{"id":37720,"date":"2023-05-24T19:41:47","date_gmt":"2023-05-24T19:41:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/conectas.org\/?post_type=noticia&p=37720"},"modified":"2023-05-31T15:00:29","modified_gmt":"2023-05-31T15:00:29","slug":"why-the-production-of-renewable-energy-must-be-in-line-with-the-guarantee-of-human-rights","status":"publish","type":"noticia","link":"https:\/\/conectas.org\/en\/noticias\/why-the-production-of-renewable-energy-must-be-in-line-with-the-guarantee-of-human-rights\/","title":"Why the production of renewable energy must be in line with the guarantee of human rights","content":"

Many people who live in traditional communities on the Cear\u00e1 coast depend on the ocean for their livelihoods. This is why the fisherwoman, Luciane Santos, of the Cumbe quilombo, is concerned about the projects to build offshore wind farms. She understands this cause, as her community has been affected for years by the wind generators installed on the dunes in her region.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe do not want it (the offshore wind energy project) to come to Cumbe. We know at first hand the upset that this has caused for our social and economic lives. They had said we didn\u00b4t have anything to worry about when it was on land. Imagine now that it\u00b4s going to be at sea and the impact will be so much bigger\u201d, the fisherwoman said in May, at the <\/span>first public hearing<\/span><\/a> to denounce the state\u00b4s violation of laws. Those participating included the <\/span>Articula\u00e7\u00e3o Povos de Luta<\/span><\/i> (ARPOLU), which is made up of the coastal communities of Cear\u00e1, as well as the <\/span>Organiza\u00e7\u00e3o Construindo Poder Popular<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais sem Terra<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>Instituto Terramar<\/span><\/i> and Conectas. During the hearing, leaders and civil society organisations denounced violations involving disregard for environmental licencing procedures, lack of consultation and free, prior and informed consent and dynamics of environmental racism.  <\/span><\/p>\n

The growing demand for the production of renewable energy is an urgent need given the climate emergency. The world can no longer shoulder the impact of fossil fuels and real efforts to reduce carbon emissions are now needed. But this shift must take into consideration the need to respect the most vulnerable people, particularly traditional communities, like indigenous peoples, <\/span>quilombolas <\/span><\/i>and fishing communities which have always been guardians of natural resources, the environment and the preservation of life. In <\/span>a recent report <\/span><\/a>by the United Nations Framework Convention  on Climate Change, it said that \u201cshifting to a low carbon economy can unlock new jobs and opportunities but it must be done in a way that is as socially and economically fair for everyone as possible\u201d. This is the main concern of the fair energy transition concept. <\/span><\/p>\n

According to the <\/span>director of Mitigation at UN climate change, James Grabert<\/span><\/a>, to ensure no one is left behind, countries need just transition and economic diversification policies that are comprehensive, inclusive and based on social dialogue. He said these policies need to be integrated into national climate action plans, as well as into national adaptation plans to avoid exacerbating inequality. In practice we see a worrying gap between the energy sectors with climatic and socioenvironmental implications, which is the reason why movements like the artisanal fishers of Cear\u00e1 are speaking out in defence of their territories and rights.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey want to destroy us because our way of life hampers the system\u201d<\/b><\/h2>\n

The concept of fair energy transition was also totally ignored when <\/span>the Araripe III Wind Energy Complex was built<\/span><\/a>. It sits on the border between Pernambuco and Piau\u00ed. <\/span><\/p>\n

In 2020, a team made up of fishers and officers from Conectas and IAP (International Accountability Project), visited the region to interview families whose lives had been affected by the venture and confirmed that as well as changing the local landscape, the complex had also caused disruptions and a split in the community.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to inhabitants in the region<\/span><\/a>, the principal complaints were about the loud noises caused by the blades, which increased dramatically with the strength of the wind, making it difficult for people to sleep. An increase in incidences of lightning and the deaths of animals, principally flying ones, were also signalled as something new following the arrival of the wind farms.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more:<\/b><\/p>\n