From Antalya to the most affected villages.. Can civil society change the climate justice equation?

 

Written by: Dr. Muhammad Mamdouh Abdullah 

Head of Associations Development Sector_Misr El Kheir Foundation 

 

The issue of climate change is no longer just a scientific discussion about rising temperatures or increasing carbon emissions, and international conferences alone are no longer sufficient to convince societies that the world is moving with the speed required to confront this crisis. The question that has become more urgent today is not only: How do we limit climate change? But: who bears the cost? Who pays for its repercussions? Who has the resources and ability to protect its future?

 

These questions bring us to the core of the issue of climate justice, which has become one of the most important issues related to the future of development and economic and social stability, especially in developing countries and societies with limited resources. Climate change does not affect everyone to the same degree, historical responsibility for emissions is not equal, and the ability of countries and societies to adapt to risks varies greatly. Hence, dealing with the crisis as an equal responsibility among everyone, without taking into account the difference in responsibilities and capabilities, may lead to deepening the existing gaps instead of addressing them.

 

In this context, the initiative launched by the Misr El Kheir Foundation, through the Arab Center for Sustainable Civil Action, to prepare and circulate the statement “Civil Society for Climate Justice and the Fair Implementation of International Commitments” is gaining importance beyond issuing a document that includes a set of demands. It is an attempt to build a common position for Egyptian and regional civil society, and to transfer the priorities of local communities to the international dialogue on the future of climate action.

 

The importance of this step increases with the holding of the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP31 in the Turkish city of Antalya during the period from 9 to 20 November 2026, where discussions will be renewed on how to transform climate commitments into practical measures, and on the fair distribution of financing, resources and responsibilities between countries and societies.

 

What is striking about the experience of preparing the statement is that it did not come as a single vision for one institution, but rather came as a continuation of a process of community consultations between Egyptian and Arab civil society organizations, which sought to identify priority issues and formulate joint demands. This in itself is an important value; Because one of the problems that limit the influence of civil society on international issues is the dispersion of efforts, the multiplicity of initiatives, and the absence of collective positions capable of expressing common interests.

 

Efforts to publicize the statement over two days witnessed communication with 1,808 conference participants. Communication channels included 521 regional and international civil society organizations, including more than 33 international organizations, along with representatives of 138 government delegations and 80 international companies, in addition to sending the statement to the conference secretariat and concerned media outlets. These numbers reflect the amount of effort being made to expand the reach of the statement, but at the same time they raise a more important question: How can this communication be transformed into an actual dialogue, and then into joint positions and partnerships capable of influence?

 

Accessing institutions is not an end in itself, and circulating data does not necessarily mean adopting its content. The true success of this initiative should be measured in the future by the number of institutions that respond to the demands raised, the size of the alliances that can be built, and the extent to which these efforts are reflected in policies, programs, and resources directed to the communities most in need.

 

The importance of the statement also lies in the fact that it re-presents the climate issue from a development and humanitarian perspective, linking it to the rights to food, water, health, work and safe housing. The small farmer whose land productivity is declining as a result of changing climate conditions, the family whose economic burdens are increasing, and coastal communities exposed to risks are not just isolated cases of climate vulnerability, but rather examples of the direct relationship between the climate crisis and the future of development and social protection.

 

From this angle, talking about climate finance becomes more profound than simply demanding increased financial resources. Equitable financing is not only measured by the amount of money pledged by countries and international institutions, but by the extent of its actual reach to the communities most vulnerable to risks, the conditions for obtaining it, and its ability to support adaptation and build resilience without adding unsustainable financial burdens.

 

One issue that deserves special attention is the ability of local NGOs to access climate finance. Many of these organizations have direct knowledge of the needs of communities, and are able to reach groups that are difficult for major programs to deal with effectively, but they face challenges related to technical and administrative capabilities, financing requirements, contracting, and project preparation. Therefore, achieving climate justice is inseparable from building the capabilities of civil society, developing its institutions, and creating more flexible and transparent financing mechanisms that suit the nature of local work.

 

Perhaps this point in particular reveals the importance of the role that specialized institutions can play in developing civil work, including the Arab Center for the Sustainability of Civil Work, whose role should not be viewed as merely providing training services, but rather as a contribution to building a civil sector more capable of participating in development, formulating policies, managing resources, and building coalitions.

 

The responsibility here does not lie with international institutions and governments alone; Civil society is also required to review its tools and priorities. It is no longer sufficient to limit its contribution to environmental awareness campaigns or seasonal activities, despite their importance. Rather, the climate issue must become part of the strategic planning of civil society organizations, and the design of education, health, economic empowerment, agriculture, and social protection projects.

 

Civil society also has other equally important roles, namely monitoring local needs and risks, providing field evidence to decision makers, participating in designing adaptation programs, mobilizing volunteers, supporting community innovation, monitoring the fair distribution of resources and measuring results. Thus, it does not replace the state, but rather becomes a development partner that contributes to improving the efficiency of climate response and linking policies to the needs of citizens.

 

The role of youth in this equation cannot be overlooked. They are not just a target group for awareness programmes, but an energy capable of creating local solutions, developing adaptation initiatives, managing resources and disseminating climate knowledge. It is important for youth participation to shift from attendance at events to actual participation in setting priorities, designing solutions, and evaluating results.

 

An important issue that the statement also raises is the concept of a just transition, which means that the transition towards a lower carbon economy should not take place at the expense of workers, low-income families, or small enterprises. There is no meaning to policies aimed at protecting the environment if at the same time they lead to the exclusion of social groups or burden them with economic burdens beyond their capacity. A successful green transition must be a just development transition that creates opportunities, protects rights, and enhances adaptive capacity.

 

However, uniting the voice of civil society remains a first step, not the end of the road. Real impact requires building ongoing coalitions that go beyond conferences, producing evidence-based policy papers, establishing partnerships between NGOs, universities, the private sector, and government institutions, and establishing clear mechanisms to follow up on demands and measure what is achieved.

 

It is also important that international solidarity does not turn into a mere agreement on slogans; The difference in economic and social conditions between countries imposes a diversity of priorities, and requires building spaces for dialogue that balance common interests and local needs. This is one of the values that civil society can add when it combines field experience with the ability to communicate across borders.

 

What distinguishes the civil society statement on climate justice is that it links the demand for rights and recognition of responsibilities, between fair financing and the need to build capacity, and between international obligations and the right of communities to participate in decisions that affect their future.

 

Therefore, the true value of this initiative will not stop when the statement reaches thousands of participants or the expansion of the circle of institutions that receive it, but rather will be determined by its ability to establish a continuous path of dialogue, coordination and joint action, and to transform demands into implementable initiatives, follow-up and accountability.

 

It has become clear that the future of climate action cannot be created by governments alone, nor can civil society achieve change in isolation from national and international institutions. What is needed is a more balanced partnership that recognizes different responsibilities, invests in available expertise and resources, and gives local communities a real role in creating solutions.

 

Perhaps the most important thing to emerge from the experience of this statement is the realization that civil society will not gain its influence merely by being at the dialogue table, but rather by its ability to present a common vision, represent the actual needs of people, and contribute to transforming decisions into results.

 

Climate justice does not begin in conference halls alone, nor does it end with the signing of agreements. Rather, it is achieved when people in the village, city, and community most exposed to risks feel that international policies, resources, and decisions have made a real difference in their lives.