“Amazonian Activists Unite: A Call for Climate Action at FOSPA Conference”

The Pan-Amazon Social Forum (FOSPA) recently took place in Rurrenabaque, Bolivia, bringing together activists and leaders from Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and other land-based communities across the Amazon rainforest. The attendees, numbering 1,400, gathered to exchange ideas on defending nature and the people of the Amazon. The marchers chanted slogans like “Agua si! Minería no!” and “Viva Amazonia!” to emphasize their commitment to protecting the environment.

The conference provided a space for these communities to have their own dialogues, distinct from the formal United Nations’ Conference of the Parties (COPs) on climate change and biodiversity. Participants expressed frustration with international negotiations that they feel are disconnected from their lives and criticized the lack of progress in governmental climate talks, such as the Paris Agreement’s target to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

The Amazon rainforest is facing significant threats from climate change, deforestation, mining, and other human-driven activities. The loss of the Amazon, which is occurring at a rapid pace, has already had devastating effects on the region’s biodiversity and the livelihoods of the 47 million people living in the Amazon.

Indigenous and local communities in the Amazon have valuable knowledge about the forest and are increasingly partnering with scientists to prioritize conservation efforts. The conference attendees discussed the urgent need for action to prevent climate and ecological collapse, proposing solutions like ending new investments in fossil fuel projects, protecting Indigenous land rights, and promoting sustainable development.

The conference also highlighted the importance of a just energy transition, addressing issues like access to electricity, renewable energy, and the negative impacts of extractive industries on local communities. Participants called for an end to false solutions like carbon offsets and emphasized the need for more investment in public transport and a shift away from consumer-driven culture.

The final document from the conference, titled “A call from the Amazon to build an Agreement for Life in the face of climate and ecological collapse,” outlined key steps to protect the Amazon and combat climate change. The attendees emphasized the interconnectedness of the Amazon ecosystem and the urgent need for global action to save the rainforest.

Overall, the FOSPA conference in Rurrenabaque served as a platform for Indigenous and local communities to voice their concerns, share their experiences, and propose solutions to the pressing environmental challenges facing the Amazon region. The participants left the conference with a renewed commitment to protecting the Amazon and promoting a sustainable future for all.