Why does Climate Justice mean Justice for Palestine?

Recently, people have begun to understand the close connection between environmental problems and human rights issues. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine clearly illustrates this, as it deeply intertwines environmental concerns with social and political conflicts.

Greta Thunberg, the young climate activist, highlighted the struggles of Palestinians living in Gaza in a recent Instagram post.

During her #FridaysForFuture climate protest, the 20-year-old activist dedicated her platform to discuss Palestine. She called for an immediate ceasefire, justice, and freedom for Palestinians and all affected civilians in her Instagram post.

Thunberg also addressed a misunderstanding regarding a stuffed animal shown in one of her earlier posts. She clarified that some interpreted it as a symbol of antisemitism, which she was completely unaware of. She explained that the toy is often used by autistic individuals as a means to express their feelings.

Climate Justice tied to Palestinian rights

The policies of Israel in the areas of Palestine they control, often seen as a system of separation based on race, have not only denied Palestinians their basic human rights but have also made climate-related problems worse. This means that the fight for a better climate is directly connected to justice for Palestine.

One of the major issues is water management. Restrictions imposed by Israel have led to sewage from Gaza infiltrating the aquifer and flowing untreated into coastal waters. This has had tragic consequences, such as the death of a five-year-old boy named Mohammed Al Sayis, who died after swimming in contaminated water.

Not only climate change but also Israel's restrictions on the import of materials and fuel needed for wastewater treatment have exacerbated Gaza's severe lack of drinkable water. As a result, sewage has seeped into Gaza’s aquifer and is flowing untreated into Gaza’s coastal waters, harming marine life and health.

Ninety-seven percent of Gaza’s scarce water is now unfit for human consumption, and contaminated water causes 26 percent of all diseases in Gaza, making it a leading cause of child deaths.

Israel’s policies impact environment and Palestinians

One tragic example of the impacts is the death of a five-year-old boy named Mohammed al-Sayis in 2017. He went to Gaza’s beach with his family to escape the heat and died after swimming in seawater contaminated by sewage.

• Water Inequity: There is a significant disparity in water distribution, with about 640,000 Israeli settlers using six times more water than the 2.9 million Palestinians in the same area.
• Land Dispossession and Crop Destruction: Palestinians have been denied access to 20% of their arable land due to Israeli occupation. Their crops are frequently targeted with harmful herbicides. The dropping of 21,000 tonnes of explosives on Palestinian territory has severely impacted agricultural productivity and soil quality.
• Olive Tree Destruction: Since 1967, Israel has uprooted over 800,000 olive trees, which has not only affected the livelihoods of Palestinian farmers but also contributed to environmental degradation.
• Fossil Fuel Dependence: Despite portraying itself as “green” internationally, Israel heavily relies on fossil fuels for its electricity production, with 97.7% coming from non-renewable sources.
• Sustainability: Living sustainably is our future, but it’s currently not a feasible option in Palestine. Israel governs the construction on Palestinian land under occupation and does not allow the installation of environmentally friendly equipment such as solar panels.

Despite presenting itself as a “green” nation globally, Israel produces 97.7% of its electricity through fossil fuels.

Israel has also harmed Gaza’s land and agriculture. Israel’s military prevents Palestinians from using 20 percent of Gaza’s arable land near Israel’s militarized fence and targets Gaza’s farmland with harmful herbicides.

Environmental and agricultural impact of Israeli policies

The Palestinian Environmental NGOs Network – FoE Palestine, conducted a study that found that Israel’s 2014 war on Gaza, during which Israel dropped 21,000 tonnes of explosives on the strip, may have caused extensive soil damage that reduced agricultural productivity.

In the occupied West Bank, Israel systematically steals and destroys Palestinian land and water. Israel controls more than 60 percent of West Bank land, where 640,000 Israelis now live in illegal settlements. Israeli settlers consume six times as much water as the West Bank’s 2.9 million Palestinian residents. Israel has also uprooted 800,000 olive trees since 1967.

The combination of land and water seizure and climatic shifts have transformed the livelihoods of Palestinian agricultural communities. Palestinian farmers face some of their most severe problems in the Jordan Valley, an agricultural area that comprises 30 percent of the West Bank.

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