Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
At CITES CoP20 High-Level Dialogue, WCS Calls on Governments to Listen to the Science
BRONX, New York, Nov. 24 [Category: Environment] -- The Wildlife Conservation Society issued the following news release:
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At CITES CoP20 High-Level Dialogue, WCS Calls on Governments to Listen to the Science
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SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan - Nov. 24, 2025 - WCS's Vice President of International Policy Dr. Susan Lieberman delivered an urgent call-to-action yesterday evening during the High-Level Dialogue on the eve of the opening of the 20th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP20) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Invited
... Show Full Article
BRONX, New York, Nov. 24 [Category: Environment] -- The Wildlife Conservation Society issued the following news release:
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At CITES CoP20 High-Level Dialogue, WCS Calls on Governments to Listen to the Science
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SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan - Nov. 24, 2025 - WCS's Vice President of International Policy Dr. Susan Lieberman delivered an urgent call-to-action yesterday evening during the High-Level Dialogue on the eve of the opening of the 20th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP20) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Invitedto speak alongside governmental ministers and other high level officials from around the world, Lieberman stressed that decisions taken at CoP20 will be pivotal for wildlife threatened by unsustainable trade, climate change, habitat loss, and ecosystem degradation. She urged CITES Parties to stand firmly with science, apply the precautionary principle, and recommit to multilateral cooperation.
During the dialogue, Lieberman joined global ministers in highlighting the solutions needed to ensure that the trade in flora and fauna is legal and sustainable, consistent with international obligations. She emphasized that effective action under CITES is essential to protect ecosystems, uphold community rights, and maintain ecological integrity across the planet.
Lieberman also underscored WCS's more than 125 years of scientific and conservation expertise, noting the organization's work in over 50 countries with governments, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, academia, and other partners to advance the protection of wildlife and wild places.
Below is the full statement delivered by Dr. Susan Lieberman:
Thank you very much, CITIES colleagues, and friends.
I'm deeply honored to have been invited to speak by the organizers and the government of Uzbekistan today.
I'm also very thrilled to be back in Samarkand.
If you don't know WCS, we work in more than 50 countries with our partners, including governemtns (including here in Central Asia), Indigenous Peoples, academia, local communities, and others. We provide scientific, technical input, and we work with our partners on the ground for the conservation of wildlife and wild places.
We've been doing this work for more than 125 years. Our positions here at CITES are based on the knowledge and the experience of our scientists and experts around the globe.
CITES is a conservation treaty that deals with the threat of trade, but there are many other threats. If we can combat trade, as well as the threats of habitat loss, habitat deterioration and climate changewe can give species a chance.
It is vital to remember the precautionary principle. When in doubt, act in the best interest of the species. The data may not be perfect, but for species such as the okapi, hyena, iguana, eels, saiga, sharks, and others under consideration at this meeting, it's clear what is needed to curb the harmful impacts of trade. We need to give species a fighting chance.
Governments must be able to properly manage the trade and have the resources and the political supportso they can be assured through sound science that trade is not only legal and biologically sustainable, but also does not harm local communities or their cultural heritage. In our experience, in many countries, Indigenous Peoples and their cultures, their tenure and their rights are often harmed by the taking of their wildlife for international trade.
On a personal note, this is my 14th CITES COP, and I've been doing this 38 years. There are species in the wild and ecosystems that are functioning because of decisions taken by the CITES Parties and actions to implement those decisions. I can only speak on behalf of my organization, but I know many other NGOs would agree: Please consider precaution and science, and provide the needed protection at this meeting to sharks, rays, okapi, eel, hyenas, and so many more species.
Today, in times of economic crisis and political pressures, I urge you to stand up for wildlife and to stand up for multilateralism. To governments in the Global North, I know it's hard, but we urge you to prioritize funding for biodiversity. We appreciate many statements made thus far. That includes funding for implementing, enforcing, and complying with CITES.
To governments in the Global South, I know it's hard as well. We urge you, and we commit to work with you, to protect your patrimony, to protect your rich biodiversity, and prioritize getting the science right, and to prioritize compliance.
Of course, our planet, all species, and humanity need functioning, resilient, high integrity ecosystems on land, fresh water, and in the ocean for the sake of our planet, our health, and our future.
In conclusion, all of us at WCS wish you a successful COP, renewed commitment to conservation, and renewed commitment to the core principles of multilateralism.
Thank you very much.
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Original text here: https://newsroom.wcs.org/News-Releases/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/25637/At-CITES-CoP20-High-Level-Dialogue-WCS-Calls-on-Governments-to-Listen-to-the-Science.aspx
CAIR Maryland Welcomes Sen. Van Hollen's Call for Release of Florida Teen from Israeli Detention
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 [Category: Sociological] -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:
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CAIR Maryland Welcomes Sen. Van Hollen's Call for Release of Florida Teen from Israeli Detention
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Civil Rights Group Urges Sen. Alsobrooks, Other Members of Congress to Break Silence, Bring Him Home
The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen's (D-MD) urgent public call for the immediate release of 16-year-old Palestinian-American
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 [Category: Sociological] -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:
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CAIR Maryland Welcomes Sen. Van Hollen's Call for Release of Florida Teen from Israeli Detention
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Civil Rights Group Urges Sen. Alsobrooks, Other Members of Congress to Break Silence, Bring Him Home
The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen's (D-MD) urgent public call for the immediate release of 16-year-old Palestinian-AmericanMohammed Ibrahim, a Florida teenager currently being held by Israel.
In a recent statement, Senator Van Hollen urged U.S. officials to take swift action to secure Ibrahim's freedom and raised alarm about the teen's prolonged detention, lack of due process, and reported deteriorating health. The senator's call follows growing national concern over the treatment of Palestinian detainees, including children, in Israeli custody.
CAIR Maryland stands with CAIR-Florida as it fights for Ibrahim's release amid reports of increased deaths and abuse of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons.
