Environmental justice… is an urgent need that involves much more than simply protecting the environment. For it is a matter of justice – social, economic and human.
We are currently witnessing increasing environmental degradation and climate upheavals with increasingly visible consequences: pollution, contamination of soil and waterways, ecosystem degradation, loss of biodiversity and livelihoods, and rampant deforestation. These impacts affect the world’s poorest regions the most, even though, paradoxically, they have contributed the least to these changes.
Several factors contribute to ecological and climate injustices. Among the main ones are:
The predatory extractivist model, based on the pursuit of profit rather than the common good, which exploits, destroys and pollutes the Earth and communities without restraint
The economic model of unlimited growth and planned obsolescence, which ignores the social, environmental and human costs of production, waste and the destruction of the commons
Colonialist-style exploitative practices that perpetuate discrimination, abuse and violations of fundamental rights
Corporate capture—the takeover of political decision-making by corporations—leading to the privatization of governance spaces at the expense of the rights of people and the planet
The commodification of the planet and all living things, which promotes policies that enable the exploitation and degradation of natural resources
The proliferation of false “green” solutions that fail to address root causes, hinder necessary structural changes, and perpetuate the status quo and ecological injustices
Beyond the rights to food, water and health, ecological justice also upholds the rights to safety and life. With this in mind, we work with vulnerable and marginalized communities that are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis, including:
Did you know?
Countries and populations do not contribute equally to the climate crisis, but they often bear its impacts unequally. Countries in the Global South, despite being responsible for only a small share of global greenhouse gas emissions, are among those hardest hit by climate change.
We seek to restore a balance between environmental, social and economic considerations to promote a sustainable future for current and future generations.
Our work focuses primarily on:
Promoting food sovereignty based on the right of peoples to define their own food systems in order to foster social change, while protecting the environment, biodiversity and the common good
Adopting agroecology—as a science of resilience and an approach to climate change adaptation and mitigation—to develop sustainable agricultural practices in harmony with ecosystems
Supporting smallholder economies and rural communities that are sensitive to women’s rights to combat exploitation, rural exodus and the exploitation of young people by armed groups for the purpose of violence
Strengthening energy sovereignty by opposing the privatization of rivers and the abusive exploitation of natural resources
Democratizing governance structures to promote citizen participation and the inclusion of underrepresented groups in defining their own vision of development
Reduce disaster risk and raise awareness in communities by strengthening the role of local organizations in civil protection
Raise awareness of the importance of ecosystems in climate regulation and advocate for the protection of biodiversity and Indigenous territories
Support local initiatives like community gardens, waste management, reforestation, protection of land and livelihoods, and women’s entrepreneurship
Promote stricter environmental laws to regulate the activities of extractive companies
Reduce risks in humanitarian contexts by greening refugee camps and implementing initiatives to protect natural resources and public health
Develop inclusive environmental governance by supporting farming communities in establishing rules for food sovereignty and environmental protection
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