• There is a critical need for just energy transitions that account for human rights, labor rights, and corporate accountability. This was especially relevant in the context of major global movements working towards more equitable and ecological energy solutions.
• The global movement is focusing heavily on public ownership of energy systems and how trade unions are collaborating to shape these transitions. The idea is to center solutions that are socially and ecologically just, rather than reinforcing extractive and exploitative systems.

• There was widespread recognition of the leadership role played by movements in the Global South, especially in Latin America and Africa. Communities on the ground in regions like Brazil and the Congo Basin are pushing back against extractive industries and harmful projects like green extraction and critical minerals mining. They need funding for safeguarding.
• The need for global movements to connect was another important theme, particularly in relation to the upcoming COP meetings. These regions share similar struggles against environmental destruction, and collaboration can amplify their collective impact.
• There is a need for Indigenous-led just transitions, which reflect the values and lived experiences of Indigenous peoples.

• The group highlighted the global struggle for adequate climate finance, noting that previous commitments (like the $100 billion pledge) were unmet and vastly insufficient. The agreement to push for $5 trillion in climate finance, while a step forward, is still seen as just a “down payment” on the actual needs for mitigation, adaptation, and just transition.
• The finance fight is a crucial aspect of climate justice movements. The global week of action around the UN General Assembly (Sept. 13–20), includes a major call for financial commitments to address climate justice.
• There was a strong focus on redirecting resources toward grassroots movements and ensuring that funding is not co-opted by false solutions in climate finance.

• The intersectionality of climate justice was a common thread, with participants emphasizing the need for climate solutions that address gender, race, and economic inequality. For example, WoMin African Alliance hosts the Women’s Climate Assembly, which centers African women and their unique struggles against the climate crisis.

• Governments need to develop alternative economic pathways that break the current global dependency on extractive industries. The group stressed the importance of addressing global energy cartels and the concentration of wealth and power within the rare earth minerals sector.
• This discussion ties back to broader just transition conversations, where finance and technology must play a key role in shifting away from extractive economies and ensuring that resources are not disproportionately drained from the Global South to the Global North .

• Philanthropy needs to support movement-led funds that are able to move money towards critical infrastructure within movements, such as spaces for convening, developing shared analysis, and making strategic interventions.

• Projects: Edwin highlighted major infrastructure projects funded by Chinese investments, such as the Entebbe Express Highway, Karuma Hydropower Station, and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (operated by the Chinese state-owned company CNOOC).
• Impact: These projects have led to significant human rights violations and environmental degradation, including displacement of communities without fair compensation and poor labor practices.

• Displacement and Compensation: Many communities have been displaced without adequate compensation, leading to loss of livelihoods and increased poverty among affected populations.
• Environmental Degradation: Projects have caused deforestation, water pollution, and loss of biodiversity, impacting local communities’ access to clean water and natural resources.

• Lack of Response: Engaging with Chinese corporations and the Chinese government is challenging due to a lack of transparency and accountability mechanisms.
• Intimidation and Safety: Organizations and individuals in Uganda face intimidation and repression when speaking up against powerful entities, complicating advocacy efforts.

• Participants emphasized the importance of transparency regarding payments, contracts, and royalties involving oil, gas, and mining companies. This transparency can help demonstrate whether local communities are receiving fair deals from natural resource extraction activities.
• While Uganda is a member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), transparency issues have not been adequately addressed within the country, complicating efforts to hold corporations accountable​.

Sacrifice zones are areas that bear the disproportionate burden of environmental degradation and pollution, often due to industrial activities such as mining, oil extraction, manufacturing, and waste disposal. These zones are typically inhabited by marginalized communities who have less political and economic power to oppose these harmful practices. The term reflects the idea that certain areas and populations are sacrificed for the benefit of economic development and consumption elsewhere.

Indigenous Climate Action (ICA) and It Takes Roots have been using this term. Some participants were curious if this was mainstream/acknowledged widely as a term.

• Participants raised the issue of climate change driving migration, emphasizing that it disrupts livelihoods and forces people to move. We need to revise laws governing refugee status to include climate-induced displacement​.
• There is a critical need to recognize and legally protect those displaced by climate change as refugees.
• Current definitions of refugees often do not account for those displaced by climate change, focusing primarily on conflict and war​. 

• Military and Economic Power: Countries like Israel, UAE, and China often back their investments with military and economic power. These nations see a strategic benefit in investing in regions like Africa to meet their food security needs .
• Geopolitical Perspective: The need to consider these investments from a geopolitical perspective was emphasized, as these actions are not just about economic gain but also about securing resources and influence globally .

