COP27 was meant to create an embracing space for climate activists and leaders around the world to come together, listen to each other, and work towards inclusive change. However, many crucial figures in the movement came to the summit in spite of many personal risks. The Egyptian government has a history of pursuing violent treatment towards LGBTQIA+ communities. This did not stop queer activists from ensuring that their voices and communities were represented. Big Wind Carpenter, a Two Spirit water protector, emphasizes that they face risks every day as a queer person, and it’s vital that their voices are heard in these discussions. Bruno Rodriguez, a bisexual climate activist, felt uneasy throughout his experience at COP, but maintained that it is necessary to hold these meetings in the Global South, even in places with human rights conflicts. The West is not absolved of these conflicts either, and many nations in the Global South have been impacted by Western cultural imperialism and colonial legacies. They cannot be ignored aside as we push towards change, and they will not stop fighting for a better future. Climate justice means justice across all intersections.
Photo Credit: Pamela Elizarraras Acitores