SEE: CAIR, CAIR-FL Reiterate Call for Israel to Release Florida Teenager After Report Shows Spike in Palestinian Deaths in Israeli Prisons
"We are grateful to Senator Van Hollen for using his voice to demand justice for Mohammed," said CAIR's Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry. "No child should be held without charge, denied access to family, or subjected to inhumane conditions. This is a clear violation of his basic rights and his safety is at immediate risk. Mohammed must be released now."
Ibrahim, who was 15 at the time of his arrest while visiting family in the occupied West Bank, has reportedly been held for months without trial and without consistent contact with his family. Advocates have raised serious concerns about his physical and psychological well-being and the broader pattern of mistreatment of Palestinian minors in Israel's military detention system.
CAIR Maryland is calling on members of the state's congressional delegation, and elected officials nationwide to support Senator Van Hollen's call and to press Israel for Ibrahim's immediate and unconditional release.
"Mohammed should be at home with his family and in school with his peers - not languishing in a prison cell," Chaudry added. "We urge all people of conscience to demand his freedom and to hold our government accountable for protecting the rights of every child."
The civil rights organization urges Maryland residents and Americans nationwide to contact their elected officials and call for urgent intervention to secure Ibrahim's release and to ensure the humane treatment of all detainees, especially minors.
CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062; Wilfredo A. Ruiz, CAIR-Florida Communications Director, (305) 502-6749, wruiz@cair.com; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-maryland-welcomes-sen-van-hollens-call-for-release-of-florida-teen-from-israeli-detention/
Analysis: Sustainable Diets Missing From Nearly 99% of Climate Media Coverage
NEW YORK, Nov. 24 [Category: Biology] (TNSrpt) -- The Center for Biological Diversity posted the following news release:
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Analysis: Sustainable Diets Missing From Nearly 99% of Climate Media Coverage
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Climate scientists identify reducing meat consumption as a critical climate strategy, but it appears in just 1.2% of climate journalism, according to new research released today by the Center for Biological Diversity and Brighter Green.
Missing Ingredients: How Agriculture and Diet Get Overlooked in Media Coverage of Climate Change assessed more than 10,000 articles from U.S. media outlets
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Nov. 24 [Category: Biology] (TNSrpt) -- The Center for Biological Diversity posted the following news release:
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Analysis: Sustainable Diets Missing From Nearly 99% of Climate Media Coverage
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Climate scientists identify reducing meat consumption as a critical climate strategy, but it appears in just 1.2% of climate journalism, according to new research released today by the Center for Biological Diversity and Brighter Green.
Missing Ingredients: How Agriculture and Diet Get Overlooked in Media Coverage of Climate Change assessed more than 10,000 articles from U.S. media outletsabout climate change over the past three years and found terms related to dietary shifts appeared in only 1.2%, or 115 articles, of the coverage. The broader themes of animal agriculture or meat appeared in only 3.2%, or 343 of the articles, despite the sector being responsible for 19% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Coverage would have to increase sixfold to accurately reflect the proportion of animal agriculture's responsibility for the climate crisis.
"It's no wonder so many people think food isn't a big climate issue when it's absent from almost every news story they click on," said Stephanie Feldstein, population and sustainability director at the Center for Biological Diversity. "The meat and dairy industries have been enjoying their time in the shadows for too long. The media needs to shine a light on their role in driving the climate crisis and the need for policy action."
The articles were also analyzed to determine the quality of coverage. Stories often discussed the impacts of climate change on farmers and farmworkers without identifying the animal agriculture industry as a source of greenhouse gas emissions. The reality of animal agriculture as both cause and victim of the climate crisis was rarely addressed.
"Understanding the industry's climate impact is crucial for public awareness and action. It's a big story that ought to be told more often," said Mia MacDonald, executive director of Brighter Green. "Not only are meat, dairy and feedcrops responsible for more emissions than the global transport sector, animal agriculture is a leading cause of deforestation, including in the Amazon where the COP30 climate summit just wrapped up. This means even more emissions and a less hospitable planet for people and animals."
Following more than a decade of advocacy by the global food movement, food and animal agriculture have become a bigger part of the United Nations' annual climate talks. However, action targets for the sector remain limited after COP30 and nearly all countries still fail to adequately address meat and dairy industry emissions, further underscoring the need for informed discussion among policymakers, the public, and the media.
"Big Ag is following in the footsteps of Big Oil when it downplays its climate impact," said Alexandra Tey, an independent journalist who led the research effort. "Climate journalists have published excellent reporting on how the energy industry suppressed evidence of climate change, but we're still missing out on compelling stories by overlooking food issues."
The report calls on journalists to improve climate coverage by covering animal agriculture stories that the data show are overlooked, remaining accountable to science, and calling out livestock industry greenwashing.
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REPORT: https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/population_and_sustainability/pdfs/2025-media-landscape-analysis.pdf?_gl=1*1mk2ap2*_gcl_au*NTUyMTM1MjYuMTc2NDAzNjQxMw..
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Original text here: https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/analysis-sustainable-diets-missing-from-nearly-99-of-climate-media-coverage-2025-11-24/
CAIR in the News, November 24, 2025
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 [Category: Sociological] -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:
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CAIR in the News, November 24, 2025
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Video: CAIR-MN, Muslim Community Leaders Hold Press Conference on Somali TPS Termination
CAIR: Gov. Greg Abbott's campaign against Muslim group faces challenges under Texas and federal law - Houston Public Radio
"This lawsuit argues that Governor Abbott has violated due process, violated the First Amendment, and also misused Texas law in order to silence dissent in violation of the Constitution," said Edward Ahmed Mitchell,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24 [Category: Sociological] -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:
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CAIR in the News, November 24, 2025
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Video: CAIR-MN, Muslim Community Leaders Hold Press Conference on Somali TPS Termination
CAIR: Gov. Greg Abbott's campaign against Muslim group faces challenges under Texas and federal law - Houston Public Radio
"This lawsuit argues that Governor Abbott has violated due process, violated the First Amendment, and also misused Texas law in order to silence dissent in violation of the Constitution," said Edward Ahmed Mitchell,CAIR's national deputy director.