• The UAE’s  is an increasing power in the global food system. The UAE is acquiring agricultural land and logistics capabilities to secure its food supply, demonstrating a clear link between economic investments and food security goals .

• Renewable Energy and Minerals: Since 2015, China has been a major investor in Latin America, focusing on renewable energy, transportation, food, and critical minerals. These investments often lead to significant human rights violations, particularly in the extraction of minerals for energy transitions .
• Systemic Violations: There is a pattern of systemic violations of treaties and agreements on human rights and the environment, with Chinese investments often disregarding local laws and regulations .

• ICA plans to hold an Indigenous panel on Divestment from Fossil Fuel during Climate Week NYC, where they will launch a report on divestment on September 24th. They are also potentially co-hosting the Climate Week Phase Out Conference on September 25th​
• EDGE is hosting a dinner, time and date TBD, check your email

• Fundo Casa, an Amazon Watch delegation and War on Want will be attending.

• There is aneed for clear definitions when discussing false solutions within the climate justice movement, cautioning that without precise definitions, the term “false solutions” could become a catch-all phrase for any disliked practices, which could dilute its impact and create confusion.
• One question was on solar energy and its inclusion as a potential false solution in earlier notes. The environmental concerns related to the extraction of rare minerals required for solar technology were acknowledged but there was an argument that solar energy, in general, should not be lumped together with more controversial practices like geoengineering and carbon capture and storage (CCS).

• False solutions overlook the needs and rights of local communities, leading to further exploitation and environmental harm.
• Many false solutions promoted in Africa for example are funded by institutions and organizations from Europe, the US, and Australia. This external influence often dictates the direction of climate initiatives in the region, overshadowing local needs and perspectives.
• Environmental defenders who oppose false solutions face many risks including intimidation, harassment, and violence,which is important to recognize and address in the climate justice movement.

• There is a troubling trend where youth groups are being co-opted to support false solutions like Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Solar Radiation Management (SRM). These solutions are often marketed to young activists as quick fixes for the climate crisis without adequate political education on their implications.
• There is a significant gap in political education within the youth climate justice space. Many young activists are not fully informed about the long-term environmental and social impacts of these false solutions, making them susceptible to supporting these measures.
•  The ANGRY Alliance is working on a global youth manifesto to address and counteract the promotion of false solutions within the youth climate justice movement. This manifesto aims to provide a clear and informed stance on what constitutes genuine climate solutions.

• Addressing climate change requires not only technical and policy changes but also a transformation in how societies understand and relate to the environment and each other. Cultural work is as important as technical interventions in achieving climate justice but philanthropy often undervalues cultural work compared to straightforward technical solutions, but both are essential and interconnected.

• There is a need to address over-consumption, particularly in over-resourced parts of the world, as part of this cultural shift. This involves changing societal norms and values around consumption, waste, and sustainability.

• There was a noticeable gap in representation from Eastern Europe within the meeting and broader climate justice discussions. Increasing participation from this region is crucial for a more comprehensive and inclusive approach.

We encourage participants to extend invitations to groups and partners from underrepresented regions to join the space. This would help bridge the gap and ensure diverse perspectives and experiences are included in the climate justice movement. Reach out to Hana with any question!

• Participants raised the concern that voluntary actions by funders might not be enough to address the scale and urgency of the climate crisis. There is a need for a more structured and obligatory approach to funding climate justice initiatives.
• Accountability and Transparency! Voluntary actions often lack the mechanisms to hold funders accountable for their commitments and the outcomes of their funding.
• Voluntary actions can often be short-term and subject to the changing priorities of funders. This can lead to instability and unpredictability for the organizations and initiatives that rely on this funding.
• Without a mandatory framework, there can be a lack of consistency in how funds are distributed and what they support. This inconsistency can undermine efforts to build
• The call is for funders to make long-term commitments that go beyond voluntary, ad-hoc contributions. This would provide more stability and support for grassroots movements and long-term projects.

• UN Special Rapporteur’s Statement: One of the significant highlights was the UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples, Francisco Cali, calling for a moratorium on carbon market projects. This call was made to address the human rights violations caused by these markets, which often harm indigenous communities.
• Angela expressed surprise and optimism at this strong stance. The Special Rapporteur initially called for a permanent moratorium but later adjusted it to a general moratorium. This was a significant moment, as it was the first time such a strong statement was made in this context.

•  Many indigenous participants in the forum face intimidation and harassment upon returning to their home countries. This is a serious issue that undermines their ability to advocate for their rights.
• In response, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) made a commitment to ensure the safety of indigenous participants. They pledged to strengthen measures to prevent acts of intimidation and harassment before, during, and after the forum.

