How we look at Impact at HERO

Within these Global Systems Changes, the Systems Change Lab framework has identified the 70 shifts needed to keep global temperature below the 1.5 degree threshold.

First, we use the Systems Change Lab framework to validate that each Circle is operating within the 14 global systems changes needed to limit warming to below 1.5 degrees C, halt biodiversity loss and secure a more just, equitable society. 1. Power / Energy 2. Industry 3. Transport 4. Cities and the Built Environment 5. Technological Carbon Removal 6. Food and Agriculture 7. Forests and Land Management 8. Ocean Management 9. Freshwater Management 10. Circular Economy 11. Finance 12. New Economics for Climate and Nature 13. Social Inclusion and Equity 14. Governance

2023-05-09

Catalina Santelices and Karin Watson: Citizen Voices Behind the Escazú Agreement

If you want to learn more:

SANTIAGO, Chile - For years, environmentalists have been calling for greater transparency and participation in decision-making related to natural resources in Latin America. The Escazú Agreement, the first legally binding regional treaty on environmental rights and protection in Latin America and the Caribbean, seeks to address these demands and promote access to information, public participation, and justice in environmental matters. Catalina Santelices and Karin Watson, climate mobilizers from Chile, have been at the forefront of the push for Chile's ratification of the Escazú Agreement. Combining environmental and social justice issues in campaigning for the Escazú Agreement, they have become leading figures in the fight against environmental degradation and resource exploitation in the country. The Agreement, adopted in 2018 and opened for signature in 2019, has been signed by 23 countries in the region, including Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina. The treaty aims to guarantee the rights of citizens to access information, participate in public decision-making, and seek justice in cases of environmental harm. It also calls for the protection of environmental defenders, who are often targeted and threatened for their work. Santelices and Watson have worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the treaty and its importance for Chile's environmental future. They have organized workshops, meetings, and public campaigns to promote the agreement and gather support from civil society, lawmakers, and government officials. With over 23,000 followers on social media, over 20,000 signatures on a petition to ratify the agreement, and over 450 NGOs supporting their work, they have become key players in the national debate around human rights and environmental issues. Santelices emphasizes the critical role that explaining the treaty in regular language can play in galvanizing support for the agreement. “It was really powerful to be talking every day with different people from different parts of Chile who are really interested in climate action and justice,” she said, “but didn’t know how to do it.” As spokespeople for youth in the UN Conference of the Parties Conference in Santiago, Santelices and Watson described reaching out to every political party and negotiating for the inclusion of intergenerational human rights in the Escazú Agreement. “We were able to do it in the financial part, which is the most important,” says Santelices. Their advocacy did not end in Chile: in connecting with other advocates from Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Argentina, “we realized we were all working for the same cause,” says Santelices. These connections led to the formation of the HERO Latin American Feminist Circle, organizing together for the Escazú Agreement in Central and Latin America. “We were all trying to humanize the climate crisis,” says Santelices. “We were trying to put a face to the Escazú Agreement, which was mainly frontline defenders from Indigenous communities.” Santelices’ and Watson’s advocacy demonstrates the incredible impact of organized and intersectional climate action, especially in a region with high rates of risk associated with environmental defenders. Alongside other youth advocates, their work has highlighted the key role of young people and women in environmental governance, and paved the way for legal protections around environmental justice in the entire region in the future.

Chile/ Latin America

Adelaide Charlier: Citizen Negotiator Behind the EU's Fit for 55 Package

If you want to learn more:

Adelaide Charlier, a 20-year-old Belgian climate mobilizer, has become an outspoken advocate for the EU Fit for 55 Package, a comprehensive plan that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. The ambitious proposal, which was unveiled by the European Commission in July 2021, includes a range of measures designed to promote climate-friendly policies and stimulate the transition to a carbon-neutral economy. Charlier, who gained global recognition for her role in the Friday for Future movement and her participation in the 2019 climate strikes, has been a longstanding proponent of the Fit for 55 Package. She argues that the plan represents a critical step forward in the fight against climate change and could have far-reaching benefits for Europe and the world. She stressed the urgency of the climate crisis and the need for swift and decisive action. "We are running out of time to prevent the worst impacts of the climate crisis," she says. "We need to act boldly and decisively to reduce emissions, transition to clean energy, and protect our planet." Charlier has been particularly vocal about the importance of the Fit for 55 Package's carbon pricing policy, which imposes a fee on carbon dioxide emissions and incentivizes companies to invest in cleaner technologies. She argues that this approach can stimulate innovation and spur economic growth while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Charlier has also highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability in environmental policy-making. She has called for increased public participation and scrutiny in the decision-making process, and has urged governments to prioritize the needs of communities and workers affected by the transition to a green economy. Despite facing criticism and backlash from some sectors, Charlier has remained steadfast in her commitment to climate action. She believes that young people have an important role to play in the fight against climate change and should be empowered to shape the policies and decisions that will affect their future. "We need to listen to the voices of young people and take their concerns seriously," she says. "They are the ones who will have to live with the consequences of our actions or inaction. We owe it to them to act now and act decisively."

Belgium/European Union