A message from

Graça Machel

Deputy Chair of The Elders and former Education Minister of Mozambique

Dear Friends

Just a month after Cyclone Idai devastated my home country of Mozambique, leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless and over 600 dead, Cyclone Kenneth struck the north of the country, causing further destruction. Climate change is fuelling these extreme weather events in areas which have historically been safe from such devastation.

This was an issue I raised at the Mo Ibrahim Governance weekend, where I emphasised that countries who are not major contributors of greenhouse gases, including Mozambique, are being hit hardest by the adverse effects of climate change.

Mary Robinson also spoke on the wake-up call needed on climate at the Berlin Energy transition dialogue, stating that “the time for talking is over! It’s time for action.”

In a sign that, perhaps, words are finally turning into action, Ban Ki-moon welcomed the UK government Climate Change Committee’s recommendations to reach carbon neutral by 2050, and encouraged the UK to set an ambitious example for other G20 nations to follow.

A new report on Justice for All from the Taskforce on Justice found that a shocking 5.1 billion people – two-thirds of the world’s population – lack meaningful access to justice. This includes people who are in modern-day slavery, are stateless, victims of unreported crime and those employed in the informal sector.

Hina Jilani spoke at the launch of this landmark new report, championing civil society as an under-appreciated partner in tackling this global injustice.

We hope you will mobilise in your individual and institutional capacities to join us in our efforts to advance climate justice. 

Graça Machel