Consultation on Climate Change in Manipur and COP28 of UNFCC
- Imphal, 9th December 2023 : CRAM, YFPHR, GGG -

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Consultation on Climate Change in Manipur and COP28 of UNFCC

Centre For Research And Advocacy Manipur (CRAM)
Youth's Forum For Protection Of Human Rights (YFPHR)
and
Go Green Group (GGG), Manipur

CRAM, YFPHR and GGG have jointly organized a consultation on Climate Change in Manipur and COP28 of UNFCC at Manipur Press Club on the 9th of December, 2023. Following are the proceedings and the resolution of the said consultation.

PROCEEDINGS

Mr. Yumnam, Secretary, Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur shared that Manipur is affected by climate Change, leading to increased disaster, diseases, high temperatures, flood, drought etc. Unsustainable development projects caused destruction of land, forest, water bodies and thus affected the livelihood of indigenous peoples and worsening climate change. The COP 28 of UNFCCC should desist from any decisions to promote false climate solutions and unjust energy projects.

Chaoba Heisnam, Loktak Fisheries Welfare Association shared that Loktak project affected more than 50,000 hectares of land and led to loss of traditional rice varieties. Loktak wetlands becomes much shallower due to sedimentation.

The life of Loktak Project has been extended further by another 25 years despite the call by affected communities to decommission the project. The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation even tried to seek carbon credits from Loktak Project from the Clean Development Mechanism of UNFCCC by falsely claiming the project as climate friendly.

Monika Wahengbam, YFPHR shared that Climate change impact heavily on women. The livelihood of women is affected due to increased disaster, scarcity of water, food, drought and thus affected the traditional role of women. The changes and loss of land, environment affected the livelihood, health and traditional role of women in economy and culture.

Women physical and mental health has been affected, thus affected the indigenous demography and health of children. Climate change and loss of land and economic challenges also increased the vulnerability and risk of violence on women.

Several cases of women being raped while trying to collect water and food. Development processes need be sustainable and rooted in human rights and promote development alternatives. Planning on development and climate change need to integrate gender perspectives and role.

Consultation on Climate Change in Manipur and COP28 of UNFCC

Ms. Nganthoi Chanu, Independent artist deliberated that the destruction of biodiversity affects the availability of orchids. The loss of orchids affects the culture of the indigenous peoples of Manipur. The ‘Leirol’ folklore of the Meitei and other cultural practices will be affected with the changes of environment. Protecting our biodiversity, forest, land and culture is crucial for sustainable development and in combating climate change.

Mr. L Dijamni, Khangabok Development and Students’ Union presented that the proposed plan to promote palm oil in Manipur will lead to land grabbing, water scarcity, contamination of soil and agriculture land.

Pursuance of palm oil for climate change solution in the pretext of increasing cover will affect the livelihood of farmers and undermine food security. Manipur should learn from the adverse implications of palm oil cultivation, water scarcity, lack of feasibility and issues of human rights violations such as in Indonesia, Malayasia, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh etc.

Nikhil, Go Green Green shared that youths need to take a proactive role in understanding the impacts of climate change.

Swar Thounaojam, Social Activist
The climate change and the development context need be understand from the persisting political, economic context, where Manipur reels in a high militarized society. Documentation is extremely important and need to understand the forces of geopolitics, competition among capitalism and neoliberalism.

The participants adopted the following resolutions:

- The Government of India, multinational corporations and international financial institutions should recognize indigenous peoples’ self-determined rights over their land and resources before targeting their land and resources for all development processes. - All MoUs for mega dams, oil exploration, mining, agri-business (viz. Palm Oil) pursued without their consent should be revoked for possible adverse impacts on environment, people and climate in Manipur.

- The Government should stop classifying large dams as renewable and green solution for climate change. Large dams are no solution for climate change.

- The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation and other dam companies should stop building Pabram dam and other dams in Manipur. Decommission the 105 MW Loktak Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project.

- The Government should review and rescind its plan to promote palm oil plantation in Manipur and North East given its documented adverse impacts on people, environment and climate in other places.

- Repeal neoliberal policies, such as Forest Conservation Amendment Bill, 2023, Manipur Palm Oil (Regulation of Production and Processing) Act, 2021, Manipur Hydro Power Policy, 2012, North East hydrocarbon vision 2030, EIA Notification, 2020, etc.

- International Financial Institutions and corporates should stop financing unsustainable development projects and false climate solutions with social, environment and climate impacts. Climate finance should desist funding social and environmentally damaging projects. - All climate change mitigation and adaptation related policies should ensure compliance with indigenous peoples’ rights as per UN Declaration on Indigenous Peoples Rights, 2007.

- COP 28 of UNFCCC should desist from any decisions to promote false climate solutions that serve corporate bodies interest for profiting by plundering peoples land and resources.

- Support the global call for concrete commitments with dedicated resources to address the loss and damages due to impacts of climate change, especially in the light of increased disaster in Manipur.

- Stop targeting human rights defenders and communities advancing just development and climate justice.

- Indigenous peoples’ traditional sustainable management of land and natural resources, including role of women, youths etc and their low consumption and carbon oriented way of life must be promoted in all development decision making processes that can affect their land, lives and future.

- The Manipur State Action Plan on Climate Change and other climate policies should be reviewed to ensure its compliance with gender friendly, human rights and sustainable development goals in its implementation.

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(T Shadishkanta)
Secretary,
Youth’s Forum For Protection Of Human Rights (YFPHR)