43 CSOs of 23 nations blame India for violating Climate Change agreements

Forty-three organisations fighting climate change, from 24 countries around the world, have said that the BJP-led government is threatening the fight against climate change by attacking the rights of tribals and forest dwellers. Referring to the Modi government's silence in Supreme Court cases against the Forest Rights Act (next hearing expected to be on July 24th), and the government's proposal to bring in draconian amendments in the Indian Forest Act, these organisations say that "The Indian government's steps imperil the livelihoods of millions of people, threaten to restore a colonial and autocratic model of forest management, and threaten the global fight against climate change."

Saying that "The protection of local communities' rights over forests and land is a crucial weapon in the fight against climate change" and that the "international community has repeatedly recognised this fact" - including in agreements that India has signed - the groups "call upon the Indian government to refrain from such steps, to vigorously defend the Forest Rights Act in court, and to ensure that all legal and policy changes strengthen the rights of local and indigenous communities rather than weakening them."

The statement and signatories are below. The signatories are from Peru, Tanzania,Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Burundi, Cameroon, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, France, Ghana, India, Malaysia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Palestine - Israel, the Philippines, South Africa, Spain, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the USA, and Vietnam. The CSOs opposing the Government of India's decision in the Supreme Cout are -

• Plataforma Boliviana frente al Cambio Climático, Bolivia
• Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Friends of the Earth Malaysia), Malaysia
• Abibiman Foundation, Ghana
• Asociación Ambiente y Sociedad, Colombia
• Friends of the Earth - England, Wales and Northern Ireland
• Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA)
• Vaagdhara, India
• Amnesty India
• Andaman Nicobar Environmental Team, India
• EcoHimal, Nepal
• Environics Trust, India
• Tadbeer Consultancy and Research, Afghanistan
• Arjon Foundation, Bangladesh
• UK Youth Climate Coalition (UKYCC), United Kingdom
• Association For Promotion Sustainable development, India
• Dignité Pygmée (DIPY), Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
• Beatriz Roglá, Spain
• Igapo Project, France
• Solidarité des Volontaires pour l'humanité, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
• Humane Trust, Koraput, India
• Women Major Group, India
• Association Chamade, France
• PLANT (Partners for the Land and Agricultural Needs of Traditional peoples), USA
• Asian Indigenous Women's Network
• Center for Indigenous Peoples' Culture of Peru
• Centre for Indigenous Peoples Research and Education, Nepal
• Centre of Research and Development for Upland Areas, Vietnam
• Ugnayang Pambansa para sa Katutubong Kaalaman at Talino (UPAKAT), Philippines
• Nuwekloof Rural Development, South Africa
• Luna Creciente, Ecuador
• War on Want, United Kingdom
• Punaruthan, India
• Ingénieurs sans frontières Agrista, France
• HATOF Foundation, Ghana
• Bangladesh Apparels Workers Federation-BAWF, Bangladesh
• Jahalin Solidarity, Palestine - Israel
• Global Rainbow, The Netherlands - International
• Association pour le Développement et la Reintégration Socio-Economique des Populations Autochtones et Locales"ADRSEPAL"en sigle, Burundi
• Amis De La Justice, Democratic Republic of Congo
• Center for autonomy and development of indigenous peoples (Cadpi), Nicaragua
• Pastoralists Indigenous Non-Governmental Organizations (PINGO's Forum) Tanzania
• Tanzania Indigenous Peoples Network on Climate Change (TIPNCC)
• Renewal, Cameroon