• The forum recommended that member states review and revise their constitutions and legal frameworks to comprehensively recognize the rights of indigenous peoples, including the right to self-determination.
• The forum stressed that these reviews and revisions should be guided and driven by indigenous peoples themselves, ensuring that their perspectives and needs are central to any changes.

• Angela described Amazon Watch’s role in accompanying indigenous movements and advancing their agendas through an activist-led fund. This fund supports various initiatives and ensures that indigenous voices are amplified in global governance spaces.
• After the forum, Amazon Watch, along with partners like Stop the Money Pipeline, organized direct actions outside traditional institutional frameworks. These actions aimed to draw attention to issues like deforestation and the financing of harmful projects by major banks.
• Campaigns after the forum: 
  • People’s Tribunal: One of the notable actions was the “People’s Tribunal” against Citigroup, calling for the bank to stop financing deforestation and harmful projects in the Amazon. This tribunal included testimonies from affected communities and aimed to hold Citigroup accountable for its environmental impact.
  • Engagement with Financial Institutions: Angela also mentioned meetings with representatives from Citigroup and Goldman Sachs. Indigenous leaders conveyed a strong message that the door to the Amazon is closed to financiers of deforestation. These dialogues are crucial in pushing for corporate accountability and change.

• Angela highlighted the importance of navigating both institutional spaces like the UN and non-institutional spaces to advance indigenous rights. While the UN provides a platform for advocacy, direct actions and grassroots mobilizations are equally important.
• Challenges of Institutional Spaces: The challenges of working within institutional spaces that can sometimes contain dissent and limit the scope of advocacy were notes. But it was agreed that these spaces also offer opportunities to push for significant policy changes and international recognition of indigenous rights.

Link: https://iwspace.de/

• Sn organization founded by and for migrant and refugee women, dedicated to advancing a feminist agenda within the migration debate.
• Works on climate justice with an understanding that local communities in the global majority are the ones significantly affected by climate issues yet lack representation at international discussions.
• Committed to advocating on their behalf and ensuring that the voices from the global south are heard and considered in critical conversations.

Link: https://weare.lush.com/lush-life/our-giving/charity-pot-funding-guidelines/

• Lush’s grants are particularly centered on environmental issues related to land displacement and dispossession, with a special emphasis on supporting indigenous-led efforts. They also prioritize work from other communities such as Black groups and newcomers.
• Lush typically funds small, community-based, grassroots organizations, with a preference for those operating on budgets of $500,000 or less.

• Challenges: 
  • Bezos and other big funders making the Congo Basin their pet project and funding carbon market schemes instead of work led by Indigenous and local communities
  • Miners and communities around mines not being included in plans from energy transition
  • Oil palm and industrial plantations displacing local communities, violence against women: https://grain.org/e/6164
• How they can be navigated: 
  • Friends of the Congo Basin is raising support for a grassroots coalition forming across the Congo Basin and areas where there’s a lot of mining link to Friends of the Congo Basin not shown but it appears to be Friends of the Congo Basin website: https://friendsofthecongo.org/
  • Regional alliances

• Challenges:
  • Lack of popular education initiatives to ground the politics of youth in decoloniality, anti-neoliberal principles. We are working to counter that https://angryalliance.org/
  • On top of fighting the climate crisis, increased push on false solutions like geoengineering: https:/www.geoengineeringmonitor.org/2024/04/don’t-geoengineer-africa-webinar

• Challenges: 
  • militarization of the Pacific
• How they can be navigated: 
  • a peacebuilding framework to avoid our region from being the next tinder box.

• Challenges:
  • Airport expansion linked to the promotion of (international) tourism as a viable and sustainable (economic & environmentally) development pathway
  • High bureaucracy to access philanthropy funds
  • Lack of trust, autonomy and leadership by the real guardians of the climate regulating biomes of the planet
  • Criminalisation and assassination of socio-environmental leaders are high in the region
  • Expansion of oil palm plantations, industrial animal agriculture causing displacement and violence: https://grain.org/e/7123 and https://grain.org/e/643
  • Difficulty to fund processes: funders look for impacts and major results, while a process needs to be followed up in a certain timeframe
  • Little attention paid to grassroots groups/movements; Difficulty to access political advocacy
  • Msss funding to false solutions globally
  • Organizations coopting language of grassroots movements LOTS of not so aligned intermediaries receiving big grants
  • Closure of civic spaces and advance of (extreme) right wing regimes (eg. Argentina, El Salvador, etc)
  • Movement dynamics an consensus building challenges
  • The promotion of “net zero” programs and new carbon markets is very problematic as it advances over forest and coastal communities. This is not only in Latin America but also in Africa and Asia
  • Mitigation/Adaptation measures that replicate human rights violations from extractive and fossil fuel based industries
• How they can be navigated: 
  • Follow up on international agendas to put pressure on our real agendas with our own language. Engaging with CSOs, and out to push up for common agendas.
  • Stay grounded: Expanding and strengthening regional networks to support members and allies in their fight against climate related projects.
  • Advancing the creation of national/local socio-environmental funds in the global south, that can donate more and directly to community and grassroots groups.
  • To work in alliance to influence the philanthropic ecosystem to advance trust, autonomy and leadership by the real guardians of the climate regulating biomes of the planet.
  • Space / Reflection / Conversation
  • More regional support is needed.
  • REO Collaborative is trying to influence funders to move big $s to grassroots and trying out new ways to call out false solutions https://reocollaborative.org/

