The Climate Crisis Session at the 8th General Assembly of the World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP-GA8), held in November 2024 in Brazil, was a powerful gathering that focused on the urgent need for global action to tackle the escalating climate crisis. The session brought together fisherfolk, environmental advocates, and community leaders from around the world to discuss the devastating effects of climate change on coastal and fishing communities, as well as to highlight the resilience and determination of these communities in responding to environmental challenges.
The Climate Crisis Session was preceded by a poignant and symbolic Mystica ceremony, which brought together fisherwomen from across Asia Pacific and beyond. Women shared water from their homelands as a symbol of unity and solidarity, representing their collective strength and the vital resource they all depend on: water.
Facilitated by Devon Shirron, the Climate Crisis Session opened with a discussion on the disproportionate impacts of climate change on coastal and fishing communities. Stephen, a representative from Saint Lucia, shared how small island nations and coastal regions are facing severe consequences from the climate crisis, including rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and the degradation of marine ecosystems.
The session also delved into the concept of false solutions versus real solutions to the climate crisis, facilitated by Mirta Esther Hooker Gomez from Panama. Many proposed solutions, while well-intentioned, do not address the root causes of environmental degradation or may even exacerbate the problem.