WHY ARE ACTIVISTS AND GOVERNMENTS PUSHING FOR AN END TO FOSSIL FUELS?
In the face of the escalating climate crisis, activists and governments worldwide are joining forces to advocate for the negotiation of a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. This innovative approach seeks to complement the Paris Agreement by addressing the primary driver of climate change - the proliferation of oil, gas, and coal, responsible for 86% of CO2 emissions in the past decade. The growing momentum behind the proposal reflects a shared recognition of the urgent need for unprecedented international cooperation to avert catastrophic climate impacts.
The latest World Meteorological Organization State of Global Climate report revealed 2023 as the hottest year on record by a significant margin. The scientific consensus has always been clear on the risks of continued reliance on fossil fuels. We are now witnessing devastating extreme weather events, rising sea levels, biodiversity loss and above all, the loss of millions of human lives each year.
To stop this severe threat, immediate action is needed, especially from wealthy nations who are responsible for the majority of this climate chaos and have the financial and technical means to support the Global South to achieve their own energy transitions.
Unlike previous agreements, the Fossil Fuel Treaty is intended to explicitly and equitably phase out the root cause of the climate crisis at the source – fossil fuel extraction.
The adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015 marked a significant milestone in international efforts to combat global warming, with nearly every country committing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, it fell far short of what is required to respect the 1.5ºC threshold countries committed to. By not even mentioning fossil fuels once and focusing on voluntary emission reduction pledges, it allowed world leaders to play deaf and governments to plan to produce more than double the coal, oil and gas compatible than what would limit global warming.
It took almost 30 years for the UN climate talks to mention the elephant in the room and agree to “transition away from fossil fuels”. This historic but also very weak mention in the outcome text of the Dubai Climate Talks last December was also surrounded by loopholes, qualifiers, false solutions, and does not include any concrete plan to negotiate science-aligned fossil fuel phase out dates, based on equity.
From landmines protocols, to nuclear weapons bans, to the current Plastics Treaty negotiations – civil society and governments have worked together in the past to create powerful international frameworks to tackle severe threats facing the world. The Fossil Fuel Treaty now offers an opportunity for civil society and governments to join forces, use their respective power and expertise, and build a powerful framework on one of the greatest threats the world has ever faced.
Launched four years ago by civil society, the Fossil Fuel Treaty proposal has gained support from over 3,000 organizations globally. For the climate justice movement, human rights organizations, faith institutions, health professionals, youth activists, frontline groups, and indigenous communities, the Fossil Fuel Treaty represents a powerful tool to hold governments and the industry accountable and to take concrete action to leave fossil fuels in the ground.
As far as nation-states are concerned, although fossil fuel interests are strongly entrenched in our political and economic systems, they are increasingly recognising that it is imperative to end our fossil fuel dependence. Firstly, because the climate chaos that it is precipitating is now incredibly obvious, but also because there is an economic imperative to transition to renewable energy. The declining demand for fossil fuels, the falling costs of renewable technologies, the global potential of renewables and the job creation opportunities in the clean energy industries make the just transition not only necessary but also achievable. Besides, fossil fuel extraction and production have long been associated with conflicts, human rights abuses and geopolitical tensions. By phasing them out through international cooperation, a Fossil Fuel Treaty could also help promote stability, peace and security around the world.
Twelve countries - including two major fossil fuel producers - from the Pacific, Latin America, the Caribbean and Southeast Asia, have formally joined the call for a Fossil Fuel Treaty, demonstrating their willingness to take real climate leadership to safeguard the planet and future generations. Together with civil society and a global network of 3,000+ scientists and academics, 101 Nobel laureates, the World Health Organisation and hundreds of health professionals, a thousands of religious institutions, the European Parliament, a growing number of Indigenous nations, thousands of youth activists, 100+ cities and subnational governments, more than 800 Parliamentarians and a growing number of businesses, these pioneer nations are showing the way to build a fossil fuel free world.
In the past, treaties have successfully put an end to global threats. Today, the major threats to life are oil, gas, and coal. Last September, thousands of us marched - including in the streets of NYC - to demand that our governments phase-out fossil fuels, fast, fair, and forever. Join us at the Earth Day Festival to be part of the solution and fight for our new future.