• Challenges:
  • Lack of independent funds, most of the allocated funds to climate come from corporates or multilateral organizations; so it’s either greenwashing or politicized
  • Climate attracts minimal donations all over the globe, and definitely the % is dramatically less in MENA
  • Tight civic space! With all the political turbulence in the region, and economic crisis the tendency of the regional donors and donor foundations is mainly directed to philanthropy
• How they can be navigated: 
  • As the Islamic finance is huge industry in the region (3.8 trillion USD), so building alliances within the ecosystem to exclude further investment to fossil fuel and direct more towards green projects
  • Engaging youth, building the movement! Targeting independent foundations who are willing to support Global South communities advocating against wealth recolonization!
  • Providing innovative solutions!
  • Climate justice camps:
  • Report on Air Pollution in MENA https://drive.google.com/file/d/14ER5uXMsaMmwBhZ6o-wMbNK6JBkaQFpL/view
  • Through COPs, utilizing the climate justice camps to prepare youth from GS to be able to join it, offering scholarships and training to represent their countries
  • Impact led campaigns

• Challenges:

• • Opposing false climate solutions like biofuels, carbon capture and storage
  • Indigenous communities are disproportionately affected by climate change, yet are severely underfunded and neglected by colonial governments
  • Funders are more likely to fund projects with a track record. Agile and trust-based funding is more beneficial, especially as we move into wildfire season in so-called Canada
  • ENGOs with more capacity using superficial partnerships with Indigenous groups are taking up funding and bandwidth from Indigenous-led work. Lack of support for Indigenous Sovereignty and priorities – ENGOs often want to lead with their priorities and relationship build from there.
  • How to support connectivity between US and non-US climate and intersectional movements
  • projected increase of plastic production- the movement hasn’t made much progress in this area. Keeping an eye on the Global Plastic Treaty.
  • Fenceline communities health constantly under attack by chemical production and other pollutants
  • Capacity to apply to grants
• How they can be navigated: 
  • Individual funder outreach, organizing joint events/webinars that counter false solutions
  •  commitment to ongoing learning to best show up and resource for the communities we serve
  • Utilizing funding networks for active partnerships and invite groups to apply from there
  • Continue to fund community organizing and advocacy campaigns

• Challenges:
  • Inclusive business/Corporate social responsibility, Social entrepreneurship and other initiatives that hide the real solutions.
  • Digital agriculture, big data, etc. Infrastructure projects like Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): https://grain.org/e/7093
• How they can be navigated:
  • Position our agendas with governments, ILO, and other institutions and agendas.

• Challenges:
  • Separate agendas inside the grassroots movements, climate issues seem to have no place within certain struggles
  • Lack of research and resources to support agroecology and food sovereignty movements
  • Africa as Site tor enviro projects based in carbon credits, chemical fertilizer use https://grain.org/e/7077
• How they can be navigated: 
  • SSE/Agroecology/Gender Justice/Informal Economy sectors/Food sovereignty/Movements for Health, etc.
  • Share research with local groups and communities
  • Advocate our positions inside the next African Union decennial plan 2024-2034

• Challenges:
  • Criminalization of protest/erosion of civil liberties (Police, Crime, Sentencing, and Courts Act, Public Order Act) More here: https://www.theguardian.com/law/2022/jan/13/how-will-the-police-and-bill-limit-the-right-to-protest
  • Lack of cross-movement synthesis. Need radical organisations coming together around a shared post-capitalist vision
  • Labour Party is a completely insufficient vehicle for eco-social transformation. Zionist line, dropped green spending pledge etc.
  • Lack of movement infrastructure offering critical political education, prerequired for effective movement strategy
• How they can be navigated: 
  • This is Rigged is doing crucial work: https://novaramedia.com/2024/03/15/meet-the-robin-hood-group-linking-poverty-and-climate-breakdown/
  • Energy Embargo for Palestine is also doing crucial work in synthesizing Palestine liberation struggle with ecological struggle: https://twitter.com/EEforpalestine
  • Climate Vangaurd is offering critical political education, prereq for effective movement strategy: https://www.climatevanguard.org/

