The Voice of School Girls in Malawi, COP Talks, and Colonialism
Jul 30, 2024
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The Voice of School Girls in Malawi, COP Talks, and Colonialism
“The discussion should not end here. It should go beyond us.” — Chambo Girls Secondary School student, Malawi, November 2023
Key Takeaways
- Carbon credit trading initiatives risk perpetuating neo-colonial exploitation if not implemented equitably
- The Loss and Damage Fund is a step towards the right direction, but more comprehensive support is needed
- Historic responsibility for climate change must consider the lasting impact of colonialism
- Developing countries are disproportionately affected by climate change despite contributing the least to the problem
In November 2023, amidst the climate talks during COP28 (the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference), an agreement was reached on the very first day regarding the Loss and Damage fund. Countries pledged millions to developing nations to aid in their recovery from natural disasters. While the COPs address issues like carbon credits, methane reduction, equitable representation, and recently, pro-fossil fuel companies’ interests, this agreement evokes deeper, unaddressed issues concerning historic responsibility. Our current calculations of responsibility have significant gaps and do not go far enough.
Colonial Echoes in the Landscapes
Having pedaled for 6000km through various landscapes, from Uganda to South Africa, the echoes of colonial exploitation resonate in the daily lives of the people I encountered along the way. The scars of historical injustice are etched into the very soil sustaining these communities, quite literally with the imposed cash crop system and subsistence mono-farming destroying the soil that feeds them. Colonialism introduced cultivation of commodity crops needed to fuel European economic expansion, such as cotton in Mali, coffee in Kenya, and cacao in Côte d’Ivoire. Understanding climate change and climate justice goes beyond the political and economic sphere; it involves reevaluating and acknowledging the enduring consequences of past actions that continue to shape the environments people in the global south inhabit today.
Discussing climate change in this context is not straightforward. The stark unfairness of the situation makes it a delicate subject to approach. The communities I meet bear witness to the unequal distribution of climate impacts, emphasizing that environmental burdens are not equally shared. Their preparedness for natural disasters and for the consequences of soil erosion is hard to imagine, especially with this looming foreshadowing of harder times hanging over the people I’ve met.
The Voices of Chambo Girls Secondary School
In order to take action and build solutions, we first need to understand the problem. Climate Fresk is a powerful tool for providing a quality climate education. The facts in Climate Fresk Workshops are sourced from the most respected scientific publications: the IPCC reports. These are the same reports that inform global political and economic decision-making at the highest level. During a ‘Climate Fresk’ session with a final year geography class at the Chambo Girls Secondary School in Malawi, conversations on climate justice dominated the debrief. The discussion ranged from carbon credits and their potential as financial income for the global south to Africa’s political voice demanding compensation. These students are acutely aware that they will suffer the most from the past actions of a few.
After discussing mitigation and adaptation as solutions, one girl called out, “The discussion should not end here. It should go beyond us.” While it was clear to them that they need to adapt, the real question was how? How can they adapt without resources and widespread knowledge? How can they get “leaders, politicians to really give their full support and not hinder all the plans”, especially when the country is still struggling with political instability and foreign influences?
Chambo Girls School Malawi — Thoughts on Climate Change and Adaptation
Recalibrating Historic Responsibility
To understand historic responsibility and genuinely discuss climate justice, we must explore how colonial rule has shaped responsibility for today’s climate issues. This includes examining how settlers are responsible for the industrialization of environmental degradation, deforestation, and resource exploitation during colonization, as well as its effects following their exit and in today’s neo-colonial climate. We cannot talk about mitigation and adaptation to climate change consequences without simultaneously addressing responsibility, equity, and justice.
A recent Carbon Brief Article reframed our calculation of responsibility, revealing that under this new methodology, the historic emissions of former colonizers changes, such as the French share of historical emissions rising by half, the UK nearly doubles, the Netherlands nearly triples and Portugal more than triples. The article calculates fossil fuels, land use, land use change, and forestry change over time in former colonies and adds them to the historic account of colonizers. This adjustment challenges traditional assessments and emphasizes the lasting impact of historical activities on present-day climate challenges.
The Way Forward
Initiatives like the Loss and Damage fund can help vulnerable nations bounce back from disasters. The Loss and Damage Fund, established at COP27 in 2022, aims to support vulnerable countries impacted by climate change, with contributions from various countries and international organizations. While supporting developing countries in recovering from natural disasters is a step in the right direction, what about the protracted consequences that are not covered with these grants? What about supporting their progress on the sustainable development goals?
By the end of 2023, more than 92% of the carbon budget for 1.5C will have been used up. If any country in the global north wishes to respect that limit, then serious considerations for justice must be taken. The question remains: Who gets to use the remaining 8%? And what happens when we outgrow the budget?
The conversations I share with people in climate fresk sessions in East Africa versus in Europe couldn’t be more disjointed. We now see a new scramble for Africa’s carbon trading potential, with large parts of the continent already loaned out for carbon credit trading. Instead of buying the land which holds future carbon credit potential, shouldn’t African nations trade their own carbon credits?
Addressing the urgent need for climate action requires recognizing the interconnectedness of history and the environment. A broader perspective on climate justice is crucial, encompassing the lasting legacies of colonialism evident in the challenges faced by communities today. Only through this comprehensive understanding can we pave the way toward a more equitable and sustainable future. As the young women from the climate fresk workshop dream, we too should aspire for “an Earth which is suitable for us and the next generation to live in.”