Abbott has been targeting Muslim organizations in Texas for months. Earlier this year, he sued to stop the construction of EPIC City, a proposed Muslim housing development in the Dallas area, accusing it of trying to impose Sharia law. Several investigations are still ongoing. CAIR itself has said that Muslims may look to Sharia law for personal religious practice, but Sharia does not override U.S. or state law.
Mitchell says Abbott's actions are increasing the risk of violence against CAIR's employees and Texas Muslims in general.
"Greg Abbott's anti-Muslim bigotry now turned into government policy is endangering the safety of Texas Muslims," Mitchell said. "Just yesterday, our staff in Texas had to receive security protection from Texas law enforcement because an anti-Muslim extremist showed up at a public hearing and demanded to know where the CAIR officials were. He was hunting down CAIR officials."
CAIR-MN: Potluck put on in support of Somali community after Trump's call to end TPS - KARE 11
CAIR-MN: Somali community in Minnesota voices concerns about the loss of Temporary Protected Status - KSTP
CAIR-FL: USF prayer disruption leads to felony, hate-crime allegations against three men - WTSP
CAIR-FL: USF prayer disruption leads to felony, hate-crime allegations against three men - KEN5
CAIR: 'Stand with us': Muslim students call on USF for a stronger response after prayer harassment - The Oracle
CAIR: Imam Jamil Al-Amin, Civil Rights Icon, Dead at 82 - Complex
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-in-the-news-november-24-2025/
Brazil: Ensure Justice for Children Killed in Flamengo Fire
NEW YORK, Nov. 24 [Category: International] -- Human Rights Watch posted the following news:
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Brazil: Ensure Justice for Children Killed in Flamengo Fire
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(Rio de Janeiro) - Reports that alleged systemic failures at Brazil's top football club led to the deaths of 10 child athletes in a fire in 2019 raise critical questions about safeguarding and accountability in Brazilian sport, the Sport & Rights Alliance said today.
The acquittal of senior Flamengo club officials on October 21, 2025, was devastating and contradicts evidence of Flamengo's failure to protect the athletes, victims'
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Nov. 24 [Category: International] -- Human Rights Watch posted the following news:
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Brazil: Ensure Justice for Children Killed in Flamengo Fire
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(Rio de Janeiro) - Reports that alleged systemic failures at Brazil's top football club led to the deaths of 10 child athletes in a fire in 2019 raise critical questions about safeguarding and accountability in Brazilian sport, the Sport & Rights Alliance said today.
The acquittal of senior Flamengo club officials on October 21, 2025, was devastating and contradicts evidence of Flamengo's failure to protect the athletes, victims'groups said. The Rio de Janeiro Public Prosecutor's Office has filed an appeal.
For at least four years before the fire, media reported, Flamengo defied local regulations, received multiple fines, and was even sued by state prosecutors in 2015 for poor treatment and substandard living quarters for its youth academy players. In February 2019, five days after the deadly fire, a judge determined that Flamengo had failed to address the suit's demands and issued an injunction prohibiting children and adolescents from entering the facility. After renewed inspections demonstrating the clubs' compliance with regulations, in June 2019, the judge allowed the facilities to reopen and closed the civil case.
"The reports of the academy conditions at Flamengo - the most popular and profitable football club in Brazil - are incredibly alarming," said Andrea Florence, executive director of the Sport & Rights Alliance. "Despite being sued for child protection failures years before the fire, the club was allegedly operating without basic fire permits and housing child athletes in highly flammable containers, with critical structural defects. As Brazil gears up to host the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup, this case serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to strengthen safe sport measures in the country."
The Associated Press and the New York Times have published detailed allegations of systemic negligence at the facility, which they alleged may have created a death trap for the 10 children, ages 14 to 16, at the Ninho do Urubu academy. As portrayed in a 2024 documentary miniseries from Netflix, the young players were reportedly housed in combustible, temporary containers in a parking lot, with bars on the windows.
The Sport & Rights Alliance wrote to Clube de Regatas do Flamengo on November 12 requesting a response to questions. The club has not responded.
"The fire at Flamengo is not just a tragic accident; it reflects the grave consequences of widespread exploitation and substandard care of youth talent in football academy systems in some parts of the world," said Alex Phillips, secretary general at FIFPRO, the global football players' union. "The global industry of elite football depends on young players whose safety is entrusted to academies and clubs such as Flamengo. A failure to achieve justice in this case is a setback for young player safety in Brazil and beyond."
In October, Brazilian news outlets reported that footage taken by a journalist, Renata Mendonca, exposes precarious conditions of the Flamengo professional women's team training center. The video shows broken floors, container locker rooms with brown tap water, and a lack of adequate physiotherapy and gym infrastructure. Flamengo has yet to comment on the situation.
"If these allegations are true, the Brazilian government needs to ensure that the club is held accountable for severe negligence and appalling conditions for its youth and women players," said Minky Worden, director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch. "The families of the victims at Ninho do Urubu have fought tirelessly over the past six years for justice and reform. The global sporting community should listen and act now to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again."
The Alliance stands in full solidarity with the Association of Relatives of Victims of the Ninho do Urubu Fire (Afavinu), who released a statement after the court's decision highlighting a profound "affront to the memory of the victims and to the feelings of society as a whole." Families who entrust their children to football academies like Flamengo should be able to trust that not only their training and talent but their safety, accommodations, and human rights are respected and protected, the Alliance said.
In November 2024, Brazil passed a bill requiring sports entities receiving public funding to adopt and respect safeguarding measures, noting that strengthened protections for child and women athletes would be its "legacy" as host of the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.
