2020 is a year that will go down in history.
From the COVID-19 pandemic to a global reckoning on racial justice, ongoing natural disasters to mass political mobilizations worldwide, there’s no question that it’s been a tough year for the world.
Yet, despite it all, the ongoing efforts of grassroots activists on the frontlines of environmental and social justice have continued to pay off.
Read on for five victories our grantees celebrated in 2020. It is important to note that even in spite of the unprecedented challenges, wins like these are coming to the forefront as a result of years of effort from activists – a testament to the power and resilience of grassroots movements.
Zimbabwe
Hwange National Park is the largest national park in Zimbabwe, home to 40,000 elephants and the endangered black rhino. Unfortunately, this special place is under threat from coal mining, which would cause water pollution, land degradation, and biodiversity loss, as well as accelerate climate change. Find out how $10,000 from Global Greengrants Fund helped the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association challenge the development of coal mining in Hwange National Park, leading the government to ban coal development in national parks across the country.
Southeast Asia
For years, grassroots activists have worked to defend the Mekong River from the threats of hydropower and commercial development. This year, our grantees in the Mekong Delta celebrated two major victories. In February, the Thai cabinet terminated the Lancang-Mekong rapids blasting project, a Chinese-led project that would channelize and dredge the Mekong River for commercial navigation. The next month, the Cambodian government made the decision to postpone the construction of any new hydroelectric dams for the next decade.
Portugal
In September, Portugal’s last two remaining fossil fuel extraction contracts were canceled, halting all oil and gas drilling across the country. Activists, including our grantee, Climáximo, have spent years resisting fossil fuel extraction in Portugal, leading efforts that resulted in the recent cancellations. Learn how Global Greengrants Fund supported Climáximo’s efforts to unite labor unions and the climate justice movement to build a plan for a transition away from fossil fuels.
Lebanon
The World Bank-funded $617 million Bisri mega-dam project near Beirut, Lebanon had the potential to destroy 6 million square meters of land and more than 50 historical sites, trigger reservoir-induced earthquakes, and negatively affect the lives of many local people. Thanks to the efforts of grantees Save the Bisri Valley and Lebanon Eco Movement, the World Bank canceled its $244 million loan for the project, citing that the government had failed to address environmental and social considerations. Here’s how two $5,000 grants from Global Greengrants Fund helped drive the movement to challenge the dam.
South Africa
In November, major investors abandoned the Thabemetsi coal plant: a 557-MW power station that would have caused extensive damage to the climate, local people, and scarce water sources in South Africa’s arid Limpopo Province. This huge victory represents the power of the anti-coal movement in South Africa: a movement we are proud to have supported in alliance with activists across the country. Find out how our grants helped to fuel the movement.
Let’s keep the momentum going in 2021. Make a gift now and join the movement for justice.