Corporate Climate Devastation Burdens Latin American Population with Consequences
Scooping the Sauce - December 9 - fillmore0274@rogers.com
Gotta dish some dirt on them corporate sleazes mucking up Mother Earth, and boy, do they ever got some 'splaining to do.
You won't hear much about it at the UN COP 20 bash going down in Lima, Peru, but a fresh report lays it all out, showing how multinational corporations are wreaking havoc on the environment and causing serious climate damage in Latin America.
But while delegates are busy chattering away about what governments need to do to reach a climate agreement, the real culprits—the multinationals—are slipping through the cracks. They're responsible for the damage, but no one's making them own up to it.
As the report says, these corporations are swarming into ever more vulnerable regions of the world, leaving destruction in their wake. And worse still, developing countries take all the heat for the damage that the corporations cause.
One such corporate swine is Repsol, the Spanish fossil fuels giant that's causing a ruckus in Peru. According to the report, they're setting up shop right smack in the middle of the country's precious rainforest, tearing up lands, polluting waters, and generally behaving like a bunch of wild hogs. Another villain number is Glencore-Xstrata, a mining corporation from Switzerland that's expanding its copper mining operations in Peru, contaminating water supplies and drying out the lands.
But it's not just about environmental destruction; it's also about inequality. The corporations reap all the profits, leaving the indigenous communities high and dry. To add insult to injury, many of these corporations are just skating by, being all politically connected and whatnot, twisting the arms of local officials to get their way.
And let's not forget that all those mega-projects are contributing to rising carbon emissions, making the climate crisis even worse. It's a double whammy for the people of Latin America—they're struggling with the impacts of climate change, and the corporations that are causing some of those impacts are getting rich off the region.
So, partying delegates at COP 20, maybe it's time to consider holding up those corporations to the flame, instead of just focusing on what national governments can do. The Northern countries should pony up their fair share and contribute to the Special Climate Change Fund, which is meant to compensate developing countries for the damage they're suffering due to the actions of the North.
And hey, maybe if those corporations see that there's a price to pay for their greed, they'll think twice before tearing up Mother Earth for a quick profit. But until then, we'll be here, watching and waiting for the corporate conquerors to get their just desserts.
Written by Nick Fillmore, a Canadian freelance journalist and blogger, who has been covering climate change issues for nearly 30 years. Got something to say? Drop him a line: fillmore0274@rogers.com
Credit for the photo goes to www.treehugger.com.
Enrichment Data:Overall:At the UN COP 20 climate conference in Lima, the issue of corporate accountability for climate damage, mainly in Latin America, was a heated topic that faced resistance from developed countries. But around the world, there are increasing legal actions and civil society pressure challenging corporate accountability for climate damage and human rights violations against Indigenous communities.
Principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities:
At COP 20, the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" was a crucial framework, acknowledging that developed countries bear historical responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions but developing countries face disproportionate impacts from climate change. While it is relevant to financial support and mitigation commitments, it is less so concerning accountability for climate damage[1].
Resistance and Challenges in Addressing Loss and Damage:
Rich countries have shown strong resistance to accepting liability for loss and damage, which is a key demand of developing countries. There is hostility to recognizing corporate or national accountability beyond emissions reduction targets. Negotiations around loss and damage remain contentious, with developed countries unwilling to commit to compensation or legal liability for climate damage suffered by developing countries such as Peru[1].
Indigenous and Local Communities’ Rights and Risks:
Environmental defenders and Indigenous communities in Latin America face significant risks, such as violence, judicial harassment, and lack of consultation, while opposing extractive and fossil fuel projects. These abuses are often perpetrated by corporations and governments, with little accountability and justice for the affected communities[3].
Emerging Legal Cases Highlighting Corporate Accountability:
Recent legal efforts against fossil fuel corporations emphasize increasing pressure to hold them accountable for climate change impacts on distant communities, such as the German case brought by a Peruvian farmer. Similar cases in countries like the Netherlands and the U.S. could lay the groundwork for stricter corporate accountability standards in the context of international climate governance[2][4][5].
Summary:At COP 20, corporate accountability for climate damage and human rights violations, particularly in Latin America, remained a major concern overlooked by formal negotiations due to resistance from developed countries. Legal actions like the German case brought by a Peruvian farmer against RWE could help shift corporate accountability discussions and influence the future governance of climate change. The risks faced by Indigenous communities and environmental defenders in Latin America underline the urgent need for accountability for corporations causing environmental destruction and human rights abuses[1][2][3][4].
- The UN COP 20 conference in Lima, while focusing on governmental commitments to combat climate change, overlooked the issue of corporate accountability for causing environmental harm, particularly in Latin America.
- As reported, multinational corporations like Repsol, a Spanish fossil fuel giant, and Glencore-Xstrata, a Swiss mining corporation, are engaging in destructive activities in vulnerable regions, such as tearing up lands, polluting waters, and behaving irresponsibly towards Indigenous communities.
- The principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" was highlighted at COP 20, acknowledging that developed countries bear historical responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions, but the principle was less relevant in discussions of corporate accountability for climate damage.
- The issue of corporate accountability is gaining traction through increasing legal actions and civil society pressure, aiming to hold corporations responsible for climate change impacts, human rights violations, and the destruction of the environment, particularly on Indigenous communities in Latin America.
- The emerging legal cases against fossil fuel corporations, such as the German case brought by a Peruvian farmer, could pave the way for stricter corporate accountability standards in the international climate governance and influence the future of climate change negotiations.