To pursue this legacy, Brazilian government and sports authorities should also ensure justice and remedy for the families of the young Flamengo athletes, and work together to set up an independent national safe sport entity tasked to monitor and receive safeguarding complaints. The right to safety for child and women athletes is nonnegotiable, and sporting organizations have responsibility to protect all in their care.
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Original text here: https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/11/24/brazil-ensure-justice-for-children-killed-in-flamengo-fire
At CITES COP20, Governments Face Last Chance to Prevent Extinction of Whale Sharks, Manta Rays, and More
BRONX, New York, Nov. 24 [Category: Environment] -- The Wildlife Conservation Society issued the following news release:
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At CITES COP20, Governments Face Last Chance to Prevent Extinction of Whale Sharks, Manta Rays, and More
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SAMARKAND, UZBEKISTAN (Nov 24, 2025) - As the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP20) opens today, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is urging governments to act decisively to halt the accelerating collapse of global shark and ray populations.
More than 37% of all shark and ray species are now threatened with extinction. For species
... Show Full Article
BRONX, New York, Nov. 24 [Category: Environment] -- The Wildlife Conservation Society issued the following news release:
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At CITES COP20, Governments Face Last Chance to Prevent Extinction of Whale Sharks, Manta Rays, and More
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SAMARKAND, UZBEKISTAN (Nov 24, 2025) - As the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP20) opens today, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is urging governments to act decisively to halt the accelerating collapse of global shark and ray populations.
More than 37% of all shark and ray species are now threatened with extinction. For speciesin international trade, that risk nearly doubles, and new genetic testing from major markets shows far more shark products in circulation than appear in official CITES records, revealing pervasive illegal and unreported trade. Globally, populations of pelagic sharks living on the high seas have collapsed by over 70% in just 50 years, and reef sharks are now functionally extinct on one in five coral reefs surveyed worldwide. Without immediate, coordinated action, many species will disappear entirely.
The proposals before Parties this month - co-sponsored by more than 50 governments - represent the most comprehensive suite of shark and ray protections ever brought to the Convention. Those include proposals for:
* Appendix I: Oceanic whitetip shark; all manta and devil rays; whale shark
* Zero export quotas: All wedgefish and giant guitarfish species
* Appendix II: Gulper sharks; smoothhound and tope sharks
Adoption would bring nearly the entire global fin trade and the majority of shark meat trade under CITES control.
Said Luke Warwick, Director of WCS Shark & Ray Conservation: "CoP20 is a test of global will. Species like oceanic whitetip sharks, manta rays, and whale sharks cannot withstand commercial trade. The science is unequivocal, and the tools and support to implement CITES already exist for governments once listings pass. CITES Parties must act before these animals disappear from our oceans entirely."
The proposed actions would also align CITES with the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and all major tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations, which already prohibit retention of many of these species. Free ID guides, genetic tools, and enforcement resources are available to governments to support rapid implementation.
Said Dr. Susan Lieberman, WCS Vice President of International Policy: "Recent science shows that we are quickly approaching a conservation tipping point for sharks and rays. We are running out of time to enact and enforce global measures that will prevent widespread extinctions. These proposed listings bring CITES in line with other global commitments and send a clear signal that the world intends to protect these amazing sharks and rays before it is too late. This is how we turn the tide."
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The CITES Appendices
Appendices I, II and III to the Convention are lists of species afforded different levels or types of protection from over-exploitation (see How CITES works)
Appendix I lists species that are the most endangered among CITES-listed animals and plants (see Article II, paragraph 1 of the Convention). They are threatened with extinction and CITES prohibits international trade in specimens of these species except when the purpose of the import is not commercial (see Article III), for instance for scientific research. In these exceptional cases, trade may take place provided it is authorized by the granting of both an import permit and an export permit (or re-export certificate). Article VII of the Convention provides for a number of exemptions to this general prohibition.
Appendix II lists species that are not necessarily now threatened with extinction but that may become so unless trade is closely controlled. It also includes so-called "look-alike species", i.e. species whose specimens in trade look like those of species listed for conservation reasons (see Article II, paragraph 2 of the Convention). International trade in specimens of Appendix-II species may be authorized by the granting of an export permit or re-export certificate. No import permit is necessary for these species under CITES (although a permit is needed in some countries that have taken stricter measures than CITES requires). Permits or certificates should only be granted if the relevant authorities are satisfied that certain conditions are met, above all that trade will not be detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild. (See Article IV of the Convention)
Appendix III is a list of species included at the request of a Party that already regulates trade in the species and that needs the cooperation of other countries to prevent unsustainable or illegal exploitation (see Article II, paragraph 3, of the Convention). International trade in specimens of species listed in this Appendix is allowed only on presentation of the appropriate permits or certificates. (See Article V of the Convention)
Species may be added to or removed from Appendix I and II, or moved between them, only by the Conference of the Parties, either at its regular meetings or by postal procedures (see Article XV of the Convention). But species may be added to or removed from Appendix III at any time and by any Party unilaterally (although the Conference of the Parties has recommended that changes be timed to coincide with amendments to Appendices I and II).
The names of species in the Appendices may be annotated to qualify the listing. For example, separate populations of a species may have different conservation needs and be included in different Appendices (e.g. the wolf populations included in Appendix I are only those of Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan, whereas all others are included in Appendix II). Such specifications can appear next to the species name or in the Interpretation section. For this reason, the Appendices should always be consulted alongside the Interpretation with which they are presented.
Additionally, the CITES Secretariat has prepared in consultation with the Standing Committee a Guidance for the publication of the Appendices in order to support the Secretariat in publishing the Appendices and assist those Parties that incorporate the amendments to the Appendices directly into their national legislation.
Parties may enter reservations with respect to any species listed in the Appendices in accordance with the provisions of Articles XV, XVI or XXIII of the Convention.
