Dr Mithika Mwenda, PACJA CEO
By Elias Ngalame
A delegation of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, PACJA is taking part at the Global People’s Assembly holding at the UN Church Centre in New York September 22-24.
The Global People’s Assembly according to a release from PACJA represents the culmination of constituency, national, and regional People’s Assemblies, where representatives of marginalized and excluded communities and civil society come together to discuss critical issues of global justice.
PACJA is one of 29 co-organizers of the event with Dr Augustine Njamnshi, Chair of the Political and Technical Committee, PACJA among the panelists who discussed on the key topic on how climate finance is no longer mirrored in Millions pledge delivery by Trillion.
It was during the sessions entitled “Pay UP Trillions not Millions for Climate Finance,” the release indicated.
The sessions co-organized by Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Bread for the World, delved into the impacts of the climate crisis and connection with the Summit of The Future.
Panelists accordingly, explored finance mechanisms and how to make polluters Pay Up for climate finance and the perspective of the Global South with regards to accountability and justice for climate impacts among other points.
Dr Augustine highlighted the adverse impacts of Climate change in Africa and stressed why climate Finance needs to shift from Millions to trillions.
The need to Pay UP Trillions not Millions for Climate Finance was also echoed by Dr Mithika Mwenda, the Executive Director of PACJA, during his opening remarks in which he affirmed that “paying for the damage of climate change and the actions needed to address it is reparation, a moral and legal obligation, an imperative of climate justice. The polluters must pay for the loss and damage they have caused, for the extreme weather events, droughts, floods, and rising sea levels that are wreaking havoc across the Global South”.
He notes that the mechanisms to make polluters pay already exist and called on the International legal frameworks, such as the UNFCCC, to hold these corporations accountable.
“Often, the measures collectively agreed upon or proposed by science are blocked or watered down by the same interests that caused this crisis in the first place. This must change, “ Mithika said.
This year, the Assembly will be amplifying these voices at the Summit, addressing key UN processes, including climate action, debt, tax, Financing for Development, gender equality, and social justice, the release revealed.
FLYING PACJA’S FLAG HIGH
Dr Mithika Mwenda Executive Director of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, has continued to fly the flag of the organization high. Again he has been named in The Independent’s inaugural list of the top 100 exceptional individuals solving the world’s greatest challenges.
This recognition is alongside other world-renowned climate leaders including HE William Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya.
The Independent highlights PACJA’s strong stance against global decisions hampering effective climate action, including its criticism of the appointment of oil executive Sultan al-Jaber to lead COP28.
PACJA has continually amplified the voices of the vulnerable, leading efforts such as hosting the UN Civil Society Conference in Kenya this May among others, The Independent notes.
It should be noted that this is not the first time the CEO of PACJA Dr Mithika is being recognized for outstanding efforts to drive climate actions.
