Lebanon hosts climate justice heroes of COP28

Who asks Lebanon or the Middle East what they think about climate change? Is it possible that these water and energy-strapped regions who have the most to lose from a hot planet might have something critical to say? Those voices were heard at a Climate Justice Camp in August.

Participants from almost 100 countries across the Middle East and North Africa-Europe areas came together at the camp – one of the largest events of its kind to take place in the region – to attend and lead sessions on topics including loss and damage, climate adaptation, and fossil fuel phase-out. Eco Peace, Middle East, fashions large events of this nature every year or so. See our interview with Gidon Bromberg.

During the recent sessions in Beirut, in which Green Prophet was invited but could not attend, sessions, participants and organizations developed partnerships and collaborations to push for change in local and global contexts.

To bring the camp to a close, attendees gathered at sunset around a sculpture of a giant hand, which was collectively constructed using more than 400 pieces of embroidery, banners, symbolic textiles, and fabrics brought from their home countries.

Renowned Lebanese artist and designer Pierre Abboud worked with participants across the week to co-design the sculpture as a symbol of solidarity for climate justice. He said: “This sculpture is a creative act of solidarity crafted by hundreds of young people coming together from around the world. Each piece of material tells a personal story, and woven together they form a hand that symbolizes the unity we feel in this gathering for climate justice, in such a beautiful part of the world – my country, my soul, my Lebanon.”

Kenzie Azmi, a campaigner at Greenpeace Middle East & North Africa said: “Gathering 450 young leaders this week from regions hardest hit by climate change, the Climate Justice Camp in Lebanon stands as a powerful show of solidarity. Together, Global South communities are taking a stand against climate change and demanding justice. We are immensely proud of the outcomes achieved and the unified spirit of the youth.

Does the world listen to what Arab women say? Listen to what was happening in Lebanon this summer.

This unity highlights a stark reality: Middle East and Global South communities face unprecedented challenges across social, health, and economic fronts, often worsened by past injustices. Those hit the hardest often have the least responsibility for the crisis.

The call remains clear: rich historically polluting countries are duty-bound to take the lead in phasing out fossil fuels. They must also bear the financial burden of addressing losses and damages, while also funding a fast and fair global transition to renewable energy that puts the needs of frontline communities first. They should generate the required funds by imposing taxes on their fossil fuel industry, which has been both a primary driver and beneficiary of the climate crisis for decades.

Camp attendee Ayisha Siddiqa from Pakistan, a human rights and land defender and Climate Advisor to the UN Secretary-General said: “Regions in the Middle East, which get the least attention but are arguably some of the most looted and impacted regions on Earth, first paid for fossil fuels with their life and are now paying in drought, flood, and hunger. It does not take a political scientist to understand that environmental disasters of such scale lead to political and social upheaval. The foundations of a market-based economy collapse fast and what we are left with is human suffering. More than ever we need people power, we need to unify across borders and regions, across cultures and languages, to fix what we have broken. That starts with us caring for each other and the planet like it’s the most precious resource to exist.”

Fatima-Zahrae Tarib from Morocco, camp participant, youth climate advocate, and political science major, said:  “What we have at the Climate Justice Camp is the power of storytelling. The beauty of this space lies in the fact that it’s dedicated to young people, grassroots movements, Indigenous communities, and those living on the frontlines of the climate crisis to come together from inspiring communities around the world. We have been sharing our stories with one another every day, exchanging experiences and knowledge that can’t be found on the internet or in books. It can only be taught through people’s stories and lived realities – through people’s power.

“This helps us grow the movement. It helps us keep the motivation going to continue campaigning for climate justice. While we may feel disappointment or hopelessness about how the climate crisis is being dealt with; when you create a lasting community in a space like this, that’s how we can work together to get stuff done and keep the momentum going.”

The Climate Justice Camp in Lebanon is the second edition of this global grassroots event, building on the success of the inaugural September 2022 camp in Tunisia. More than 40 local and global organizations worked collaboratively this year to bring together young people from the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, South East Asia, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, between August 28 to September 2.

Want contacts to get involved? Reach out to those below.

• Hiam Mardini, Middle East and North Africa regional communications Manager, Greenpeace MENA Whatsapp: +961 71 533 232, [email protected]
• Sophie Schroder, Climate Justice Camp global communications, Greenpeace Aotearoa – Roots Program, Whatsapp: +64 21 086 47450, [email protected]
• Linda Åström, Climate Justice Camp global communications, GSCC, Whatsapp: +46 73-852 4285, [email protected]

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