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Original text here: https://newsroom.wcs.org/News-Releases/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/25635/At-CITES-COP20-Governments-Face-Last-Chance-to-Prevent-Extinction-of-Whale-Sharks-Manta-Rays-and-More.aspx
CAIR, CAIR-Georgia Extend Condolences After Imam Jamil Al-Amin Passes Away in Prison for Crime He Did Not Commit
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 [Category: Sociological] -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:
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CAIR, CAIR-Georgia Extend Condolences After Imam Jamil Al-Amin Passes Away in Prison for Crime He Did Not Commit
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Muslim civil rights and advocacy group calls on Fulton County DA to vacate conviction for the crime Otis Jackson has admitted committing
The Georgia chapter and national headquarters of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today extended condolences to the family of civil
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 [Category: Sociological] -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:
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CAIR, CAIR-Georgia Extend Condolences After Imam Jamil Al-Amin Passes Away in Prison for Crime He Did Not Commit
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Muslim civil rights and advocacy group calls on Fulton County DA to vacate conviction for the crime Otis Jackson has admitted committing
The Georgia chapter and national headquarters of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today extended condolences to the family of civilrights icon Imam Jamil Al-Amin, formerly known as H. Rap Brown, who passed away in prison today after spending 23 years in jail for a crime he did not commit.
CAIR and CAIR-Georgia also reiterated their past call on the Fulton County District Attorney's Conviction Integrity Unity to complete the review of wrongful conviction and clear his name. CAIR also condemned the federal prison service for failing to properly treat Imam Al-Amin's cancer. CAIR and others had repeatedly warned the Bureau of Prisons that his health was deteriorating.
In 2002, amid both procedural and evidentiary irregularities, Imam Jamil Al-Amin was wrongly convicted for the murder of a Fulton County Sheriff's Deputy and injury of another deputy, crimes he denied committing. Since then, the real shooter, federal inmate Otis Jackson, has repeatedly and credibly confessed under oath to committing the crime.
The Fulton County District Attorney's Conviction Integrity Unit had opened an investigation into his case and interviewed Jackson, but still had not called for the vacation of Imam Al-Amin's conviction despite clear evidence of his innocence.
During the Civil Rights Movement, Imam Al-Amin made his name on the front lines of the civil rights movement as a leader of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee. Then known as H. Rap Brown, he was engaged in the fight against state sanctioned discrimination and racism. He later converted to Islam and became an imam. As the leader of Atlanta's West End neighborhood, Imam Al-Amin led many African-Americans to Islam while pushing drug use and crime out of the local community.
Imam Al-Amin was initially held in state custody after his wrongful conviction, but in an unprecedented move, was transferred to federal custody under the guise of security concerns when it reality a major reason was that many inmates in Georgia prisons were embracing Islam as a result of interacting with him.
In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
"To God we belong and to Him we return. Imam Jamil Al-Amin was a hero of the civil rights movement and a victim of injustice who passed away in a prison, jailed for a crime he did not commit. We pray that God rewards him with paradise for his good deeds and the injustices he suffered. We call on the justice system to reopen Imam Jamil's case and clear his name. He deserves to be fully exonerated. We pray that God grants his family solace and justice."
END
CONTACT : CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-cair-georgia-extend-condolences-after-imam-jamil-al-amin-passes-away-in-prison-for-crime-he-did-not-commit/
R Street Institute: 'From Victim to Defendant: How Justice Falls Short for Women'
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The R Street Institute issued a policy study on Oct. 28, 2025 by Sarah Anderson and Lisel Petis entitled "From Victim to Defendant: How Justice Falls Short for Women".
Here is the executive summary:
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Far too often, when a woman meets the justice system, it is first as a victim of violence and later as a defendant charged with criminal activity. As victims, it is not uncommon for women to find their voices lost in the criminal justice discussion. As defendants, relevant context, including trauma, coercion, and the fight to survive, is rarely considered in
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The R Street Institute issued a policy study on Oct. 28, 2025 by Sarah Anderson and Lisel Petis entitled "From Victim to Defendant: How Justice Falls Short for Women".
Here is the executive summary:
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Far too often, when a woman meets the justice system, it is first as a victim of violence and later as a defendant charged with criminal activity. As victims, it is not uncommon for women to find their voices lost in the criminal justice discussion. As defendants, relevant context, including trauma, coercion, and the fight to survive, is rarely considered incourtrooms--especially in cases of self-defense, substance misuse, and human trafficking. This lack of acknowledgment leaves women doubly failed: They are denied justice when harmed, and they are punished harshly if victimization later shapes their actions.
The rapid increase of women in the justice system over the past 40 years has exposed how poorly equipped current policies are to respond to the realities of women's experiences and specific needs. Traditional reforms have focused on men in the justice system, overlooking that women's pathways into the system are frequently rooted in abuse, caregiving pressures, and economic instability. By failing to recognize the distinct needs of women, the system has expanded incarceration without improving public safety or addressing the underlying drivers of women's involvement in the justice system.
This policy paper explores women's involvement with the justice system in three primary contexts: as victims, as defendants, and as both. Across these forms of justice system involvement, common themes emerge: low reporting and conviction rates for gender-based violence; rising rates of female incarceration tied to poverty, substance misuse, and punitive policies; and persistent issues in offering effective approaches for victim-defendants (i.e., those whose criminal behavior stems from abuse). The result is a system that broadly fails to deliver safety, fairness, or legitimacy.
Key Policy Recommendations:
* Strengthen victims' rights and recourse by enacting notification laws, guaranteeing rights to proceedings, training system practitioners in trauma-informed approaches, and expanding the availability of victim-centered alternatives to prosecution
* Improve justice for female defendants by integrating gender-responsive programming and reentry practices, providing access to gender-specific health supplies and services, adopting clear policies and oversight around pregnancies, and investing in specialized courts
* Protect and support victim-defendants by granting victim immunity, passing survivor justice laws, adjusting mandatory arrest laws and laws meant to prevent sexual abuse in carceral settings, and training criminal justice professionals in trauma-informed practices
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View full policy study at: https://www.rstreet.org/research/from-victim-to-defendant-how-justice-falls-short-for-women/
[Category: ThinkTank]
R Street Institute: 'Case Studies: Examining Right-to-Contraception State-Level Legislative Processes'
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The R Street Institute issued a policy study on Nov. 6, 2025 by Chelsea Boyd entitled "Case Studies: Examining Right-to-Contraception State-Level Legislative Processes".