Link: https://amazonwatch.org/

• Prioritizing initiatives aimed at reclaiming land and restoring governance in the Amazon region
•  Addressing various forms of violence perpetrated by extractive industries, including mining, oil extraction, and agribusiness expansion
•  Recognizing the harm of digital solutions and renewable energy to promote sustainable development and the reality of them being false solutions
•  Advocating for indigenous rights and this year will bring representation to the UN Permanent Forum to ensure their partners’ voices are heard in institutional spaces
•  Actively involved in direct action campaigns targeting companies that pose threats to both lives and ecosystems in the Amazon
•  Expressing concerns over the escalating levels of violence, criminalization, and targeted attacks against indigenous and women defenders
• Calling for collaborative efforts and solidarity across communities to provide comprehensive support, including legal assistance, to those facing threats and challenges.

Link: https://www.annd.org/en/ 

•  Based in Beirut and operating across the Arab region, ANND is dedicated to sustainable development, with a particular focus on economic and social policies. Recently, the organization has intensified its efforts in addressing climate change, recognizing its interconnectedness with broader development issues.
•  ANND’s ongoing initiatives include the development of a regional report on the Right to Water and Climate Change. This project underscores the organization’s commitment to addressing pressing environmental challenges while advocating for the fundamental rights of communities in the Arab region.
•  Emphasizing collaboration and collective action, ANND seeks to foster partnerships that facilitate a comprehensive approach to tackling the climate crisis. Through dialogue and shared vision, the organization aims to dismantle systems of extraction and exploitation that perpetuate environmental degradation and social injustice.

Link: https://cecicug.org/

• Establishment of print businesses to support women climate justice groups.
• Creation of job opportunities for women, particularly those without formal education.
• Training on new technologies like solar installations to enhance skills and capabilities.
• Addressing land access issues in ten eco-affected districts within the Albertine region.
• Advocacy for adherence to legal procedures, including environmental impact assessments, to protect local communities from oil and gas extraction activities.
• Raising awareness about environmental impacts of the East Africa Pipeline from Uganda to Portang and Tanzania.
• Expressing concerns about disruption to wildlife habitats and local communities.
• Collaboration with partners like Stay Grounded to assess developmental impacts and contributions to climate change.
• Investigation of environmental implications of airport developments within national parks in Uganda.
• Advocacy for transparent environmental impact assessments to evaluate effects on wildlife and ecosystems.
• Engagement with stakeholders to ensure access to accurate information and promote sustainable development.
• Collaboration with stakeholders to address environmental and social impacts of development projects.
• Information sharing with relevant partners to foster informed decision-making and promote sustainable development.

Link: https://www.climatevanguard.org/

• Climate Vanguard, a youth-led organization based in the UK, is dedicated to empowering the climate movement through radical political education.
• Their current priority is to unite youth organizers not only in the climate justice space but also in other transformative movements, including unions and social justice groups.
• They aim to create a unified youth front capable of translating ideas and visions of climate justice into tangible actions.
• Climate Vanguard focuses on building the necessary power to implement these actions, emphasizing a transition from the current capitalist system to a post-capitalist alternative that aligns with ecological timelines.
• Their work centers on exploring and advocating for pathways toward a more sustainable and just future, acknowledging the challenges and opportunities presented by systemic transformation.

Link: https://www.collectiveabundance.org/

• Collective Abundance aims to bolster the climate justice movement across Europe by fostering collaboration among activists and resource groups on a country-to-country basis.
• Through initiatives like their fund, they facilitate dialogue among activists to delve into the essence of climate justice and its implications in various European countries.
• They emphasize the importance of addressing the core issues of the climate crisis, acknowledging that merely addressing climate-related challenges is insufficient without tackling underlying systemic injustices.
• Collective Abundance advocates for conversations that challenge the status quo of the capitalist system, recognizing the need for systemic change to achieve true climate justice.
• Their goal is to cultivate inclusive dialogues that empower activists to understand and address climate justice within their unique societal contexts, fostering a stronger and more unified climate justice movement in Europe.

