The Court of Basins of the Republic (CCR) revealed the lack of state policies on what organizations around the world define as climate justice.

In the recent days the CCR issued five objections blaming the current Minister of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN) of the country, Hernan Rosa Chavez and is two predecessors Hugo Barrera and Carlos Guerrero for failing to comply with their international commitments on the climate crisis.

However, CESTA-Friends of the Earth El Salvador, says this should not only target current and former MARN officials but it is also the result of lack of state policies on the matter.

There were no institutional efforts to develop, enforce or update national programs that would include actions of mitigation and adaptation to climate change. There were neither rules of functioning of the consultative group, said Ricardo Navarro, Executive Director of the organization, at a press conference.

The CCR’s “Report of special examination of the management on the compliance of the commitments acquired by El Salvador under the UN Framework Convention on climate change”, the CCR blames the State’s secretariat for not having policies or a national strategy of adaptation to climate change.

Navarro said “So far, the different administrations of the country have not prioritized the environmental dimension in their government policies. Climate issues taken as a whole have not been a priority despite the disasters and losses caused by the constant rains in the country”, says Navarro, who will be travelling to Durban as part of the delegation of environmental organization Friends of the Earth International.

“Our government allows that forest areas are destroyed to build golf courses, our government promoted the use of sugar cane for ethanol production instead of reforesting and producing food”, said CESTA’s director.

Navarro clarified that “the issues pointed out by the Court of Accounts have been correct, however it is necessary to include the whole administration in this issue as it should take urgent action”.

After the storm

The discussion took place only a few weeks after a new climate catastrophe hit Mesoamerica that resulted in the death of nearly a hundred people in El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala.

The head of the Catholic Church of El Salvador, archbishop José Luis Escobar Alas, said “climate change, global warming, the constant deterioration of ecology is possibly the worst problem faced by humanity. This issue is caused by big economic interests”.

“The industrialized countries are causing an irreversible damage to humanity and the ecosystem. This is a proven scientific truth”, he said in statements cited by EFE news agency.

The Salvadorian clergyman said he expected that industrialized nations “will take action to avoid causing so much damage” although the people affected should also avoid “abuses” such as mining or logging.

Produced by: Josefina Ramírez, CESTA Communication Unit / RWR

Photo: rnw.nl