We don’t need sympathy. But let’s stop this madness

Sometimes action speaks louder than words! When governments and policymakers across the world, with powers to change the status quo, are reluctant to make an effort to act for the people, they need to be reminded of the fact people are watching them and they deserve answers; the leaders need some shaking up to make them wake up from their slumber.

This is what around 100 delegates from across the world did at the venue of COP20, in Lima, today morning, when they stood in solidarity for people affected by the aggression of typhoon Hagupit in the Philippines. They stood in silence to show their resolute support for the victims of climate hazard in Philippines and other parts of the world. The people stood here hand in hand to remind the governments and leaders arriving for the negotiations that they demand solidarity and action on climate change and not sympathy. People here appealed to conscience of the leaders to make an effort to stop this madness. “You cannot talk about sympathy, while at the same time putting us on a path to severe more devastation….we refuse to become a poster child for devastation and climate impacts. We in the Philippines are not drowning. We are not dying. We are fighting, and we need you to fight with us”, said Maria Theresa from IBON International in the Philippines.

On Saturday, typhoon Hagupit made landfall at the eastern coast of Philippines. Recent reports show that at least 21 people have been killed by floodwaters caused by the storm that is continuing its painfully slow path towards the capital Manila. More than a million people have already been evacuated from their homes with uncertainty if their lives will ever be the same again. Even before the people could heal the bruises from last year’s disaster, they were struck once again. We have seen the shocking images of what typhoon Haiyan did to Philippines last year. We have also seen the lack of political will from leaders across the world at climate talks last year, which coincided with the aftermath of the super typhoon. We have also seen the shameful act of Australia bailing out from its commitment to contribute to Green Climate Fund.

Civil society representatives called on the ministers arriving today and tomorrow at the negotiations to make progress towards a mechanism that effectively addresses loss and damage from climate impacts. Climate change is causing an increase in extreme rainfall and rise of sea level, making the storm surges more deadly. Vulnerable countries like the Philippines and other small islands are bearing the brunt of this — the man-made act of climate change.

Denise Fontanilla of Aksyon Klima Pilipinas and Adopt a Negotiator noted that this is the third consecutive year that a typhoon struck the Philippines during a UN climate conference. “We are sick of talking about typhoons as we push for our delegation and those of other countries to take urgent climate action. It is much easier to follow the various meetings here, but hard to realise that the lack of progress here is worsening the odds for my country.

Delegates arriving at the conference today were greeted with images from the aftermath of these storms, to remind them climate vulnerable communities need to see urgent progress in Lima.