Here is the introduction:
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Empowering individuals to decide whether, when, and how they will start a family can benefit maternal and infant health, as well as women's economic security. Contraceptives are a key tool for reliably preventing pregnancy until it is desired. Multiple methods of contraception are available, each with its own set of benefits and drawbacks, some of which affect
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The R Street Institute issued a policy study on Nov. 6, 2025 by Chelsea Boyd entitled "Case Studies: Examining Right-to-Contraception State-Level Legislative Processes".
Here is the introduction:
* * *
Empowering individuals to decide whether, when, and how they will start a family can benefit maternal and infant health, as well as women's economic security. Contraceptives are a key tool for reliably preventing pregnancy until it is desired. Multiple methods of contraception are available, each with its own set of benefits and drawbacks, some of which affecteffectiveness. Although methods like withdrawal, condoms, and fertility tracking have been used to prevent pregnancy throughout history, the introduction of hormonal contraceptive pills in 1960 provided a much more reliable method. Since then, many other forms of hormonal and non-hormonal contraceptives have been developed, including intrauterine devices (IUDs), implants, patches, rings, injections, and emergency contraceptive pills.
Recent surveys indicate that contraceptives are both widely used and broadly accepted. In one survey of women ages 18 to 49, 82 percent reported that it was very or somewhat important that they avoid pregnancy in the next month, and another found that more than 99 percent of women who have ever had sex with a male partner reported using contraceptives at some point in their lives. Even when narrowing the definition of contraception to include only hormonal forms and the copper IUD, the vast majority of sexually experienced women (87.8 percent) reported using them. Furthermore, surveys consistently show that the vast majority of Americans view contraception as morally acceptable.
Despite broad use and support, contraception has become a political point of contention since 2022, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Although this decision did not explicitly impact access to contraception, Justice Clarence Thomas' concurring opinion suggested that the court was open to reconsidering Griswold v. Connecticut, the case that established the right to contraceptive use for married couples in 1965. This suggestion spurred some states to enact legislation to safeguard their residents' right to contraception. Each year since 2022, similar legislation has been introduced at the federal level, with one bill passing the House but not the Senate.
Public opinion underscores the policy stakes: Polling suggests that 21 percent of American adults consider access to contraception a "threatened right," and 34 percent are not sure whether it is secure, giving legislators good reason to consider codifying contraception rights.
Even with widespread public backing, right-to-contraception bills often stall in state legislatures. This paper explores the reasons for that disconnect by examining the legislative discourse related to these bills with the goal of providing insights to guide legislative efforts and strategies toward more successful bills. The following sections discuss the context of the bills, first outlining the supportive messages, followed by the oppositional messages expressed during hearings. This study concludes with suggestions for future legislative efforts toward establishing the right to contraception.
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View full policy study at: https://www.rstreet.org/research/case-studies-examining-right-to-contraception-state-level-legislative-processes/
[Category: ThinkTank]
Millions at Risk: Malawi Extends State of Disaster as Food Crisis Deepens
MONROVIA, California, Nov. 22 -- World Vision International issued the following news on Nov. 21, 2025:
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Millions at Risk: Malawi Extends State of Disaster as Food Crisis Deepens
The Government of Malawi has extended the State of Disaster declaration to all 28 district councils and four city councils, as the nation braces for a worsening food security crisis.
By Fyson Masina
Initially declared in October for 11 districts, the disaster status now covers the entire country following projections that more than four million people are at risk of hunger between October 2025 and March 2026.
... Show Full Article
MONROVIA, California, Nov. 22 -- World Vision International issued the following news on Nov. 21, 2025:
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Millions at Risk: Malawi Extends State of Disaster as Food Crisis Deepens
The Government of Malawi has extended the State of Disaster declaration to all 28 district councils and four city councils, as the nation braces for a worsening food security crisis.
By Fyson Masina
Initially declared in October for 11 districts, the disaster status now covers the entire country following projections that more than four million people are at risk of hunger between October 2025 and March 2026.This alarming development underscores the urgent need for coordinated humanitarian assistance.
In a statement signed by Chief Secretary Justin Saidi, the government reaffirmed its commitment to supporting affected communities and appealed to both domestic and international partners for immediate assistance. Efforts are currently underway to deliver emergency food aid and other essential resources to vulnerable households.
To mitigate the long-term impacts of recurring food shortages, the government has also announced plans to scale up irrigation farming in affected areas. This initiative aims to strengthen community resilience and reduce reliance on rain-fed agriculture.
World Vision is working alongside the government and partners to respond to this crisis. Your support can help provide life-saving food assistance, clean water, and agricultural inputs to families in need.
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Original text here: https://www.wvi.org/newsroom/malawi/millions-risk-malawi-extends-state-disaster-food-crisis-deepens
[Category: Sociological]
Mexico's 2026 Tax Reform Targets U.S. Businesses With Discriminatory Taxes and Compliance Hurdles
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- Americans for Tax Reform posted the following commentary:
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Mexico's 2026 Tax Reform Targets U.S. Businesses with Discriminatory Taxes and Compliance Hurdles
By Caden Hubbs
The Mexican Government's recently released tax reform proposal "Paquete Economico 2026", under the guise of fiscal responsibility, broadly expands Mexico's indirect tax policies to disproportionately harm American companies. These taxes would place a heavy burden on American digital service providers operating in Mexico due to their high rates and unreasonable compliance requirements, many of which
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 -- Americans for Tax Reform posted the following commentary:
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Mexico's 2026 Tax Reform Targets U.S. Businesses with Discriminatory Taxes and Compliance Hurdles
By Caden Hubbs
The Mexican Government's recently released tax reform proposal "Paquete Economico 2026", under the guise of fiscal responsibility, broadly expands Mexico's indirect tax policies to disproportionately harm American companies. These taxes would place a heavy burden on American digital service providers operating in Mexico due to their high rates and unreasonable compliance requirements, many of whichdiscriminatorily target foreign companies with additional conditions to continue operating in Mexican markets.
