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COP27

Maddie Smith: Human Rights, Biofuels, and the Implementation of the Paris Agreement

15/11/2016

14 Comments

 
COP22 in Marrakech is all about moving towards implementation of the Paris Agreement that was passed at COP21 last year, and officially entered force on November 4, 2016. At the first two days of my time at COP22 I attended several events centered on the “how” of the implementation of this agreement and potential problems various NGOs and governments saw in regards to transitioning the world to more sustainable energy, cutting emissions, and weaning ourselves off of fossil fuels. The point all of the panelists repeated was that it is essential that we do this in a way that doesn’t leave anyone behind.

It was considered a major victory last year when human rights language was included in the preamble of the Paris Agreement. It states “that climate change is a common concern of humankind, Parties should, when taking action to address climate change, respect, promote and consider their respective obligations on human rights, the right to health, the rights of indigenous peoples, local communities, migrants, children, persons with disabilities and people in vulnerable situations and the right to development, as well as gender equality, empowerment of women and intergenerational equity…”

It is essential that the Paris Agreement is implemented in a way that recognizes different countries are disproportionately affected by climate change, recognizes and values the concerns and sovereignty of indigenous peoples, includes sustainable development that doesn’t come with externalities,  and is gender-just and doesn’t impose extra burdens on women.  
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I wanted to share an example of a climate solution featured in a panel I went to that is often heavily touted, but does not promote climate justice and in fact violates many human rights. The truth is that biofuels are not a viable solution to our energy and climate problems. When you fill up on E10 at the pump, do you really know what is going on? We need to consider several important facts:  
Picturehttp://thisisafrica.me/land-grabbing-africa-new-colonialism/
  1. Land used to grow biomass for biofuels cannot be used to grow food. As world population increases, food security of vulnerable communities will decrease because there is not enough land to feed everyone.
  2. As mandates for ethanol percentages in European fuel have increased, more land in developing countries outside of Europe has been seized to grow biofuel crops. Unlike the US, Europe doesn’t have large amounts of cropland devoted to growing for biofuel production. This has resulted in “land grabs” in many parts of Africa. A “land grab” refers to the purchase or acquisition of large amounts of land by an entity, in this case, for the purpose of growing biofuel crops. This is an example of imperialism of foreign interests on developing countries.
  3. Land grabs rob communities (often indigenous) of land essential to their food security and identity. Kilmaren Ole Riamit, a panelist from Kenya representing the International Indigenous People’s Forum on Climate Change (IIPFCC) left us with this thought: “Land grabs are not just a loss of property, but a loss of identity.”
The case of biofuels can be juxtaposed with the current widespread social opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline at Standing Rock, North Dakota. Both involve the taking of land from Indigenous Peoples. It is easy for us to hate DAPL because of the obvious and well documented problems of environmental contamination from oil pipelines, especially on sacred Native American land in a time where there is increased urgency to transition away from fossil fuels.  It is more difficult for us to see the effects of land grabs halfway around the world when the idea of biofuel has been sold to us as a sustainable fuel, with a feel-good connotation for consumers.
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If biofuels are so problematic, then why do we still think of them as a green solution? Biofuels are a great example of a scientific solution to the energy crisis that simply fails to consider the very real and harmful impacts on people in developing nations around the world.  We need solutions that value human dignity and do not negatively impact already disadvantaged populations. As the implementation of the Paris Agreement moves forward it will be essential for all parties to consider and develop climate solutions that are truly just. 


14 Comments
Rachel B
15/11/2016 07:01:16 pm

I really enjoyed reading your blog, it was full of insightful information. One question I have is do you have any solutions to this problem that can help the environment and not violate human rights?

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Gabby S. (Mrs. Foys period 3 class)
16/11/2016 07:17:51 am

With regards to human rights and the concern for climate change in society, with Trump taking presidency in 2017 and him not being supportive climate change itself; how do you think our nation will react to his opinion?

