On the 19th and 20th of September 2022, a group of 30 people from many parts of the world were brought together for a Climate Justice Adaptation Workshop because of sharing the same motive. This took place during the week of Climate Action before the Climate Justice global strike. Our youth representative, Lisakhanya Mathiso, attended the full climate adaptation workshop held in Noordhoek.
On the first day, it was said that through intersectionality, indigenous knowledge and the use of skills, the process of adjusting to current effects of climate change and possible change or bettering the current situation is attainable. During the workshop, people living in informal settlements were used as a clear example of adaptation as they had always lived it. Since they are always expected to do something no matter the situation they are in.
If there are heavy rains, floods leave them homeless or any other injustice arise, yet they still manage to get to work the next day, come back and rebuild what had been damaged. Academics in the workshop mentioned that there are way too many definitions as to what “informal settlements” are and how they are viewed from different parts of the world. The term “Equity Adaptation” was then raised, meaning acknowledging disproportionate impacts from climate change and how those are rooted in the historic and systemic oppression of Black, Indigenous and Poor communities, which was the theme for the first day.
The group then began to look into a variety of topics: How can technology be leveraged to promote inclusive and equitable knowledge sharing and inspiring action on the ground? Climate change and human rights? Climate change, afrocentricism and art? Indigenous adaptation and knowledge? Youth and trauma? Quality of relationships (transparency)? These were questions or rather takeaway tasks that stirred up deep conversations and left all contemplative.
Final research and detailed report are still yet to be put together and shared with the group. However, a clear outcome was found, which is that intersectionality in social and environmental justice is the main solution for this global crisis.