Link https://corporateaccountability.org/

• Corporate Accountability, a global NGO, approaches climate justice through the lens of power dynamics, focusing on who holds power in climate policy.
• They highlight the significant influence of the fossil fuel industry and its proxies in shaping narratives and driving unjust policies and false solutions.
• Engaged in the UNFCCC space for over 40 years, they bring their corporate campaigning expertise to the climate justice movement.
• Corporate Accountability coordinates the Kick Big Polluters Out coalition, aimed at exposing the unjust political and economic power of the fossil fuel industry.
• They advocate for safeguards to denormalize the industry’s presence in policy spaces and ensure clear conflict of interest policies.
• Celebrating recent wins in June, they work with allies to disclose information about fossil fuel industry lobbyists and challenge false solutions while promoting real ones.
• Collaborating with media outlets like The Guardian, they expose the flaws of voluntary carbon markets through strategic communication campaigns.
• Additionally, Corporate Accountability focuses on building public and political support for industry liability, aiming to hold corporations accountable for decades of deception and facilitate a just transition.
•  They work regionally with allies in Latin America and Africa to advance this agenda.

Link: https://www.etcgroup.org/

• An international organization based in Mexico focusing on the impact of new technologies and corporate concentration, primarily in food and agriculture sectors.
• Additionally, they have been monitoring the effects of geoengineering on climate for over a decade.
• Highlights the overwhelming propaganda surrounding geoengineering, emphasizing various forms such as carbon capture and storage, bioenergy, marine geoengineering, and solar geoengineering.
• Celebrates recent successes, including the cancellation of a solar geoengineering project and the rejection of a proposal to advance studies on geoengineering by the United Nations Environmental Assembly.
• Engages in alliances like the Hands Off Mother Earth Alliance and collaborates with networks focusing on climate justice and food and agriculture, including the Science and Policy Committee of the Climate Action Network and CLARA.
• Prioritizes addressing the manipulation of geoengineering discourse and the threat posed by carbon offsets linked to agricultural soils and biodiversity offsets.
• Expresses concern over the growing narrative promoting geoengineering as a solution for vulnerable countries and emphasizes the importance of addressing this issue.
• Highlights efforts to connect opportunities like the Convention on Biological Diversity meeting in Colombia and the UN Climate Change Conference in Brazil to mobilize grassroots engagement and support movements.

Link: https://www.fullcirclefound.org/

• Staff located globally, with a base in the UK, focusing on two main programs:
• Targets false solutions across various topics, including green extractivism, geoengineering, biodiversity, and carbon offsets.
• Addresses issues stemming from the fossil fuel economy, such as CCS, plastics, and fertilizers.
• Supports grassroots networks and movements in promoting alternative solutions.
• Emphasizes prefigurative politics and the creation of alternatives.
• Concerned about the financialization of nature, observing a trend of integrating natural resources into capitalist frameworks under the guise of climate action and conservation.
• Actively involved in supporting environmental defenders through collective pooled funds.
• Engages with a wide range of topics related to climate justice and environmental sustainability, aiming to foster meaningful change.

Link: https://www.avina.net/ 

• A philanthropic organization with a 30-year history in Latin America, now operating globally, particularly in the Global South.
• Focus areas include climate, normative democracy, fair and generative economy. They are beginning to explore intersections among these areas, such as climate crisis and democracy.
• Two current programs:
  • Funding Access: Addressing barriers to accessing climate finance, which traditionally remains in the Global North and often does not reach affected communities in the Global South.
    • Collaborative funding mechanisms designed to direct funds to local communities most affected by the climate crisis.
  • Capacity Building: Recognizing the importance of building capacity for countries to achieve their adaptation and mitigation goals outlined in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
    • Involves alliances like Ible South, focusing on increasing knowledge and capacities for energy transition in Central America, Latin America, and Africa.
    • Emphasizes partnerships with universities and enterprise support organizations for effective policy implementation.
• Train-the-trainers programs and capacity-building initiatives aimed at supporting innovative solutions and flagship projects for NDC implementation.
• Emphasis on global dialogue and exchange to enhance capacity-building efforts in target regions.

Link: https://casa.org.br/en/

• Fundo Casa has been a vital presence in areas in Brazil deeply affected by climate emergency events. Over the past two decades, Casa Fund has been actively engaged in promoting climate justice, recognizing its intimate connection with social justice in the region and beyond.
• As the organization approaches its 20th anniversary in 2025, it reflects on its journey, emphasizing the importance of intersectionality with race, gender, and social positions in addressing climate issues. Acknowledging the enduring legacy of violence stemming from colonization, Fundo Casa remains committed to fostering equitable solutions.
• In its latest initiative, Fundo Casa is launching its first call for projects, with a particular focus on youth. These projects aim to address the intersection of climate justice and environmental racism, recognizing the disproportionate impact of climate issues on marginalized communities.

Link: https://gi-escr.org/en/

• A global NGO with a presence in Argentina, focusing on economic, social, and cultural rights, particularly in the context of climate work.
• Examines various aspects of the energy transition and observes how mitigation and adaptation policies often align with practices of destructive industries.
• Conducted analysis in Mexico on the impacts of large-scale renewable projects, specifically wind farms.
• Engaged with local communities in Chile to study the effects of critical mineral extraction, particularly lithium mining.
• Investigates the gender-specific impacts of mitigation and adaptation policies, highlighting how these policies perpetuate existing inequalities and traditional practices.
• Committed to advancing human rights and promoting sustainable and equitable solutions in the face of climate change.

