‘A global call for a sustainable world society – before it’s too late’
30 November 2018
Socialist International
‘‘A global call for a sustainable world society – before it’s too late’
Despite the efforts of the United Nations and many governments, international organizations and civil society movements against climate change, recent data prove that if we don’t intensify our action it will be too late.
The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), at its most recent meeting, stated that there is only a dozen years for global warming to be kept to a maximum of 1.5C, beyond which even half a degree will significantly worsen the risks of drought, floods, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people. Urgent and unprecedented changes are needed to reach the target, which is affordable and feasible.
On the eve of the forthcoming COP24, which opens at the beginning of December, we, leaders of the largest global progressive political family, the Socialist International, are launching an appeal to increase multilateral cooperation on this crucial challenge for humankind, and to deploy more intensive action at all levels.
The Socialist International has for years been active in identifying the multi-faceted dimension of the fight against climate change. Through the work of its 'Commission for a Sustainable World Society' the SI has also outlined needed policies, such as a global tax on CO2 (and other greenhouse gases).
We are committed and active in bringing about a revolution in thinking, policies and lifestyles, to address these new challenges. Creating a new paradigm in how we act, how we produce, and how we consume. This mind-shift requires the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to become part of our basic education curriculum, professional training and R&D, as well as our policy decisions.
It is crucial the SDGs be implemented if we are to fight poverty and illiteracy, secure peace, protect human rights, manage population movements, and guarantee just, sustainable societies for generations to come.
Key to the success of this sea-change is social justice, equality and a healthy, cohesive, participative society which respects the dignity of all.
We deplore conservative and populist circles around the world who systematically undermine the efforts to combat climate change. Their motives coincide with the powerful oil and gas industries that vehemently lobby against any regulation that might undercut their profits while protecting the environment. We call on all to oppose conscious efforts to distort scientific facts and minimize the catastrophic risks of global warming.
The Sustainable Development Goals are a cornerstone for a wider Global Social Contract. A Social Contract that can unite our planet’s governments and peoples at a time of heightened discord, through common goals that promote responsible cooperation and regulation.
The social impacts of Climate change are associated with a great number of risks, amongst them, financial risks which need to be assessed in future investment.
Social partners, civil society and citizens need to rise to the challenge of social responsibility, integrating the efforts for low carbon societies into their daily lives.
We call on social partners and civil society to unite in our common efforts to implement the SDGs.
We are committed to be front runners in the fight for a more humane, sustainable planet!
30 November 2018
Signatories
(In alphabetical order)
H.E. Mahmoud Abbas President of Palestine, Chairman of Fatah
Hon. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo Chairman of the National Democratic Congress, NDC, Ghana
Araz Alizade Leader of the Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan, SDPA
Isabel Allende Vice-President of the SI, Senator, Socialist Party, PS, Chile
Almazbek Atambaev Chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan, SDPK
Colette Avital Vice-President of the SI, Meretz, Israel
Luis Ayala Secretary General of the Socialist International
Omar Barboza President of the National Assembly, President of A New Era, UNT, Venezuela
Sükhbaatar Batbold Vice-President of the SI, former Prime Minister of Mongolia, Mongolian People’s Party, MPP
Mustafa Barghouti Leader of the Palestinian National Initiative, PNI
Mohamed Bazoum President of the Party for Democracy and Socialism of Niger, PNDS-Tarayya
Mustafa Ben Jaafar Honorary President of the SI, Ettakatol, Tunisia
Victor Benoit President of the Social Democrat Assembly for the Progress of Haiti, Rasanbleman, Vice-President of the SI
Davor Bernardić President of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Croatia
Rubén Berríos President of the Puerto Rican Independence Party, PIP, Puerto Rico, Honorary President of the SI
Jorge Bom Jesus President of the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Social Democratic Party, MLSTP/PSD
Yury Buzdugan Leader of the Social Democratic Party of Ukraine, SDPU
Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas Honorary President of the SI, Mexico
Carlos César President of the Socialist Party, PS, Portugal, Vice-President of the SI
Ousainou Darboe Leader of the United Democratic Party, UDP, Vice-President of The Gambia
Ahmed Ould Daddah President of the Assembly of Democratic Forces, RFD, Mauritania, Vice-President of the SI
Sher Bahadur Deuba President of the Nepali Congress Party, former Prime Minister of Nepal
Elio Di Rupo President of the Socialist Party, PS, Belgium, Vice-President of the SI, former Prime Minister
Ousmane Tanor Dieng Secretary General of the Socialist Party, PS, Senegal, Vice-President of the SI
Samuel Doria Medina President of the National Unity Party, Bolivia
Mohamed Hadj Djilani First Secretary of the Socialist Forces Front, FFS, Algeria