The proposal is intended to expand Mexico's tax base to encompass the digital economy. To accomplish this, the proposal aims to enact three key changes: expanding private market responsibilities to withhold value-added tax (VAT), additional withholding requirements on income, and an 8% excise tax on "violent" video games. Combined, these policies stand to shift the burden of tax administration onto the private sector while raising the cost of digital transactions.
The wording of the legislation was explicitly designed to disproportionately burden American companies. The proposal will require digital marketplaces to withhold 50% of the VAT collected from online sales and 4% of the associated income tax, unless the seller is from abroad or does not have a Mexican tax code. In that case companies must withhold 100% of the VAT and 20% of the income tax, effectively outsourcing government tax collection to private companies. With the majority of foreign sellers using American platforms, companies like Amazon are expected to be disproportionately burdened by these changes.
Additionally, the proposed 8% excise tax on video games uses the long-debunked justification of to target American companies. By claiming the negative effects of video games, Mexico is attempting to raise its revenues off of digital services. Included in the law is an assumption that 70% of the content libraries of subscription services that offer games such as Xbox Game Pass, Netflix Mobile Games, and Apple Arcade are taxable, again expecting these platforms shoulder 100% of the collection burden while doing no diligence to properly confirm the proportion of their libraries eligible for the tax.
What started as a tax on games has turned into a full-scale digital service tax, such as those across the EU. While mirroring those of other trading partners, Mexico's goes even further to discriminatorily target businesses.
The majority of digital marketplaces and service providers are American. The proportion of foreign sellers using these American platforms is even higher. This means American companies, with a higher portion of foreign sellers, are more impacted by the Mexican government's discriminatory distinction between withholding responsibilities for domestic and foreign sellers. In effect, this policy raises the cost of American products while burdening American companies, meanwhile leaving those in Mexico relatively unaffected.
Mexico's thinly veiled attempt to implement a digital service tax must not go unopposed. Digital service taxes act as discriminatory, non-tariff barriers, targeting sectors American tech companies operate in with large levies and unreasonable compliance responsibilities. For the sake of reciprocal trade and fair competition, such policies conflict with the USMCA's nondiscrimination principles, undermining the North American trade relationship.
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Original text here: https://atr.org/mexicos-2026-tax-reform-targets-u-s-businesses-with-discriminatory-taxes-and-compliance-hurdles/
[Category: Political]
GreenLatinos Responds to COP30 Outcomes Historic Win on Just Transition, Major Failures on Fossil Fuels and Adaptation
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 [Category: Environment] -- GreenLatinos, an organization that says it convenes a coalition of Latino leaders committed to addressing national, regional and local environmental, natural resources and conservation that affect the health and welfare of the Latino community, issued the following news release:
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GreenLatinos Responds to COP30 Outcomes Historic Win on Just Transition, Major Failures on Fossil Fuels and Adaptation
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Belem, Brazil GreenLatinos joined frontline communities, Indigenous leaders, workers, youth, and civil society allies from across the world at
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 [Category: Environment] -- GreenLatinos, an organization that says it convenes a coalition of Latino leaders committed to addressing national, regional and local environmental, natural resources and conservation that affect the health and welfare of the Latino community, issued the following news release:
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GreenLatinos Responds to COP30 Outcomes Historic Win on Just Transition, Major Failures on Fossil Fuels and Adaptation
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Belem, Brazil GreenLatinos joined frontline communities, Indigenous leaders, workers, youth, and civil society allies from across the world atCOP30. As negotiations wrapped in the heart of the Amazonia, one truth became clear. Movements won a major breakthrough for justice, but governments failed to deliver the full protection and ambition that vulnerable communities urgently need.
Despite the historic absence of the United States and persistent efforts by Global North governments to weaken outcomes, community power reshaped the negotiations. Countries adopted strengthened Just Transition commitments that center people and rights in the global shift away from fossil fuels. This stands as one of the strongest justice focused outcomes in UN climate negotiations to date.
"And just like that, BAM, a victory for Just Transition. Communities arrived at COP30 demanding equity, protection, and inclusion, and we delivered the most ambitious just transition framework yet. The Belem Action Mechanism marks a historic step forward and proves that when communities speak and governments listen, victories follow." Ean Thomas Tafoya, Vice President, GreenLatinos
These commitments reflect years of organizing by workers, Indigenous Peoples, Afro descendant communities, trade unions, and global justice movements. They embed human rights, labor rights, gender equality, youth development, and protections for displaced and marginalized people into the climate transition. They also open the door to new conversations about the financial and structural support needed to move countries off fossil fuels in a fair and orderly way.
However, COP30 ultimately fell short of delivering the full justice package the moment demands.
The outcome on Adaptation finance is dangerously weak. Instead of committing to tripling adaptation finance for vulnerable countries, governments pushed the timeline back to 2035 and avoided meaningful references to the Global Goal on Adaptation. This failure leaves communities already living climate impacts with little hope of receiving the support they need in time.
The final decision also contains no reference to phasing out fossil fuels, despite overwhelming scientific evidence and the calls of more than eighty countries demanding a clear path forward. The refusal of developed countries to provide finance across all areas, including mitigation, the fossil transition, and adaptation, emerged as the defining faultline of COP30 and severely undermined trust in the process.
Process concerns also overshadowed the talks. An alarming 1600 of fossil fuel lobbyists gained access, while many frontline, and indigenous communities faced exclusion from key rooms,. Negotiations increasingly took place behind closed doors, further eroding public trust and transparency.
