Defenders of Asia and Pacific, rise for climate and social justice and against militarism!

The military sector is responsible for 5.5% of the world’s global greenhouse emissions (People’s Rising for Climate Justice, 2024). In the US alone, the military presence is accounting for 80 countries with 750 bases and most of them are found in Asia and Pacific (Asia Pacific Research Network, 2023). Each year, the US government spends about 855 million US dollars for military equipment that contributes to 40 times the value of fossil fuels compared to an average private car (Justice and Peace Commission, 2023). And the damages brought by the war and militarism is often left unaccountable.

With the installation of their state troops in different parts of the region, many of the countries in the Asia-Pacific suffer from environmental, socioeconomic, and political pressure brought by their military presence. Historically, communities in the Marshall Islands suffered from the effect of the nuclear testing at Bikini Atoll back in 1950s and the island remains to bear the consequences of militarism.

Even in West Asia, despite the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, the US remains to hold their bases across the region meant to protect its interest in the oil reserves and other resources (Asia Pacific Research Network, 2023). Its political influence also brings a heavy impact on the ongoing Palestine war that has been already affecting millions of Palestinians.

In Southeast Asia, the Philippines is not also exempted from the presence of US military troops through the mutual defense treaty and the visiting forces agreement that has been a threat to the lives of the fisherfolk and the communities where the bases are located. Militarization in the Philippines has not only been a threat to the livelihood of communities and human and environmental rights defenders but also to 62 endemic species and 7 key biodiversity areas present in the country (Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment, 2024).

And with the UN Climate Change Conference or COP29 maneuvered by corporate interests and the global North, false solutions that have little interest in addressing the root causes of the climate crisis remain. The conference does not cover the climate impact of war and militarism, focusing instead on market-based mechanisms and greenwashing that allow major polluters to continue business as usual, shifting the blame and burden to the communities and global South most affected by climate change. Furthermore, with climate change denier Donald Trump elected to US office threatens the possibility of real gains.

There is no climate justice if there is no accountability on wealthy nations that fuel wars and allow militarization that continues to threaten the welfare of the vulnerable groups, displace communities, and affect the biodiversity of the planet. It is high time that we expose corporations who continue to promote greenwashing and rich nations who continue to protect their profit-driven interests. We must strengthen our global alliance and join in solidarity with workers, farmers, fisherfolk, indigenous groups, women, youth, and environmental defenders who stand at the forefront of this struggle.

Let us join in this fight as we encourage everyone to join the mobilization on November 16, Global Day of Climate Action. If we want to genuinely address the climate crisis, we must address the continuous plundering of our natural resources, defund the climate chaos and make corporations and nations who pollute pay!