ECCJ and 101 other civil society organisations call on UNFCC and State parties to centre shared prosperity and corporate justice in climate action. In an open letter addressed to the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and State parties, these diverse signatories are urging a resounding call to action at COP28.

The signatories represent a broad spectrum of concerns, from the human rights implications of mineral extraction and renewable energy projects, including the disproportionate risks faced by Indigenous Peoples, to safeguarding human rights defenders facing attacks. The letter urges climate action to ensure human rights and social protection, shared prosperity for workers and communities, and resource efficiency and demand reduction for raw materials consumption.

There is no doubt the climate crisis is upon us, but progress to address it is moving dangerously slow. We have wasted 40 years, deluded by powerful vested interests, the ease of ‘business as usual’, and the distraction of political manoeuvring. Fighting the worst effects of climate change will now take the best of humanity. We call on world leaders to commit to climate action firmly resting on three key imperative pillars that must inform discussions on the Just Transition Work Programme.