– By Chengeto Sandra, ZIMSOFF
Participating in the Bonn Climate Change Conference (SB64) reinforced a powerful lesson; decisions made in international climate negotiations have real consequences for communities on the ground. As a young woman, smallholder farmer and representative of the peasant movement, I believe communities must remain informed and engaged in the ongoing discussions under the Just Transition Work Programme.
With negotiations paving the way to COP31, every word in the draft decisions matters. What is included or left out will influence how countries design and implement climate action for years to come. For many communities, a just transition is about far more than shifting to clean energy. It is about transforming economies in ways that protect livelihoods, strengthen food systems, safeguard ecosystems and ensure that those most affected by climate change are not left behind.
Young people and smallholder farmers are calling for a just transition rooted in agroecology, food sovereignty and resilient food systems. Agroecology provides practical, community-led solutions that restore ecosystems, strengthen resilience, enhance biodiversity, and improve food security while addressing the climate crisis.
Throughout the negotiations, smallholder farmers, Indigenous Peoples, workers, women, and young people must be recognised not as beneficiaries, but as rights holders and essential partners in shaping climate solutions. Their knowledge and lived experiences belong at the heart of the climate policy-making process. As attention shifts from Bonn to COP31, the focus must also turn to national and local action. Stronger links are needed between negotiators and communities, between global commitments and implementation, and between policy and the realities faced by people on the frontlines of climate change.
“A truly just transition will not be delivered through declarations alone. It will be achieved when communities have the power, resources, and voice to shape climate solutions that are inclusive, equitable, and lasting” (Chengeto Sandra)
