Last Resort, a young association for climate justice, This Thursday he accused the Ministry of the Environment of excluding them from the Portuguese delegation at the United Nations climate conference (COP29)the main international climate forum.
The Last Resort Association’s application for accreditation to participate in COP29, which is taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan, was rejected by the Ministry of Environment and Energyfive days before the start of the congress, “outside the useful period for applying for travel visas,” the Association states in a statement.
According to the organization, the rejection occurred despite attempts at dialogue since June, which included “two meetings, more than 60 calls (90% of which were not answered) and more than 20 informal contacts.”
Lusa has already asked the Ministry of Environment and Energy for clarification and has not received a response.
The association adds that, in August, Last Resort was also left out of the application process to present activities in the Portugal Pavilion, “a space that must be representative of the diversity of voices and approaches in the country.”
The president and founder of the Associação Último Recurso, Mariana Gomes, highlighted in a statement: “The systematic exclusion of young people from these decision-making spaces represents an affront to democratic principles and a violation of the commitments assumed by Portugal in promoting youth participation in climate policies.”
For Mariana Gomes “it is inconceivable that, at a time when the climate crisis demands action and inclusion, the voices most interested in the future are silenced.”
The association highlights that the exclusion decisions “contradict the commitment of the Portuguese Government to include young people in the discussion of the 2025 State Budgetwith environmental education programs in schools and associations and active participation in sustainability projects.”
As a Last Resort, the decision of the Ministry of Environment and Energy is limiting the participation of young people in international forums, where decisions about the future are made, which, according to the statement, shows that “participation is also necessary in the processes of decision and is not guaranteed.” .”
The 29th Conference of the Parties, which will take place between November 11 and 22 in Azerbaijan, is one of the main events in the global fight against climate change.
The Association highlighted that in 2023 The Portuguese delegation was made up of two representatives from Galp and two from PRF Gás Solutions.companies linked to fossil fuels, “on the other hand, Último Recurso, an independent voice committed to climate justice, was left out [em 2024].”
“Forced to join delegations from other countries to participate,” this young delegation will be made up of Mariana Gomes, president and founder of Último Recurso; Bárbara Costa, communication coordinator; Débora Pereira, training and development specialist, and Mariana Fernandes, policy assistant.
Source: Observadora