Link: https://grain.org/

• GRAIN’s climate-related work involves research and movement building, particularly focusing on the food and climate nexus.
• They emphasize their long-standing engagement in combating land grabs, highlighting the concerning trend of land grabs for carbon offsets in recent years.
• In addressing the corporate angle, GRAIN focuses on debunking false solutions proposed by corporations in climate initiatives, particularly in the fertilizer industry.
• They highlight the significant role of chemical fertilizers in industrial farming and greenhouse gas emissions, advocating for real solutions based on food sovereignty and peasant-led agroecology.
• GRAIN collaborates with partners and allies to elevate genuine solutions and work with farmers and fisherfolk on the ground.
• They emphasize the importance of diverse coalitions and collective action across sectors to drive meaningful change and advance climate justice efforts.

Link: https://www.greenpeace.org/mena/en/greenpeace-mena/

• Focuses on empowering the climate movement to influence national, regional, and international climate policies.
• Prioritizes finance and energy transition, guided by principles of equity and decolonization, attracting independent funds.
• Key project: Climate Justice Camp, held annually, providing a safe space for youth from over 120 countries to engage in thematic sessions addressing core climate issues.
• Notable success: Previous camp held in Lebanon, regarded as a pivotal event by participants.
• Unique project: Islamic finance initiative, targeting the $3.8 trillion industry’s investment in fossil fuel businesses.
• Aims to advocate for redirecting funds from fossil fuels to green businesses, aligning with Islamic principles.

Link:https://www.handsoffmotherearth.org/

• Stands for the Hands Off Mother Earth Alliance, focusing on advocating against geoengineering threats.
• Key priority: Advocating against geoengineering due to aggressive pushes for marine, land, and solar geoengineering in various forms and locations.
• Aiming to simplify and disseminate technical information on geoengineering to reach broader constituencies and raise awareness.
• Sharing resources and raising awareness within networks to empower others to combat geoengineering threats at different governance levels.
• Celebrates recent successes: Resolution withdrawal on solar radiation management at the United Nations Environmental Assembly in Nairobi and cancellation of the SCOPEX Project, a solar engineering experiment.

Link: https://www.facebook.com/riosvivosmovimiento/?locale=es_LA

• Focuses on the intersection of water management and big agriculture, particularly in challenging the corporate influence on water policies.
• Plans to target spaces where corporate water policy is shaped, including initiatives like the CEO Water Mandate, which oversees key basins where a limited number of corporations control a significant portion of the world’s water.
• Aligns with movements like Stop the Money Pipeline and Ensure Our Future to address the increasing corporatization of spaces like climate finance and insurance.
• Advocates for integrating water considerations into climate finance and insurance strategies, emphasizing the urgency of protecting water resources amid extractive projects and agricultural practices.
• Aims to challenge the narrative promoted by some NGOs that only corporatized water policy is viable, highlighting the importance of grassroots movements in shaping equitable water management policies.

Link: https://reocollaborative.org/

• The REO Collaborative, short for Regenerative Economies Organizing Collaborative, serves as a platform for movement representatives from various organizations, including It Takes Roots, Indigenous Environmental Network, Climate Justice Alliance, Global Grassroots Justice Alliance, and Right to the City, along with aligned funders.
• Their primary focus is on organizing to generate impactful disruptions aimed at redirecting funding to grassroots movements.
• They emphasize tackling false solutions and have been engaged in narrative work to address the defensive responses from funders when discussing grassroots initiatives.
• This narrative work aims to counter the co-opting of movement language by funders while creating a space for constructive dialogue and correction. Their efforts extend both internationally and within the US.
• The REO representative in the CJI also works as a consultant for  coalition-building efforts in the Congo Basin. In the Congo Basin, they aim to integrate the energy transition from mining with rainforest protection efforts, fostering grassroots coalitions to challenge large-scale investments such as Bezos’s involvement and carbon market schemes.

Link: https://www.ripess.org/?lang=en

• Executive Secretary represents an intercontinental network promoting solidarity economy.
• Active in Latin America, the Caribbean, South and Southeast Asia, East Asia, North Africa, the Sahel, West Africa, Europe, North America, and the Pacific (mainly Australia).
• Comprises members working at the grassroots level across diverse territories.
• Engages in small associations and cooperatives, often informal, focusing on both reproductive and productive spheres.
• Emphasizes principles of reuse, repurposing, and waste reduction within the existing economic system.
• Predominantly consists of women working within communities, reflecting diverse perspectives and approaches.
• Mobilizing stakeholders in Latin America for COP in October.
• Analyzing strategic approaches with various groups, including waste pickers, street vendors, domestic workers, and homemakers.
• Recognizes the vulnerability of its members to the effects of climate change, highlighting the need for proactive measures and support.

