Take on COP29

As the new year dawns, many look forward to fresh beginnings from shifts in the stock market and technological advancements to policy changes that often favor the wealthy few. However, for marginalized communities, the story remains unchanged. Decades have passed with little to no progress in safeguarding their human and environmental rights, leaving them excluded from the benefits of global advancements. The outcomes of COP29 further underscore this disparity, raising critical questions about equity and justice in the fight against climate change.

The decision on the mechanism established by Article 6, paragraph 4, of the Paris Agreement, as outlined in the CMA.6 document, has significant implications for countries, especially those in the Global South like India, and marginalized communities such as farmers facing environmental impacts. The mechanism aims to facilitate international cooperation on emission reductions, specifically through carbon markets and projects.

Potential for Exploitative Carbon Credit Mechanisms

Reference: Paragraph 9 (Requests the Supervisory Body to accelerate the revision of methodologies...)

Impact: The expansion of carbon credit mechanisms, including revisions to baseline and monitoring methodologies, could lead to further exploitation of land, particularly in agricultural areas, where credits may be traded without compensation or tangible benefits for grassroots communities. There is a troubling precedent of land grabs under the guise of development—whether through corporate agriculture or state-led initiatives—which often leads to the displacement of vulnerable populations. By prioritizing carbon offset profits over the rights and livelihoods of local communities, such mechanisms could exacerbate inequalities and strip marginalized groups of access to essential resources like land and water. Without safeguards, these practices risk deepening historical injustices and perpetuating cycles of exploitation.

False Climate Solutions and Greenwashing

Reference: Paragraph 21 (Transition of CDM activities to Article 6 mechanism)

Impact: Allowing projects registered under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), like afforestation and reforestation, to transition to the Article 6 mechanism raises serious concerns about ineffective climate solutions.Without robust monitoring and accountability, they will lead to "greenwashing" enabling companies and governments to falsely claim emissions reductions while continuing harmful environmental practices. Such superficial measures not only undermine the integrity of global climate action but also fail to address the real needs of marginalized communities. By prioritizing appearances over genuine impact and indigenous knowledge which are further exploited through biopiracy, these false and discriminative solutions risk diverting resources away from building true climate resilience and further disadvantaging vulnerable populations.

Regulatory Complexity and Slow Action

Reference: Paragraph 6 (Ensures regulatory stability by avoiding frequent substantive revisions)

Impact: A slow pace of regulatory updates, especially around methodologies for emissions reductions, may delay effective action in addressing urgent climate impacts in countries like India. Moreover, the intricate and bureaucratic nature of the mechanism could marginalize local farmers and vulnerable groups who lack the resources or capacity to navigate these complex regulatory structures. Without simplified and inclusive processes, these communities risk being excluded from the benefits of climate initiatives, further exacerbating inequalities in the fight against climate change.

Risk of Exclusion of Marginalized Farmers in Benefit Distribution

Reference: Paragraph 11 (Clarifies the process for emission reduction authorization)

Impact: The process for authorizing emission reductions could favor larger corporations or wealthier countries over local and marginalized communities, excluding them from the benefits of climate financing. This could lead to inequitable distribution of climate funds, further disadvantaging small farmers, especially in the Global South.

In addition to the decisions made at COP29, marginalized Dalit and Adivasi workers in India such as agricultural laborers, fishermen, small-scale farmers, construction workers (MGNREGA), and sanitation workerscontinue to be denied their fundamental human rights and social security. Despite global climate agreements, these workers face systemic neglect, with their basic needs for protection, compensation, and dignity largely unmet.

To address these injustices, we put forward the following demands aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of marginalized workers. Without human justice, there can be no true climate justice.

• Recognize and Register Workers: Officially acknowledge and register all workers to ensure access to rights and benefits.

• MGNREGA Worker Cards and 250 Days Employment: Provide MGNREGA worker-based cards and not family based cards then guarantee 250 days of employment annually.

• Ensure Access to Irrigation and Grazing Land: Ensure equitable access to irrigation tanks, grazing land, and other vital resources for rural communities.

• Provide Burial Ground Access: Ensure access to burial grounds for marginalized communities and protect their right to use these facilities.

• Restore Government Land for Landless Women: Recover government land from ineligible landlords and redistribute it to eligible landless women.

• Equal Pay for Women: Guarantee equal wages for women for equal work, addressing the gender pay gap.

• Maternity Wage Compensation: Provide maternity compensation of at least Rs 50,000 (equivalent to six months of minimum wage) to all working women.

• Death and Disability Compensation: Ensure a minimum compensation of Rs 5,00,000 for workers who suffer permanent disability or death while performing their duties.

• Provide Safety Kits for Workers: Supply workers with safety kits and protective gear to safeguard their health and well-being.

• Link Marginalized Workers to ESI Benefits: Extend Employees' State Insurance (ESI) benefits to agricultural workers, ensuring their health and social security.

• Recognize Agricultural Labor as Skilled Work: Recognize agricultural labor as skilled work and ensure a fair wage of Rs 850 per day.

• Ban Toxic Pesticides and Subsidize Organic Fertilizers: Prohibit the use of harmful pesticides and offer subsidies for organic fertilizers to promote sustainable farming.

• Provide a Minimum Pension of Rs 5,000: Ensure that all workers, especially in the agricultural sector, receive a minimum pension of Rs 5,000 per month to secure their old age.

• Follow Up on Pending Forest Claims: Expedite the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) to address both individual and community forest claims.

• Implement the PESA Act: Fully enforce the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act to strengthen local governance in tribal areas.

• Expand the Fifth Schedule to All Adivasi Areas: Extend the protections of the Fifth Schedule to all Adivasi areas to safeguard indigenous land and rights.

• Guarantee Forest Access for Plain Area Adivasis: Ensure that Adivasis in plain areas have the right to access and use forest resources.

These demands seek to ensure that the fight for climate action includes the voices and rights of those who are most affected by environmental degradation and economic inequalityworkers who are, in fact, on the front lines of climate change and serve as the backbone of our economy. These marginalized communities, despite their critical contributions, have long been excluded from the benefits of progress and protection. Addressing their needs is not just a matter of fairness; it is essential for building a just, resilient, and sustainable future for all.