Colum Eastwood Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, SDLP, Northern Ireland
Álvaro Elizalde President of the Socialist Party, PS, Chile
Turfan Erhürman Leader of the Republican Turkish Party, CTP, Cyprus
Andres Esono Ondo Secretary General of the Convergence for Social Democracy, CPDS, Equatorial Guinea
Elsa Espinoza Vice-President of the SI, Institutional Revolutionary Party, PRI, Mexico
Khelil Ezzaouia President of ETTAKATOL, Tunisia
Olivier Faure First Secretary of the Socialist Party, PS, France
Robert Fico Leader of the Social Democracy Party, SMER, Former Prime Minister of Slovakia
Rafael Filizzola Leader of the Progressive Democratic Party, PDP, Paraguay
Mizuho Fukushima Vice-President of the SI, Social Democratic Party, SDP, Japan
Fofi Gennimata President of the Movement for Change, Greece
Gerardo Giovagnoli Secretary of the Party of Socialists and Democrats, PSD, San Marino
Pedro Miguel González Secretary General of the Democratic Revolutionary Party, PRD, Panama
Ouafa Hajji President of the Socialist International Women
Tarja Halonen Honorary President of the SI, Former President of Finland
Eero Heinäluoma Vice-President of the SI, Finnish Social Democratic Party, SDP, Finland
Janira Hopffer Almada Leader of the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde, PAICV, Vice-President of the SI
Brendan Howlin Leader of the Labour Party, Ireland
Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana Vice-President of the SI, SWAPO Party, Namibia
Bernal Jiménez Vice-President of the SI, National Liberation Party, PLN, Costa Rica
Walid Jumblatt Leader of the Progressive Socialist Party, PSP, Lebanon
H.E. Roch Marc Christian Kaboré President of Burkina Faso, Leader of the People’s Movement for Progress, MPP
Chantal Kambiwa Vice-President of the SI, Social Democratic Front, SDF, Cameroon
H.E. Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta President of Mali
Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh Prime Minister of Mongolia, Chairman of the Mongolian People’s Party, MPP
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu Leader of the Republican People’s Party, CHP, Turkey
Albin Kurti Leader of the Movement for Self-Determination, Vetëvendosje, Kosovo
Driss Lachguar First Secretary of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces, USFP Morocco
Ricardo Lagos Former President of Chile, former Special United Nations Envoy on Climate Change, Chair of the SI Commission for a Sustainable World Society
Rasim Ljajić Leader of the Social Democratic Party of Serbia, SDPS
Pia Locatelli Vice-President of the SI, Italian Socialist Party, PSI, Italy
Pere López Leader of the Social Democratic Party, PS, Andorra
Carlos Lupi President of the Democratic Labour Party, PDT, Brazil, Vice-President of the SI
Ahmed Majdalani Leader of the Palestinian Popular Struggle Front, Palestine
Carlos Maldonado President of the Radical Party, PR, Chile
Hrant Markarian Chairman of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, ARF, Armenia
Shazia Marri Vice-President of the SI, Pakistan People’s Party, PPP
Seiji Mataichi President of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Japan
Julião Mateus Paulo Vice-President of the SI, MPLA, Angola
Mustafa Mauludi Secretary General of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran
Attila Mesterhazy Vice-President of the SI, Hungarian Socialist Party, MSzP, Hungary
Rafael Michelini President of New Space, PNE, Uruguay, Vice-President of the SI
Heraldo Muñoz President of the Party for Democracy, PPD, Chile
Mario Nalpatian Vice-President of the SI, Armenian Revolutionary Federation, ARF, Armenia
Riccardo Nencini Secretary General of the Italian Socialist Party, PSI, Italy
Nermin Nikšić President of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Johnson Asiedu Nketiah Vice-President of the SI, National Democratic Congress, NDC, Ghana
Julia Ojiambo Leader of the Labour Party of Kenya
Cemal Özyiğit Leader of the Social Democracy Party, TDP, Cyprus
George Papandreou President of the Socialist International, former Prime Minister of Greece
Peter Phillips Leader of the People’s National Party, PNP, Jamaica
Vlad Plahotniuc Chairman of the Democratic Party of Moldova, Vice-President of the SI
Henry Ramos Secretary General of the Democratic Action Party, Venezuela, SI Vice-President
Antti Rinne Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Finland
Jesús Rodríguez Vice-President of the SI, Radical Civic Union, UCR, Argentina
Pedro Sánchez President of the Spanish Government, Secretary General of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party, PSOE, Spain, Vice-President of the SI
Tiémoko Sangaré President of African Party for Solidarity and Justice, Adema-PASJ, Mali
Nabeel Shaath Vice-President of the SI, Fatah, Palestine
Jan J. Sithole President of the Swazi Democratic Party, SWADEPA, Swaziland
Mikalai Statkevich Leader of the Belarusian Social Democratic Party (Narodnaya Hramada), BSDP, Belarus
Sandra Torres Leader of the National Unity for Hope, UNE, Guatemala, Vice-President of the SI
Bokary Treta President of the Assembly for Mali, RPM, Vice-President of the SI
Zharmakhan Tuyakbay Chairman of the Nationwide Social Democratic Party, OSDP, Kazakhstan
Miguel Vargas President of the Dominican Revolutionary Party, PRD, Dominican Republic, Vice-President of the SI
Faysal Ali Warabe Leader of the Justice and Welfare Party, Somaliland
Svetlina Yolcheva President of the Bulgarian Social Democrats, PBSD, Bulgaria
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Chair of the People’s Pakistan Party, PPP
Martin Ziguélé President of the Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People, MPLC, Central African Republic