Online Consultation: UN High-Level Political Forum 2020 for Work Stream on Protecting the Planet and Building Resilience

The submission argues for a paradigm shift toward people-centered development and rights-based conservation, emphasizing the need to decentralize power and energy systems. It highlights the role of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) in preventing habitat loss and calls for the formal recognition of Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs). The document specifically critiques large-scale extractivism and infrastructure projects in Kenya, such as the Marsabit wind power plant and Lamu coal plant, advocating for Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and the integration of traditional knowledge. It also links the COVID-19 pandemic to environmental degradation, suggesting that the global coordination used to fight the virus should be redirected toward addressing the planetary crisis.

• Current economic systems and development agendas, particularly in Africa, often prioritize large-scale extractivism and infrastructure over environmental sustainability. In Kenya, blueprints like Vision 2030 and the Big 4 agenda are cited as drivers of this trend.
• Rights-based conservation approaches are more effective at preventing habitat loss than formal protected areas, as nature declines less rapidly on lands traditionally owned or managed by indigenous peoples.
• Energy systems should shift from centralized grids to decentralized, small-scale renewable projects to reduce poverty of power and increase reliability. The document notes that Kenya's perceived power deficit is partly due to insufficient infrastructure rather than a total lack of energy.
• Community empowerment and legal recognition are essential for environmental justice, including the implementation of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and the ability of local communities to monitor project compliance.
• The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates the link between environmental health and human health, where biodiversity loss and air pollution exacerbate vulnerability and illness.
• The global coordination and regulatory speed shown in response to COVID-19 should be mirrored in the effort to address climate change and planetary crises.

APA

Natural Justice (2020). Online Consultation: UN High-Level Political Forum 2020 for Work Stream on Protecting the Planet and Building Resilience. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Natural-Justice-submission_UN-High-Level-Political-Forum_Work-Stream-on-Protecting-the-Planet-and-Building-Resilience.pdf

Chicago

Natural Justice. Online Consultation: UN High-Level Political Forum 2020 for Work Stream on Protecting the Planet and Building Resilience. 2020. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Natural-Justice-submission_UN-High-Level-Political-Forum_Work-Stream-on-Protecting-the-Planet-and-Building-Resilience.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Natural Justice |title=Online Consultation: UN High-Level Political Forum 2020 for Work Stream on Protecting the Planet and Building Resilience |date=2020 |url=https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Natural-Justice-submission_UN-High-Level-Political-Forum_Work-Stream-on-Protecting-the-Planet-and-Building-Resilience.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{naturaljustice2020online, author = {{Natural Justice}}, title = {{Online Consultation: UN High-Level Political Forum 2020 for Work Stream on Protecting the Planet and Building Resilience}}, publisher = {Natural Justice}, year = {2020}, url = {https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Natural-Justice-submission_UN-High-Level-Political-Forum_Work-Stream-on-Protecting-the-Planet-and-Building-Resilience.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }