Cross Party Group on Climate, Nature and Wellbeing
Grŵp Trawsbleidiol ar Hinsawdd, Natur a Lles
17:00 – 18:00
05.02.2024
Virtual Meeting over Zoom
Cyfarfod ar-lein dros Zoom
1. Croeso a chyflwyniad
Welcome and introduction
Delyth Jewell AS/MS
2. Cofnodion y cyfarfod diwethaf
Minutes of the last meeting
Delyth Jewell AS/MS
3. Gyfarfod Cyffredinol Blynyddol
Annual General Meeting
4. Lina Yassin, Climate researcher, International Institute for Environment and Development
5. Llysgenhadon Hinsawdd Ieuenctid Cymru
Youth Climate Ambassadors for Wales
Alfred Williamson
6. Busnes arall
Any other business and date of next meeting
Delyth Jewell AS/MS
Attendees: Antonia Fabian (AF), Oliver John (OJ), Michelle Bales (MB), Rachel Lee (RL), Rajsri Saikrishnan (RS), Lina Yassin (LY), Alfred Williamson (AW), Gwenda Owen (GO), Delun Gibby (DG), Molly Hucker (MH)
MSs in attendance: Delyth Jewell MS (DJ)
Apologies:Kathryn Speedy (KS) Peredur Owen Griffiths MS (POG)
Minutes:
1. Croeso a chyflwyniad / Welcome and introduction
RL introduced from living streets.
2. Gyfarfod Cyffredinol Blynyddol /Annual General Meeting
DJ nominated as chair by AF, seconded by GO.
Youth Climate Ambassadors nominated as co-chairs by AF, DJ seconded.
RCPsych Wales nominated as secretariat, seconded by AW.
3. Lina Yassin, Climate researcher, International Institute for Environment and Development
LY presented on the work which they do to support Least Developed Countries (LDC) with the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED).
LDC encompasses the 46 poorest countries globally, due to different indexes. These countries are also the most vulnerable to climate change.
The LDC are represented by a chair who is nominated every two years to push for more ambitious and just climate outcomes in the UN climate negotiations and the COP negotiations. The outcomes of these meeting, such as the PARIS agreement, shape what is done on national level policy. To the LDC, the concept of climate justice matters the most as they are disproportionately affected by climate change, e.g. 69% of deaths occurring from extreme weather occurred in these countries.
These countries are also the poorest, so they have very little resources to overcome environmental disasters. They would require $200 billion for their economies to continue without being negatively affected by climate change. Only 10 percent of that need has been met so far.
LY gave the example of the Nile in Sudan flooding annually, with thousands of homes and lives taken. This continuous flooding means the country cannot recover.
More developed countries are not suffering as much from the effects of climate change yet, so it is important to look at other countries to understand the inequalities and the importance of climate justice. Voters can make a difference to global policy, which is why it is so important to vote and push to make a difference.
LY encouraged the group to explore other areas where they could make a difference, such as spreading information or fundraising.
DJ asked what sub national states could do as they tend only to be represented at national levels
LY replied that they can join bilateral groups who can have faster impacts as they skip the bureaucracy of multilateral systems.
MH queried whether the terminology ‘least developed country’ can be problematic as it is largely defined by western capitalist societies, and also whether LY thought that reparations are a good thing.
LY replied that there is a large debate around the terminology but that Least Developed Countries is a UN definition. ‘Global south’ is a geographical direction and can therefore be confusing when used to encompass countries which are in the geographic north and is also western centric.
Responding to the second half of MH’s query, LY added that reparations are not about ‘saving’ LDC countries, nor is it a case of charity. These countries know how to combat climate change but do not have the resources, which is where climate justice comes in.
RL asked whether the affected nations can negotiate for what they need, rather than be dictated to about what they will spend the money on.
LY responded that most of the finance for climate change comes from the Green Climate Fund and often countries need to navigate a lot of bureaucracy to receive a small amount of money. Furthermore, 10% of funding will go to UN management fees rather than directly to the project.
OJ asked whether LY has any reflections on what works well when educating about climate in schools.
LY answered that it’s about not making it too prescriptive and having real and current examples. Young people should also feel like they can get involved more constructively. We need to have a generation who understand climate justice as a key principle, and this will only happen when we have leaders who have climate friendly policy as a default. LY brought up the ‘Teens and Teachers take on Climate Change’ conference as a positive example of involving young people in shaping climate education.
AW asked which aims were most effective for groups such as the Youth Climate Ambassadors to have.
LY said that number one should be calling to rapidly decrease emissions and two should be to finance LDCs where the spending priorities are set by those countries.
4. Llysgenhadon Hinsawdd Ieuenctid Cymru / Youth Climate Ambassadors for Wales
AW updated that the petition calling for legal recognition of climate refugees didn’t go all the way to parliament but raised a lot of awareness of the issue. The group has also lost several members and so their number one priority is to increase the number of members.
The link to the application form will be shared with the minutes. The age range for joining the YCA is 13-25.
5. Busnes arall / Any other business and date of next meeting
DJ introduced a member’s piece of legislation in the Senedd on ideas for a climate reassurance bill that there should be specific provision in the curriculum to be talking about climate change across all disciplines. This was passed and voted for by the majority of members of the Senedd.
The date of the next meeting will be set at a later time and sent out with the minutes.
5. Cofnodion y cyfarfod diwethaf / Minutes of the last meeting
The minutes of the last meeting were approved.