The damning new climate report published Monday by the United Nations has left many of us, myself included, feeling anxious and scared about our future. The report, published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, has concluded that climate change is man-made, widespread, intensifying, and potentially irreversible. According to the report, we can expect more extreme heatwaves, droughts, and floods, while the sea levels will likely continue to rise. More than anything, it is a global wake-up call for us to take meaningful action.

The report’s release coincides with the terrifying fires in Greece, Turkey and northern California, as well as the floods in places like China and Germany, all of which have displaced hundreds of thousands of people. 

Oppressed and marginalized groups worldwide are already on the front lines of the climate crisis. That’s no different in Israel-Palestine, where more than half a century of military rule over the occupied territories has made it virtually impossible for Palestinians to even begin planning for the worst in one of the hottest regions in the world. Unlike our other newsletters, this time around, I thought to take advantage of the moment to highlight some of the articles +972 has published over the past two years on climate breakdown. As always, you’ll be able to find the articles we published this week at the bottom of the newsletter. 

– In 2019, Matan Kaminer, Basma Fahoum and I published a deep dive into “eco-apartheid” in Israel-Palestine. In the piece, which was shortlisted for the Fetisov Journalism Award, we tried to show the myriad ways in which Israel actively prevents Palestinians from being able to contend with the effects of climate change, let alone prepare for a future of unstable weather and unbearable heat.

– Last month, Judith Sudilovsky wrote a profile of the group “One Climate,” made up of Israelis and Palestinians who want to build a mass movement that connects climate activism with anti-apartheid politics, while actively pushing climate activists in Israel to incorporate the occupation into their worldview.

– Earlier this year, activist and water management specialist Natasha Westheimer wrote about how Israeli settlements in the South Hebron Hills perfectly illustrate the way in which the occupation and the climate crisis work in tandem to destroy Palestinian land and livelihoods.

– Climate justice movements worldwide view anti-racist politics as integral to their struggle. So why aren’t Israeli environmental activists speaking up for Palestinians? Veteran climate activist Mor Gilboa interrogates the problematic roots of the movement.