Still, COP30 made clear that movements are reshaping what is possible. The strengthened Just Transition commitments represent the beginning of a new phase of global climate action, one rooted in rights, equity, and community leadership.
"We celebrate this victory, but we are not fooled," added Meisei Gonzalez, Climate Justice and Clean Air Advocate with GreenLatinos "Justice requires more than recognition. It requires action, resources, and accountability. We will take this momentum home and continue fighting for the full protections our communities deserve."
GreenLatinos will continue working across the United States and Latin America to hold governments accountable, demand real investment in frontline communities, and ensure that the transition off fossil fuels is fair, inclusive, and rooted in justice.
About GreenLatinos
GreenLatinos (NOTE: GreenLatinos is ONE WORD) is an active comunidad of Latino/a/e leaders, emboldened by the power and wisdom of our culture, united to demand equity and dismantle racism, resourced to win our environmental, conservation, and climate justice battles, and driven to secure our political, economic, cultural, and environmental liberation.
GreenLatinos (NOTA: GreenLatinos es UNA PALABRA) es una comunidad activa de lideres latinos/a/e, envalentonados por el poder y la sabiduria de nuestra cultura, unidos para exigir equidad y desmantelar el racismo, con recursos para ganar nuestra justicia ambiental, batallas de conservacion, climaticas e impulsados a asegurar nuestra liberacion politica, economica, cultural y ambiental.
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Original text here: https://www.greenlatinos.org/greenlatinos-responds-to-cop30-outcomes-historic-win-on-just-transition-major-failures-on-fossil-fuels-and-adaptation/
A Decade After Paris, COP30 Fails to Deliver for Communities on the Frontlines of the Climate Crisis
PORTLAND, Oregon, Nov. 22 [Category: Sociological] -- The Mercy Corps posted the following news release:
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A Decade After Paris, COP30 Fails to Deliver for Communities on the Frontlines of the Climate Crisis
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Statement by Debbie Hillier, Mercy Corps UNFCCC Policy Lead:
"COP30 was a failure for the communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Ten years after the Paris Agreement in what was meant to be the 'implementation COP' leaders left Belem, Brazil, without the commitments needed to protect people already living with the devastating consequences of climate change. Despite
... Show Full Article
PORTLAND, Oregon, Nov. 22 [Category: Sociological] -- The Mercy Corps posted the following news release:
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A Decade After Paris, COP30 Fails to Deliver for Communities on the Frontlines of the Climate Crisis
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Statement by Debbie Hillier, Mercy Corps UNFCCC Policy Lead:
"COP30 was a failure for the communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Ten years after the Paris Agreement in what was meant to be the 'implementation COP' leaders left Belem, Brazil, without the commitments needed to protect people already living with the devastating consequences of climate change. Despiterecord-breaking losses, escalating humanitarian need, and clear evidence that adaptation finance is dangerously insufficient, negotiators failed to deliver the scale of action this moment demands.
"Communities facing climate impacts urgently needed COP30 to deliver stronger mitigation ambition, a just transition away from fossil fuels, and most critically a substantial increase in adaptation finance. Instead, the final text made no progress towards transitioning away from fossil fuels, despite countries committing to this two years ago in Dubai. While a global agreement is preferable, Colombia and the Netherlands are showing real leadership by agreeing to co-host the first International Conference on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels. This will be an important space to identify the necessary pathways to phase out fossil fuels, which will be incorporated in a roadmap, to be drafted by Brazil, ahead of COP31.
"If the world fails to reduce emissions and mitigate the crisis, the cost of adaptation will continue to rise, and climate-vulnerable communities will continue to suffer the consequences.
"Adaptation finance is not abstract. It determines whether farmers can protect their crops, whether coastal communities can reinforce shorelines, whether health systems can withstand climate-related disease outbreaks, and whether countries can build resilience rather than lose hard-won development gains.
"While the COP30 outcome includes a new commitment on adaptation finance, it is deeply disappointing. It includes no baseline year, no clarity on the actual target, and no mechanism defining who is responsible for delivering the tripling. It also allows other flows such as concessional loans and private finance, and delays delivery to 2035 far too late for communities already in crisis.
"The adaptation finance pledge was part of a broader package agreed in Belem. COP30 adopted a set of indicators for the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) in theory, a milestone that should enable the world to begin operationalizing the goal and tracking real progress. The new Belem-Addis Vision outlines a path for follow-up, and the Baku Adaptation Roadmap provides an opportunity for countries and stakeholders to shape implementation.
"Yet the indicators themselves were the product of last-minute political bargaining, leaving them difficult to measure and lacking clarity. Most critically, without adequate finance, these indicators cannot translate into real resilience. Countries can monitor and report endlessly, but without resources, communities will not become safer or more prepared.
"COP30 failed to correct the deep structural imbalance in global finance. There was no progress to end fossil fuel subsidies that continue to dwarf climate finance flows, nor to provide the debt justice needed by countries forced to spend more on repayments than protecting people from climate impacts. References to finance for developing countries remain weak and fall short of core principles such as "polluter pays" and common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDR-RC). Without addressing these systemic failures, the world will continue to invest more in driving the climate crisis than in solving it.
"COP30 may have been called the 'implementation COP' or the 'people COP,' but in reality, it failed to turn commitments into action. Ten years after the Paris Agreement, communities cannot afford more empty promises. The signal on adaptation finance is far weaker than what vulnerable communities needed, but momentum for greater ambition remains from civil society, from frontline countries, and from the International Court of Justice, which has underscored states' legal obligations earlier this year.
"The window to deliver urgent climate action is rapidly closing. COP30 did not go far enough, but the fight for a world where vulnerable communities can adapt and thrive must continue."
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Original text here: https://www.mercycorps.org/press-room/releases/COP30-fails-communities-frontlines-climate-crisis