Since my childhood, I have been interested in environmental and climate protection. Topics that affect and concern us all over the world. But not the same everywhere! There are many different perspectives, expertises, possibilities, causes and consequences surrounding these topics. During my trip, I want to look deeper into these topics myself, learn more and understand new perspectives. Perspectives from the Global South in particular are often not sufficiently considered and heard in international discourse.
I would like to share my learning process with anyone who is interested.
Project90 by 2030
At the beginning of September 2024, I had the great opportunity to visit the organisation Project90 by 2030 in Cape Town and meet up with old friends like Lisa and Gabriel. Both are not only involved in Project90 by 2030, but also in other NGOs. They took a lot of time to give me exciting insights into their work and share their perspectives. While I have often dealt with climate change from a German perspective in the past, this gave me the chance to learn more about the South African perspective. I learnt a lot about how communities function, political processes and the sometimes very different challenges that Gabriel and Lisa face in their work.
This exchange made me realise that the fight against climate change is inextricably linked to the pursuit of climate justice. A word that is used almost inflationarily these days and yet, in my view, is rarely really filled with life and action.
Climate justice does not only focus on fighting climate change, but also on the unequal distribution of its causes and consequences. Countries in the global South, such as South Africa, are often particularly hard hit by the effects, even though they have contributed less to the climate crisis.
Climate justice means taking into account the polluter-pays principle and at the same time adapting measures to the social and economic realities of those who are affected. Solutions that work in the countryside do not automatically work in cities. In the same way, solutions from the global North cannot automatically be transferred to the global South. The local population must be included in decision-making and implementation plans. This requires intersectional approaches that combine environmental, social justice and economic challenges in order to enable a just and inclusive transformation.
This is precisely where Project90 by 2030 comes in: The organisation is fighting for a sustainable and just energy transition in South Africa. Its goal is to achieve a drastic 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. In doing so, it mobilises young people as future decision-makers, empowers underrepresented communities and supports civil society organisations and trade unions. The focus is not only on climate protection, but also on combating energy poverty and promoting a fair energy policy.
I am very grateful to Lisa and Gabriel for taking so much time for me. The many inspiring conversations have given me important impulses and new perspectives on my journey. If you would like to find out more about Project90 by 2030 or support the project, you can find the link to the website here: Project 90 by 2030.
