climate justice within the context of war and occupation. Shahin highlighted the Israeli occupation’s environmental and agricultural violations in Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine, with a particular focus on the ongoing genocide and ecocide in Gaza.

The session also provided an interactive platform for participants from the three countries to engage in deeper discussions about these pressing issues. Together, they explored recommendations for what effective climate action should entail in the Arab region, emphasizing the need for solutions that address the root causes of climate change in the region.