Climate Reparations

• Music: Jane Lewis
• Words: Based on the writings of and conversations with Lumumba Di-Aping, Sudanese diplomat, chief negotiator for the G77 group of developing nations at the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009, in Copenhagen, Denmark. Also negotiating at COP27.

Intro
Bass and tenor
Cli­mate repa­ra­tions (×3)
Pay back now!
Cli­mate repa­ra­tions (×3)
Jus­tice now!

A
Bass and tenor con­tin­ue with cli­mate repa­ra­tions chant as in intro
Sop and alto
Resti­tu­tion,
Compensation
Rehabilitation,
Satisfaction
Guar­an­tees of non-repetition
Cli­mate repa­ra­tions now!

B
Bass and tenor con­tin­ue with cli­mate repa­ra­tions chant as in intro
Sop and alto
This is not an act of charity
But a moral obligation
This is not an act of sympathy
But an act of reparation

As we face up to the harm we caused
All the pain and degradation
We pro­claim our care for all on earth
By these acts of reparation

C
(all)
What are we if we don’t give back?
What are we if we turn our backs and walk away? (×2)

Repeat all from Intro. After last time through end with intro

Quotes:
Finance is key to this not as an act of char­i­ty but as an act of reparation
Nico­la Stur­geon at COP 26.

Who are we if we don’t give back?
Suzanne Simard in Find­ing the Moth­er Tree

The words in part A are the UN ‘Basic Prin­ci­ples and Guide­lines on the Right to a Rem­e­dy and Reparation’.

Before singing this song please read this paper by Lumum­ba Di-Aping which explains the term Cli­mate Repa­ra­tions, the his­to­ry, why this is impor­tant and what it might look like in prac­tice. If you are teach­ing the song please make sure that the infor­ma­tion is shared with your singers.

All parts:

Bass:

Tenor:

Alto (tune):

Sop:

Music score:
cli­mate reparations