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Will B
16/11/2016 07:17:15 am

Great article! It was a blast to read! Prd 3 Mrs. Foy

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John D
16/11/2016 07:42:04 am

I fully agree with finding the most just climate solution but I do not think that with the current course humanity is taking we will be able to keep indigenous people like the native american's in their "bubbles" forever. I don't considered forcing people off their lands to be the most human action but unless the exponential increase in global population decreases than food and energy consumption will just continue to rise. Sometimes there are decisions that must be made for the good of humanity like the atomic bombs that help end WWII. Unless there is a clearly more just solution found, I would not count out biofuels.

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Dinesh P.
16/11/2016 05:05:09 pm

Great article, really opened my eyes considering by truck has the option to run off of ethanol fuel. I have one question, with this form of imperialism that is occurring in order to acquire these land masses, why have the United Nations realize this is in violation of rights and stopped European countries from doing it?

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Mayson S
17/11/2016 07:58:04 am

Chem 134 Foy. Do you think there will ever be a time when we will fully rely on clean energy? I agree 100% on finding and using less harmful, more clean energy. However, there's alot of people who don't believe in global warming and think it's a way to just take their jobs away. Like the pipeline too, if we were to convert to clean energy like solar panel farms would we just forcefully do so?

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Jesse Tate
17/11/2016 10:47:57 am

There is so much in this article. I don't know too much in depth about the Paris agreement, of a lot of the issues that are included in climate change. There is a lot covered in this article and i now have a better grasp on the topic.

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Kendall B Eppley (GC II Peterman)
17/11/2016 11:28:36 am

I agree with you, Maddie, in that it is imperative that the Paris Agreement is implemented in a way that deals with the issues of environmental justice. That all countries are equally represented despite their race, gender, or wealth. A plan that recognizes the unequal distribution of environmental "bads," enforces the representation of women and recognizes their imperative role in climate change and the paris agreement, and urges the reduction of externalities in sustainable development would be absolutely ideal.

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Alex Patterson
18/11/2016 05:17:08 am

I really like that it is a major priority of the Paris Agreement that its implementation is equal across the world and that it respects the concerns of indigenous people.

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Ashlyn Borik (Dr.Petermans class)
18/11/2016 05:06:53 pm

I agree with you that the Paris agreement must deal with the issues of environmental justice. All countries have the same impact no matter there wealth. Everyone has had the opportunity to participate. I did not know much about the Paris agreement but after reading this it was nice hearing your point of view. I never realized that land used to grow biomass for biofuels cannot be used to grow food. I never thought about how this can decrease the food source. After reading this I really understand how this affects everyone, even me.

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Krysten Dema
20/11/2016 10:24:01 am

I understand that you think this might not be a good alternative; however, couldn't this promote any trade or agreements between nations themselves?

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Emily Miller
20/11/2016 04:21:32 pm

This is probably the most ironic article because the Paris Agreement was created to reduce CO2 emissions and help the environment; however, the "solution" is biofuels which are harmful to humans. I am glad they are this as an issue before it gets out of hand as well as respecting the indigenous people. There are too many times the indigenous people are pushed out because others do not either see the problem or just do not care.

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Alexi F
21/11/2016 09:28:42 am

It's good to see a more nuanced view of biofuels and their international impact. I recall reading an articles years ago about the effect of using crops for fuel and the deforestation it unintentionally causes in south America and other heavily forested countries.

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Sarah Estes
21/11/2016 01:51:29 pm

I had never considered how biofules, because of lack of land in developed nations, lead to land grabs in underdeveloped nations. This was a very insightful post about how we need to consider human rights when we discuss turning to a greener tomorrow.

I know there are ideas out there to create floating farms, but of course this opens up new environmental challenges with contaminating our oceans. After they presented the problems of one of our most common solutions to fossil fuels, did anyone then present on a potential new idea to replace biofules? Or rather than just land grabs where imperialist powers buy up large amounts of indigenous land, why can’t there be a clause in the Marrakech agreement to stop this?

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