Climate justice (also) for Ukraine?Lasota:«So the fossil fuel industry supports the Russian invasion» – The interview

«If the European Union wants to be serious about our security and global peace, it must cut ties with all dictatorships and accelerate the green and just transition of its economies», the Fridays For Future activist tells Open

From Strasbourg – “If there is still any politician who denies climate change in 2023, then we must do everything to remove them from office.”Dominika Lasota is 21 years old, a climate justice activist and one of the organizers of the movement Fridays For Future in Poland.The New York Times he described her as the creator of "a new type of activism" because she was able to link the fight for the climate with opposition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.“If the European Union wants to be serious about our security and global peace, it must cut ties with all dictatorships and accelerate the green and just transition of its economies,” he tells Open underlining how «a Europe without fossil fuels can become a driving force for their elimination throughout the world».At COP 26 in Glasgow, the young activist – together with other demonstrators including Vanessa Nakate and Nicole Becker – protested in front of the headquarters of the United Nations Conference before a speech by the former president of the United States, Barack Obama, accusing him of failing to keep his promise to provide $100 billion in climate finance to developing countries.For several years on the front line against the autocratic tendencies of the Polish right-wing government, Lasota is confident that the next elections scheduled for autumn "will determine whether or not we young people have a future in Poland".

How do you judge the attitude of European governments towards climate change?

«If politicians nowadays (still) deny the consequences of climate change, they must be removed from office.It's simple!The last few years have given us enough evidence, and several stories of mass tragedy, to make it clear that the climate crisis is here and that we must do everything we can to avoid the worst.There was a time when we spoke calmly, when we asked for their action, when we motivated them to change.But now, if they ignore the problem, or worse yet, if they continue to engage with the fossil fuel industry, then they are threatening our communities, our people, and they shouldn't be in politics.This is why we have the full right to confront them, to protest, to disturb their work.If they don't carry it out properly, they need to know that people will not remain silent and will not be intimidated."

Climate activists are not listened to by politicians, on the contrary they are often sued for their actions of civil disobedience.What do you think?

“Across Europe we see that it is ordinary citizens – rather than fossil fuel criminals – who are being targeted by governments.When energy companies intentionally increase our energy bills and open deadly new oil or gas projects, the people who protest and take bold actions to protect the future of us all become enemies.It's an absurd reality.In Poland, activists are becoming targets of harassment, both from politicians and online trolls who attack us after every action.It's a little scary sometimes, but I try to constantly remind myself why I'm doing all this, to ensure the safety of my family, my friends, and my own.That I am not the "bad guy" in this situation, the representatives of fossil fuels are, and that it is becoming increasingly difficult for change to occur in society.This keeps me going.But we must collectively understand that denying the climate crisis, supporting politicians who do nothing about it, or accepting some draconian measures taken by governments against activists will not make us safe.It only puts us at risk, as a society, in the face of crises."

Fridays For Future is fighting for Europe to stop buying fossil fuels from Russia.Where are we at?

«We know that the fossil fuel industry is at the heart of the Russian economy and it is this sector that offers a Vladimir Putin the money for his beastly invasion of Ukraine.Obviously, I am relieved to see that many European states have started cutting themselves off from Russian fossil fuels since last year, but we are far from done.There are still countries like Hungary, Germany or even Poland that have made deadly energy deals with the Kremlin.All this must end forever if Europe wants to have a clear conscience.We cannot convince countries like India or China to stop dealing with Putin if we still maintain ties.Europe without fossil fuels can become a driving force for their elimination worldwide.The invasion showed the world just how far dictators can go in their quest for power.If the European Union wants to be serious about our security and global peace, it must cut ties with all dictatorships and accelerate the green and just transition of its economies.There is no peace if we deal with war criminals, there is no security if we base it on oil, gas or coal."

In the autumn there will be voting in Poland.What's at stake with this election?

«The next elections will determine whether or not we have a future in Poland.I am sincerely convinced of this.The current government – ​​led by Law and Justice (Pis) – has done almost nothing regarding the implementation of a climate policy in our country.Renewable energy is blocked, coal mines are allowed to operate until almost 2050, major fossil fuel companies continue to plan new investments.There is no mention of climate adaptation, so Polish citizens have no opportunity to prepare for the possible effects of the ongoing climate crisis.To progress as a country – in terms of the economy, the climate, the healthcare system, the protection of human rights – we need a change of power.This is why we, as young activists, are already mobilizing people to vote in the elections.We talk to the opposition, sometimes we challenge them, and we will give our all in this battle, because our lives literally depend on the outcome of these monumental elections."

What role will the youth vote have in the next European elections and how real is the risk of seeing the climate battles not represented?

«In previous European elections, young people played a key role in voting for politicians ready to fight for climate action.Now the situation is much more difficult, especially because there are many other crises to face.With the rising cost of living, war, the climate emergency, people's lives are becoming increasingly difficult.And unfortunately not all politicians are interested in making life easier or safer.Many of them still choose to defend the interests of corporate lobbies, such as fossil fuels.There is also a serious wave of populists on the rise, due to which we must fight even harder to secure the green and just transition and climate action within the political agenda.As the climate crisis worsens every year, every election matters.For this reason, within youth movements we will do everything we can to ensure that the next European elections bring us courageous leaders with a good vision for tomorrow.But the battle will be tough and we will need the help of older generations like never before."

In the last period FFF's strategy seems to have changed:street demonstrations and protests have given way to more targeted actions, for example against specific projects or companies.Is that so?

«The global climate movement is definitely changing.We have to do it:We would become too boring if we limited ourselves to the safe and well-known tactics, right?When people think about the youth climate movement, they see images of the historic mass mobilizations of 2018 or 2019.It was an incredible moment for the movement and a time of enormous change within societies around the world.But then, when we were all hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, the movement also suffered a serious blow.Our most precious tool – protest in the streets – has been taken away from us.That crisis pushed us to change a lot.We have started a much broader conversation within the movement about the difference between the Global South and North when it comes to climate crises.Furthermore, from that moment on we try to analyze the political situation more carefully and identify where we can have a greater impact.Sometimes confronting a politician or stopping a fossil fuel project can be just as powerful and effective as mobilizing thousands of people in the streets.And I think as we look more closely at politics and see the different connections between those in power and the fossil fuel lobby, we've gotten smarter.Now there is no politician who can escape us:we know how to put pressure on the bad guys in the strongest possible way."