MAPA- Intersectionality and Climate Justice

When we talk about the climate crisis, we usually see it as a crisis of the future: We must act now to save the future of the next generations. Yet, there are people on this earth who already feel the consequences of this crisis every day. While climate change is expected to affect every part of the world, different social groups and areas will not and already do not experience the climate emergency equally (Reyes & Calderón, 2021; Flores, 2021; Pitò & Comparelli, 2021). Therefore, we must acknowledge the social and geographical dimension of this crisis (Reyes & Calderón, 2021), we must choose an intersectional path to climate justice.

MAPA: Most Affected People and Areas

This is where the importance of the term MAPA arises. MAPA, Most Affected People and Areas, refers to social groups and territories disproportionately impacted by climate change  (Reyes & Calderón, 2021; Pitò & Comparelli, 2021). These communities are the least responsible for the crisis but face the worst consequences already (Reyes & Calderón, 2021; Pitò & Comparelli, 2021). MAPA includes all the territories in the Global South, yet climate Justice Movements like Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion use the term MAPA rather than referring to the Global South. This is due to the fact that the reasons why some people and areas are more impacted by the climate crisis than others is not just caused by geographical factors but also socio-economic factors (Comparelli, 2021). Acknowledging the latter allows for the inclusion of marginalized communities (such as BIPOC, women, LGBTQIA+ people etc) from all around the world in this fight for climate justice (Reyes & Calderón, 2021). Moreover, it can start the conversation about the relationship between the intersection of systematic exploitation and neocolonialism (Comparelli, 2021) and why they are hit the hardest by climate change, as well as how that makes it difficult for MAPA to adapt to the consequences.

MAPA – ignored and silenced

Since MAPA are most impacted by the climate crisis, one might assume that those who suffer less (the ones that initiated and fuelled the climate crisis) listen to MAPA voices to offer them an intersectional approach. Unfortunately, this is not the case. MAPA climate activists – particularly Indigenous communities – often feel unheard (Flores, 2021). They feel ignored and silenced (Flores, 2021). The annual Conference of the Parties (COP) on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate is a textbook example of these dynamics. The actors making the decisions on how to tackle climate change at COP26 were not the ones who are hit hardest by the consequences. Kate Nakamura for Global Citizens writes: “The history of Indigenous participation at COPs throughout the years reflects an ongoing lack of representation at decisive forums for the minority groups responsible for protecting 80% of the world’s biodiversity.” (Nakamura, 2021). Even though the right of indigenous peoples to participate in COPs has been recognized since the conference in 2001, these rights have been ignored and violated since then (Lakhani, 2021). This is also true for COP26 which is due to the fact that their journey to Glasgow was made difficult due to a complicated and exclusive visa application procedure, a geographically unfair distribution of vaccines against COVID-19 and high accommodation and travel costs (Lakhani, 2021). Even if some representatives of the most affected areas could eventually be present in Glasgow, they are still not included in the negotiation. Rather, they were offered a few minutes to give a speech. Txai Suruí, an indigenous climate activist from the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, said "it was great to be able to have a speech during the opening, but I don't want to just be here making speeches. I want to be able to be part of the negotiations and decisions, and this is not happening here." (Collins, 2021).

What can you do?

Firstly, it is important to understand the difference between being voiceless and being unheard. MAPA are unheard, but they have a voice. A white activist must challenge their "white saviour" complex, which often goes hand in hand with the idea of being a “voice to the voiceless” (Tan, 2021). As white activists that are not part of MAPA, we must check our privileges, understand our positionality and decolonize our own activism (Reyes & Calderón, 2021; Pitò & Comparelli, 2021; Tan, 2021). Ask yourself: Does my approach to tackling climate change include everyone? Is it intersectional? We need to show solidarity with MAPA by amplifying their voices, listening to them, stepping back and making space, so they can be heard (Reyes & Calderón, 2021; Pitò & Comparelli, 2021; Tan, 2021). As MAPA activist Txai Suruí said: “Indigenous peoples are on the front line of the climate emergency. We must be at the centre of the decisions happening here.” (Miles, 2021). The same goes for others who are part of MAPA. 

Resources for you

The easiest and most direct way to listen to MAPA and educate yourself about their solutions to tackle climate change is to follow MAPA activists on Instagram. On our Instagram channel (@eleanorgreenoffice) we already introduced some MAPA climate activists (@freewestpapua_int, @indiamiro, @hindououmar, @txaisurui).  Furthermore, MAPA climate activists created their own Instagram account as part of the Fridays for Future (@fridaysforfuturemapa), where you can keep yourself updated. In addition, GREENPEACE published an article where they introduce 12 MAPA climate activists. The article can be found here.

What is the Eleanor Green Office doing?

Our visit at COP26 taught us a lot about the path that we want to choose to tackle the climate crisis. One part of this path is to amplify the voices that are often unheard. We started a series on our Instagram that highlights different MAPA activists from all around the world, which marks the beginning of a hopefully more inclusive approach. Since all the members of the Green Office are white students from Europe, it means that we constantly need to reflect on whether our approach is intersectional. Please note that we are still unlearning, learning, and reflecting. This, however, also means it is a process as we could still make mistakes, hopefully, learn from them and do it better next time. On this journey, we appreciate all the input we can get.

References

Collins, K. (2021, November 5). Climate justice: What it is and how it’s playing a crucial role at COP26. CNET. https://www.cnet.com/news/climate-justice-what-it-is-and-how-its-playing-a-crucial-role-at-cop26/

Flores, G. (2021, December). Meet 12 climate activists changing the world. Greenpeace International. https://www.greenpeace.org/international/story/51612/meet-12-climate-activists-changing-world/

Lakhani, N. (2021, November 4). ‘A continuation of colonialism’: indigenous activists say their voices are missing at Cop26. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/02/cop26-indigenous-activists-climate-crisis

Miles, P. (2021, November 3). Txai Surui ‘The Earth is Speaking’ - Age of Awareness. Medium. https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/txai-surui-the-earth-is-speaking-e7758bd5ca05

Nakamura, K. (2021, November 9). COP26: 5 Indigenous Activists & Movements You Should Know About. Global Citizen. https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/cop26-indigenous-activists-organizations-movements/

Pitò, M., & Comparelli, M. (2021, October 29). CLIMATE JUSTICE AT COP26: Why we need intersectional climate activism. Greens/EFA. https://www.greens-efa.eu/opinions/2021/10/29/climate-justice-at-cop26/

Reyes, M., & Calderón, A. (2021, April 17). What is MAPA and why should we pay attention to it? Fridays For Future. https://fridaysforfuture.org/newsletter/edition-no-1-what-is-mapa-and-why-should-we-pay-attention-to-it/

Tan, M. J. [@mitzijonelle]. (2021, February 22). White Saviourism In the Climate Movement. (Instagram graphics). https://www.instagram.com/p/CLmIdeOHX7A/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

picture: https://opportunitydesk.org/2019/06/27/frida-climate-and-environmental-justice-media-fellowship-2019/