COP30 urged to link climate justice with reparations for historical crimes

By Catarina Demony

(Reuters) -Hundreds of environmental and human rights groups have urged COP30, the global climate summit to be held in Brazil this November, to confront the historical roots of the climate crisis, and put reparations on the agenda.

The letter argues that historical crimes, such as enslavement and colonialism, created global inequalities in resource access, drove asymmetrical contributions to emissions, increased vulnerability to disasters, and continue to exclude many from climate decision-making.

“There can be no true climate justice without reparatory justice,” the signatories said.

Launched by organisations such as Brazil’s Instituto Luiz Gama and the Caribbean Pan African Network earlier this week, it has now been signed by more than 240 organisations and public