WYCJ Latin America speaks at The People’s Forumin NYC

On March 15th, the Latin America Front of the World’s Youth for Climate Justice participated in the event “Disrupting Climate Injustice: Lessons From Costa Rica to Turtle Island” held at The People’s Forum in New York City. The event facilitated a participatory dialogue on climate justice and damages and losses from a Central American perspective. Costa Rican climate activists and researchers shared their experiences advocating for climate reparations and demanding responsibility from historical polluters.

The event explored issues such as colonialism, climate injustice, and human rights, and looked to interact with local US activists and organizations to find common ground and develop collective political action. 

Jose Daniel Rodriguez, Front Convenor for Latin America from the World Youth for Climate Justice, emphasized the importance of youth-led climate action and highlighted the contributions of young people in Central America to the global climate movement. He also underscored the importance of human rights in the fight against climate change. José spoke about the ways in which climate change is affecting the enjoyment of human rights, and the need for a rights-based approach to climate action. José highlighted the importance of most affected communities lead the way in seeking climate justice, and emphasized how WYCJ is working to ensure youth participation in the advisory proceedings before the International Court of Justice.

Adrian Martinez and Andrea Robles from La Ruta del Clima, a Costa Rican organization dedicated to promoting climate justice, also shared their experiences fighting against climate change in Central America. They spoke about the impacts of climate change on communities in the region and the need for comprehensive climate reparations.

The event provided an opportunity for activists and organizations from different regions to come together and share their perspectives on climate justice. It highlighted the need for a collective and intersectional approach to climate action that takes into account the historical and ongoing injustices that have led to the climate crisis. It was jointly organized by the International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR Net) and La Ruta del Clima.

Join the Latin American front here.