“Polluters, Pay Up!” – Climate Activists Demand Justice at COP29

BY STEVE EPHRAEM

At COP29 in Baku, climate activists staged a powerful protest, unveiling a 10-meter-long “invoice” and banners chanting “Polluters, pay up!” and “Trillions, not billions!”  This took place on Finance Day on November 2024.

Representatives from ActionAid, APMDD, CAN, and DCJ called on Global North governments to commit to a robust climate finance goal of trillions annually in public funds.

Teresa Anderson, ActionAid International’s Global Lead on Climate Justice, said, “Developed countries must own up to the harm caused and repay the trillions owed to the Global South. The time for excuses is over.”

Climate activists highlighted the devastating impacts on frontline communities, particularly women and girls, who bear the brunt of climate change despite minimal contributions to emissions.

Sylvia Kijangwa, a Tanzanian youth climate activist, shared, “Women and girls face water scarcity, malnutrition, and violence due to climate change. We demand justice for those who have contributed least to this crisis.”

Nura Mohamed, ActionAid Somaliland’s Program Manager, added, “Women and girls in Somaliland can’t wait. Droughts endanger livelihoods, fueling gender-based violence and FGM/C. We demand climate finance in trillions, not billions.”

The protest emphasised the urgent need for climate finance to support vulnerable communities already paying the price for rich countries’ historical emissions.