By Aisling O'Brien
Aliza Ayaz is the world’s youngest UN Goodwill Ambassador for social and environmental issues, including education and climate change.
According to the United Nations Dag Hammarskjöld Library; "United Nations Goodwill Ambassadors and Messengers of Peace are distinguished individuals, carefully selected from the fields of art, literature, science, entertainment, sports or other fields of public life, who have agreed to help focus worldwide attention on the work of the United Nations. Backed by the highest honour bestowed by the Secretary-General on a global citizen, these prominent personalities volunteer their time, talent and passion to raise awareness of United Nations efforts to improve the lives of billions of people everywhere .. [goodwill ambassadors] are designated by the heads of United Nations Funds, Programmes and specialised Agencies.” We are very grateful for this opportunity to interview her on climate change and human rights.
What does your role as a UN Goodwill Ambassador entail?
Goodwill Ambassadors have been a part of governments, institutions and countries for as long as diplomacy has existed. In this capacity, my work can be compartmentalised into two areas: public facing and backstage policy. A lot of my work is speaking to people and painting a picture of the ideal strategy to achieve a certain goal. It means inspiring and equipping all age groups to participate in a subject matter, which is often climate action, accessible healthcare and education for me.
Other days, I am in a lot of meetings and negotiations to voice the concerns of local residents, simultaneously negotiating what the best policy terms could be. For example, working on focus groups with marginalised locals in South Asia to address their physical and mental health needs following global warming. We took this at a high level to formulate adaptation measures at the UNDP.
I have the option to represent interests by travelling abroad while bringing awareness to a cause or purpose (which is not on the top of my list given climate change!), or through public relations activities and organising events. As ambassadors, we are responsible for delivering humanitarian relief and implementing social welfare programs. I often do this in conjunction with our family foundation (@ayazranafoundation).
Where do you think people will suffer/ are suffering the most from the impact of climate change?
The largest polluters on the planet are also those who suffer the least from the dangers of climate change. Alternatively, those polluting the least will be the ones most impacted by the consequences of our changing world.
Climatic hazards are more likely to affect populations who are already vulnerable. For example, climate disasters will first affect farmers, who are amongst the poorer. As a result of shorter crop yields, food prices are likely to increase and the ones most affected by it first will be the poorest. As for the wealthiest, they often have the capital necessary to deal with the problems inherent in climate change.
Are there any nations you believe are setting a good example as to how governments should be handling the climate crisis?
I am really impressed by what Morocco is doing for climate action.
Morocco has lifted all subsidies on diesel, gasoline and heavy fuel oil to encourage more efficient use of energy and to free up resources to invest in the transition to a green economy. The country has begun also treating its ocean as a natural resource with the same importance as the land, with improved coastal zone management and the development of sustainable aquaculture.
Additionally, Morocco is making an effort to conserve its underground aquifers, a natural source of freshwater that, if left clean and undisturbed, replenishes itself. It’s a win for the environment and for current and future generations of Moroccans.
They also have a public interest group (“4C Maroc”) that serves as a hub for sharing expertise and international experience on climate action issues. 4C Maroc has the potential to become a leading platform for regional collaboration and knowledge sharing on Africa’s climate change agenda. I really think that other countries in Africa can also benefit from adopting a similar platform to streamline and bolster the implementation of their climate action initiatives.
What do you think of the UK government’s response to climate change? What more should they be doing?
I would rate the UK Government’s effort as above average, but in danger of quick de-escalation.
For companies in energy-intensive sectors such as power generation, steel, chemicals and ceramics, a major policy measure for reducing emissions is the European Union Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS). After Brexit, the UK entered its own UK-only ETS, which is widely similar to the EU one, and will apply to the same industries, where it is mandatory. They receive permits to emit greenhouse gases and can trade them at the market rate, therefore assigning a price to carbon emissions and encouraging them to lower emissions to save money.
The government has already legislated five carbon budgets, running from 2008 to 2032. The CCC (Climate Change Committee) recommended the level of the sixth carbon budget in 2020, which was the first to be analysed after the passing of the net zero legislative target, but this has not yet been formally legislated by the government.
The first carbon budget (2008-12) and the second (2013-17) have been met and the UK is on track to outperform the third (2018-22). However, it is not on track to meet the fourth (2023-27) or the fifth (2028-32).
Britain is driving a rollout of smart metres across all UK households, which help
individuals reduce their consumption of
energy by increasing the customer’s awareness of how much they are using, and how much it costs. However, the original deadline for all homes to have a smart metre by 2020 has been pushed back multiple times, now to 2025, after slow progress before and during and the coronavirus pandemic.
Finally, there is a tension between delivering climate mitigation measures - balancing environmental requirements which add to building costs with the need to deliver enough homes to meet housing needs.
As Climate Change policies become a more established part of local plans, it will become clearer how realistic it is for housebuilders and other developers to deliver these new targets alongside other policy requirements, as well as adhering to any new regulation introduced through the National Model Design Code, which is aimed at addressing the Government’s Building Beautiful agenda.
What do you believe should be the priority for human rights groups like Leeds Uni Amnesty in relation to combating climate change?
Climate change and environmental degradation are threatening the effective enjoyment of human rights. Those living in vulnerable situations feel these negative effects most acutely; strengthening and promoting the effective participation of human rights defenders, indigenous peoples, persons belonging to minorities, women and the youth in policy making is crucial to allow them to act as powerful agents of change and for the pursuit of a just transition.
Groups like yours play a crucial role in integrating the otherwise passive local communities to ensure they are aware of appropriate support in view of climate change adaptation - whether it is monitoring current climate legislation or petitioning for changes. You can also call on countries to ensure full protection of environmental human rights defenders who are facing threats and attacks. In person events, social media and digital campaigns can all help if they become an important part of your agenda.
Thank you very much to Aliza for her time on this collaboration.
For more information on…
UN Goodwill Ambassadors: https://ask.un.org/faq/14597
Morocco and their climate change initiatives: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/10/morocco-leads-the-fight-against-climate-change-in-the-middle-east t
Their interest group 4C Maroc: http://www.4c.ma/?lang=en
The UK government’s climate change action: https://eciu.net/ana
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