Consultation on Climate Change in Manipur in Context of COP 26

8th November 2021

Consultation on Climate Change in Manipur in Context of COP 26

The Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur (CRA) and the Youth Forum for Protection of Human Rights in Manipur (YFPHR) organized a “Consultation on Climate Change in Manipur in Context of COP 26 of UNFCCC at the Manipur Press Club, Imphal on 8 October 2021.

The consultation is being organized in the context of deepening climate crisis amid the ongoing 26th Session of the Conference of Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at Glasgow, Scotland till 12th of November 2021. Mr. Gopen Kh, Secretary of Irabot Foundation, Mr. Heisnam Chaoba, President of the Loktak Fishery Welfare Association, Ms. Phamila Tuithung, Co-Convenor, People for Human Rights and Climate Change grace as presidium members of the consultation.

M. Naorem Sumarjit, Coordintor, YFPHR, presenting his key note shared the worsening Climate Change impacts in Manipur: viz, record high temperatures, increased flood, drought, diseases, crop failure, biodiversity loss etc has unleashed livelihood loss and displacement of communities.

Consultation on Climate Change in Manipur in Context of COP 26

Mr. Jiten Yumnam, secretary of CRA, expressed concern with the aggressive pursuance of unsustainable development processes in Manipur, viz, mega dams, mining, oil exploration, that targeted peoples’ land, forest, water and resources and that worsened land loss and climate crisis in Manipur. The Government should desist promoting false climate change solutions, such as pursuance of palm oil and large dams. All MoUs for mega dams, oil exploration, mining, agri-business (viz. Palm Oil) pursued without their consent should be revoked for possible adverse impacts on environment, people and climate in Manipur.

Laishram Imoba, Young People for Social Reform shared the challenges of negotiations at the COP 26 of UNFCCC, including the pursuance of false solution, promotion of corporate interest and disregard of indigenous peoples’ rights and concerns.

Heisnam Chaoba of Loktak Fishery Welfare Association shared Manipur is affected by climate crisis. The 105 MW Loktak Multipurpose Hydroelectric project caused submergence of agriculture land in Loktak region, worsening climate change situation, besides loss of livelihood for many depending on the wetland. Gopen Khunjan of Irabot Foundation shared that Manipur has seen increased wildfire, pollution, decline in food production, contamination of Rivers, wetlands, loss of forest due to climate change. The Government has failed to protect the remaining agriculture land, which is threatened with land grabbing.

The consultation adopted various resolutions, including to stop promoting false climate solutions, to stop unsustainable projects that destroy peoples land, forest and livelihood and to uphold indigenous peoples’ rights, to revoke all MOUs for mining, oil exploration, dam building, palm oil cultivation etc in Manipur.

Consultation on Climate Change in Manipur in Context of COP 26

The participants adopted the following resolutions:

1) The Government of India, corporations and international financial institutions should protect and promote indigenous peoples self-determined rights over their land and resources and should take their free, prior and informed consent before targeting their land and resources.

2) All MoUs for mega dams, oil exploration, mining, agri-business (viz. Palm Oil) pursued without their consent should be revoked for possible adverse impacts on environment, people and climate in Manipur. The MOUs granted to Roukela Private Ltd, Sarvesh Refractories, Gulf Natural Resources for mining and to Jubilant Oil and Gas Pvt Ltd and to Oil India Limited for oil exploration in Manipur should be revoked.

3) All neoliberal policies, such as Manipur Hydro Power Policy, 2012, North East hydrocarbon vision 2030, Manipur Loktak Lake Protection Act, 2006, the Mining and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2015 etc that facilitated the plunder of peoples’ land and resources should be repealed.

4) Dam building companies, viz, National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) should stop building 66 MW Loktak Downstream Hydroelectric project and other dams that will destroy forest, agriculture land, river and peoples’ livelihood. All MoUs with NHPC and NEEPCO for dams should be revoked.

5) The Government should review and rescind its plan to promote palm oil in Manipur and North East given its documented adverse impacts on people, environment and climate in Mizoram, Indonesia, Malaysia etc.

6) The government should stop counting mega dams and palm oil as renewable energy and as solutions for climate change, in its effort to fulfil its INDC.

7) International Financial Institutions and corporates should stop financing unsustainable development projects and false climate solutions with social, environment and climate impacts. Climate finance should desist funding social and environmentally damaging projects.

8) We reject all false climate change solutions that violate indigenous peoples’ human right and their self-determination over their land and resources.

9) All climate change mitigation and adaptation related policies should ensure compliance with indigenous peoples’ rights as per UN Declaration on Indigenous Peoples Rights, 2007.

10) COP 26 of UNFCCC should desist from any decisions that serve corporate bodies interest for profiting by plundering peoples land and resources.

11) Indigenous peoples’ traditional sustainable management of land and natural resources, including role of women, youths etc and their low consumption and carbon oriented way of life must be promoted in all development decision making processes that can affect their land, lives and future.

12) The Manipur State Action Plan on Climate Change and other climate policies should be reviewed to ensure its compliance with human rights and sustainable development goals in its implementation.

(Jiten Yumnam)
Secretary, CRA

(T Shadish)
Secretary, YFPHR

Youth Forum For Protecti0n Of Human Rights In Manipur
Centre For Research And Advocacy, Manipur
Imphal Manipur 795001