At the intersection of rising temperatures, disasters and workers' rights: INSP!R Asia tackles Climate Justice
![Group picture of the INSP!R Asia members planting trees](/sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w27/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=LBABsYgl 27w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w32/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=naqRfhUG 32w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w38/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=utf7Hcc4 38w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w45/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=XZVm-VaD 45w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w53/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=6UKZx0Zq 53w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w54/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=_i2E9eN3 54w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w63/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=RgvDADkG 63w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w64/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=ic-zunV8 64w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w75/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=Evu7c2CR 75w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w76/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=rT49A6d8 76w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w89/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=4V3FRs1u 89w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w90/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=IH6whLhY 90w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w105/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=sGUPTiGX 105w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w106/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=9eBoNvs4 106w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w124/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=xL0tM5hS 124w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w126/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=NnnI318B 126w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w147/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=epHm449N 147w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w150/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=dw6AAnqH 150w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w173/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=TW1DwSGL 173w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w178/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=Wc7euQGU 178w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w204/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=gtZTMA8g 204w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w210/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=-gRP1TXn 210w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w240/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=6ZIDnsPX 240w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w248/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=zZMmGrdf 248w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w283/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=zqbdWN_4 283w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w294/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=eOLSpAJ0 294w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w333/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=D6-Pwx6Y 333w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w346/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=R_8FUu-t 346w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w392/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=ZSDshToP 392w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w408/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=2VsvTAi2 408w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w462/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=-CwBhwIO 462w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w480/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=BB2qix_m 480w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w544/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=D8Op5XX3 544w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w566/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=BkOFGR7q 566w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w641/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=A3_8vSOo 641w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w666/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=ckJBKL3b 666w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w755/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=7S6loI66 755w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w784/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=w7Et3FbG 784w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w889/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=Lc-eFuCz 889w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w924/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=662PSKMU 924w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w1047/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=nv2eHYSd 1047w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w1088/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=oGonudWp 1088w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w1232/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=JWdpAStD 1232w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w1282/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=g7tVRy-D 1282w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w1510/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=Fz8Aj5VP 1510w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w1778/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=_POgdybP 1778w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w2094/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=45fwFrq7 2094w, /sites/default/files/styles/snov_article_header_novs_w2464/public/2023-10/WhatsApp%20Image%202023-10-24%20at%2019.14.39.jpeg?h=eb901320&itok=3IZQLkWj 2464w)
Dr Kadir from GK and steering committee member for Bangladesh: “Our country is currently living a dengue pandemic because mosquitos are affected by changing temperatures.” Ajay from Nepal sees the snow melting on the Himalayas, affecting not only tourism but also the vital resource of water for the entire South Asian region. “Our members are not climate NGOs, but same as everybody is impacted by climate change, and marginalised people the most, everybody has to play a role to correct wrongs and hold accountable the real global emitters, the governments from the north and Big Oil.” confirms Samy, member for India. Three main themes of the debates: understanding climate justice, just transition and adaptive social protection. Going beyond understanding, the workshop was the opportunity to reach consensus through the debates around five statements:
These position papers were later condensed into a letter which was sent by the national INSP!R networks to their delegations, as well as by email to 25 delegations from ASEAN countries and institutions representatives at the 28th UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP28) in Unite Arab Emirates. The letter demands Just Transition to a greener economy, to ensure fair compensation to affected workers, vocational training, income guarantees during transitions, and to ensure that new green jobs created are respecting the decent work agenda; safe and healthy working conditions, social security coverage, a decent living income and social dialogue.
Three days filled with data and analysis, because while some of the participants are considered experts on these issues, for others this was their first event focused solely on this theme. So a lot of sharing along each others and linking it to what is witnessed in the field, but also from outsiders: the ILO, the Asia People's Movement on Debt and Development, the ITUC but also the Beweging.net from Belgium.
After getting to know the issues, it was time to DO: statement games, group discussions and flip charts filled with ambitious goals, starting with a letter to each national government in the lead up to the next COP, on 24th of October, the International Day for Climate Action.
This will be the opportunity to demand phasing out of fossil fuels, ensuring loss and damages also go to adaptive social protection, that just transition is led by the workers’ affected towards greener economies. Cause one thing participants did readily agree on: if we don't act now, it is our civilisations that will be in ruins, and sooner than we think!