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The forum serves as a platform for the convergence of a diverse range of participants, including social movements, laborers, farmers, civil society groups, marginalized communities, and those affected by the impacts of neoliberal capitalism and privatization.
The WCC collaborated with statements related to climate, land, water, economic justice, and debt.
The forum’s purpose is to create reflective thinking, democratic debate of ideas, formulation of proposals, free exchange of experiences, and interlinking for effective actions. Originating in 2001 with the vision of "Another World is Possible," the 2024 edition is themed around the call for "Another World Now.”
One of the statements—out of more than 60 released from the forum—was “Climate Justice, Ecology, Just Transitions, Habitat and Sustainable Development.”
The WCC was one of the signatories on the statement, which describes the current climate catastrophe with roots in an unsustainable economic model.
"The excessive use of fossil fuel, extractive mining, for-profit models of agriculture, and other destructive practices have resulted in rising and unchecked CO2 levels, degradation of soil, loss of biodiversity, loss of usable water resources, loss of habitat for both human and animal life, increase in extreme weather incidents, rising sea levels, irreversible damage to the people and planet,” reads the statement. “We recognize that the impact of climate change is felt most by vulnerable communities on our planet, particularly women, children, and those belonging to marginal communities.”
Another statement, “Water for life over water for profit,” on which the WCC was among the signatory organizations, underscored access to water and sanitation as fundamental human rights. “Water is a common good, and must be accessible to all without discrimination, under public control and not a commodity,” the statement reads. “Personal and domestic uses of water, including for hygiene, should have the highest priority over productive uses, such as agri-business and industry.”
These two statements mentioned emerged from the two events organized by the WCC at the WSF and was backed by many organisations that signed this statement.
Read the full statements on WSF websites:
https://wsf2024nepal.org/activity/265
https://wsf2024nepal.org/activity/124
WCC to share key insights at World Social Forum (WCC news release, 9 February 2024)
