Palestinian Earth Walk a Head of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26) in Glasgow

Hebron -West Bank – More than 27 young participants participated in Earth walk in Wadi Al-Kuf natural reserve in Hebron Governorate in the south of West Bank. Youth had walked for 6 Km exploring different parts of this reserve which is considered the largest natural reserve in the West Bank and its area is estimated at 3500 dunums. This walk is organized as part of DANIDA’s civil society program in cooperation with the Palestinian Environment Quality Authority (PEQA) and Palestinian Agriculture Directorate in Hebron Governorate. This coincided with preparation for 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow on 31 October – 12 November 2021  .

(photo of youth participating in Palestinian Earth Walk in Wadi Al-Kuf reserve in solidarity with Palestinian natural reserves a head of UN Climate Change Summit (COP 26)) 

This walk aimed at promoting the role of Palestinian youth in responding to climate crisis and implementing safe environmental initiatives for tackling problems caused by climate change and Israeli practices. This walk highlighted the issue of the climate crisis and its negative impacts on earth and Israeli practices committed against Palestinian Land. 

The youth were briefed by the Palestinian environment expert in(PEQA), Jamal Tmizi about Palestinian natural reserves and their challenges affecting  the sustainability and mechanisms required to maintain these reserves . He also highlighted the role of AAP and its work with governmental organizations to raise the awareness of Palestinian youth about the importance of saving the Palestinian environment and necessity of combating climate change as it strongly threatens all of us.

(photo of  the Palestinian environmental expert , Jama Tmazi while he was briefing the Palestinian youth about challenges facing the Palestinian  reserves)

Through the walk, the youth sent their messages to world leaders who will participate in COP26 urging them to tackle the policies and practices of Israeli occupation impeding the Palestinian in tackling climate crisis. They also demanded them to challenge the existing planning and permit regime, the inequality of water allocation and provide protection for Palestinian environment and its natural resources and increase funding for climate change adaptation interventions.

(photo of Palestinian youth participating in Palestinian Earth Walk in Wadi Al-Kuf reserve in solidarity with Palestinian reserve  a  head  of UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26)) 

The impacts of climate change caused by high temperatures and change of weather include scarcity of water, low of soil fertility and low productivity of some agricultural crops in Occupied Palestinian Territory(oPt). However, the Palestinian living in area “C” of West Bank have exacerbated suffering as they do not only suffer from climate crisis, but they also suffer from Israeli practices that prevent them from using techniques for adaptation with this crisis. For example, Palestinians have limited control over water resources in this area. Recently, due to climate change, rainfall fluctuations and long dry periods without rain reduce annual rainfall and the quantity of rainwater available. The construction or extension of wells, cisterns, pipelines is costly for Palestinians, and it is impeded by Israeli restrictions.

(general photo of Wadi Al-kuf reserve ) 

Saif Salmieh (32 years old) from Hebron Governorate sees: “ the climate crisis has impacts him through high temperatures and low productivity of agricultural crops and high prices of Palestinian vegetables and fruit due to cold and hot weather . We also  cannot plant trees in  some  parts of  area “C” . We will feel excluded in UN COP26 if the role of Israeli occupation in exacerbating this crisis is not discussed and tackled. This walk will convey our messages about different aspects of climate crisis. We demanded world leaders to design plans to control the impact of technological development on climate and give more attention to Palestinian environment”.