Link: https://stay-grounded.org/

• Stay Grounded discussed their focus on aviation and addressing transportation systems, particularly in debunking the greenwashing tactics employed by the aviation industry.
• They highlighted the issue of so-called sustainable aviation fuels and their efforts in discourse intervention to challenge misleading narratives.
• Stay Grounded emphasized that 80% of people globally have never traveled by plane, shedding light on the industry’s disproportionate impact.
• Their plans include expanding their network to Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the imposition of tourism industry models on local communities.
• They advocate for capping airport expansion as a measure to mitigate the environmental and social impacts of aviation.

Link: https://womin.africa/

• Focuses on supporting the women’s movement against destructive extractivism and promoting alternative development pathways.
• With a presence primarily in South Africa but active throughout the region.
• Prioritizes work on energy and climate justice, addressing various fronts:
  • Green Extractivism Conceptualization:
    • Investigating the impact of gas expansion in Africa, deemed highly destructive.
    • Analyzing green hydrogen projects, particularly those in South Africa, for potential environmental implications.
    • Supporting campaigns against minerals projects, such as in Madagascar, to mitigate environmental harm.
• Climate Debt and Reparations:
  • Exploring the possibility of launching a campaign, potentially including legal action, to address climate debt and reparations.
• Congo Basin Protection:
  • Recognizing the significance of the Congo Basin as a vital ecosystem threatened by oil and gas expansion, palm oil plantations, and logging.
  • Advocating for campaigns to protect the Congo Basin.
• Africa Climate Justice Collective:
  • Driving the formation of the Africa Climate Justice Collective, a coalition of movements and allied organizations aiming to strengthen the progressive front of the climate justice movement in Africa.
  • Collaborating on regional campaigns focused on oil and gas and climate debt.
  • Hosting the African People’s Counter COP as a platform for collective participation and to underscore the failure of traditional COP processes to address the climate crisis.

• Prioritizing the sovereignty of marginalized communities, particularly indigenous peoples and women, is central to decolonizing climate action. Recognizing and respecting indigenous knowledge and land rights is essential for fostering climate resilience and justice.

• Building solidarity across movements and regions is crucial for challenging the dominance of capitalism, which perpetuates environmental destruction and social inequality. Collaboration rooted in anti-capitalist principles seeks to dismantle systems of exploitation and prioritize collective well-being over profit.

• Advocating for transparent and community-led environmental impact assessments is vital to hold corporations and governments accountable for their actions. Rejecting false solutions promoted by corporate interests is essential to address the root causes of climate change and ensure justice for impacted communities.

• Climate justice intersects with other social justice issues, including gender equality, racial justice, and economic justice. Recognizing and addressing these intersections is necessary for building inclusive and effective climate solutions that center the most marginalized voices.

• Promoting alternative economic models, such as solidarity economy and regenerative economies, challenges the capitalist paradigm and fosters community resilience and autonomy. Transitioning towards post-capitalist systems that prioritize ecological sustainability and social equity is crucial for achieving climate justice.

• Challenging destructive practices such as extractive industries, agribusiness, and fossil fuel extraction is essential for protecting ecosystems and communities. Resisting corporate influence and promoting community-led solutions rooted in principles of justice and sustainability is key to achieving systemic change.

• Providing education and capacity-building initiatives rooted in principles of liberation and decolonization empowers communities to assert their rights and participate in shaping their futures. Centering indigenous knowledge and practices in climate adaptation and mitigation efforts is crucial for building resilience and sustainability.

•  Advocating for policy reforms that challenge the structural inequalities perpetuated by capitalism and colonialism is essential for advancing climate justice. Pushing for policies that prioritize equity, redistribution of resources, and systemic transformation towards post-capitalist alternatives is crucial for addressing the root causes of climate change.

• Demanding climate finance mechanisms that prioritize funding for frontline communities and countries most affected by climate change is crucial for redistributing wealth and addressing historical injustices. Shifting resources from the Global North to the Global South to support community-led initiatives and sustainable development is essential for fostering climate justice and global solidarity.

Fighting against corporate grabbing of natural resources and land, as well as exposing greenwashing tactics employed by industries. Calling out and rejecting false solutions promoted by corporations and advocating for genuine, communities-led climate justice solutions that address the root causes of environmental degradation and social injustice.