Climate Reparations

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