Small Islands Set Sail for a Fossil Fuel Free Future!

SMALL ISLANDS SET SAIL FOR A FOSSIL FUEL FREE FUTURE!

Iakwe aolep!

Last month’s SIDS4 in Antigua and Barbuda started off powerfully with an unflinching statement from the Marshall Islands.

President Hilda Heine addressed the opening plenary announcing the Marshall Islands official endorsement of the Fossil Fuel Non Proliferation Treaty initiative. This natural state of action to the climate crisis made them the 13th nation to do so. That set the tone for the rest of the conference as it saw the conferring of governments and civil society organisations.

With the weight of what came out of SIDS4, the team set off to Hawai’i to celebrate the largest gathering of indigenous Pacific Islanders at the Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture (FestPAC). It is where we are meeting to not only celebrate our shared heritage, but also to address the many challenges facing the Pacific: from the climate crisis, to security to preservation of our languages and cultures.

In classic island style of resounding “cheeho’s”, each island nation showcased their performances and gifts to Hawai’i. Sitting amidst our indigeneity, I could not help the chills and tears. The cultures and traditions displayed through the mediums of art was a powerful reminder of how our indigenous knowledge had been preserved and passed down through generations—which is where the “This Is Our Home” storytelling project comes in.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been travelling with our Pasifika musicians from SIDS4 to FestPAC, holding performances and closing events with music, and creating a sacred space to ground ourselves in our ‘why’s’. Why are we doing this? To protect our shores and legacy for generations past, and those to come.

Selina Leem

Micronesia Lead for the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative

ENDORSE THE FOSSIL FUEL TREATY

MARSHALL ISLANDS ENDORSES THE TREATY

The Marshall Islands became the 13th nation-state to endorse the Fossil Fuel Treaty! At the United Nations Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) conference, island nations passionately advocated for climate action amidst the existential threats posed by rising sea levels and extreme weather events.

Among the key discussions was the urgent need for a Fossil Fuel Treaty to halt new fossil fuel projects, phase out existing production equitably, and transition to renewable energy sources. With 12 SIDS countries and Colombia already endorsing the treaty, momentum is building for a cleaner energy future.

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LEGAL VICTORY FOR SMALL ISLAND STATES

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) delivered a groundbreaking Advisory Opinion on States' obligations under international law to protect and preserve the marine environment in the context of climate change. This opinion, requested by the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change (COSIS) and International Law, highlights the crucial role of legal mechanisms in addressing climate-induced challenges facing vulnerable island nations.

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FIVE NEW CITY ENDORSEMENTS

Five new cities have joined the call for a Fossil Fuel Treaty, adding their voices to the growing movement for climate action: 1) Newcastle, Australia, 2) Reading, UK, 3) Knokke-Heist, Belgium, 4) Trondheim, Norway, and 5) Fingal County, Ireland. These cities recognize the imperative to curb fossil fuel expansion and transition to cleaner energy alternatives. Their endorsement marks a significant step towards achieving the goals of the treaty on a local level.

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MORE FOSSIL FUELS MEANS LESS HUMAN RIGHTS

Latin American Fossil Fuel Treaty advocates gathered for the first face-to-face meeting, bringing together representatives from Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile. Over two days, participants focused on decolonizing and refining their strategy to ensure that the Fossil Fuel Treaty becomes a tool that strengthens Latin American struggles.

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights held a public hearing on the Request for an Advisory Opinion on the Climate Emergency and Human Rights, submitted by Chile and Colombia. Advocates for the Fossil Fuel Treaty presented compelling arguments, urging the court to acknowledge states' duty to protect humanity from the adverse impacts of fossil fuel extraction. The court now stands at a historic crossroads, poised to explicitly acknowledge States’ duty to protect Humanity from the devastation wrought by fossil fuels.

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“SHIFTING POWER” FILM ON AFRICA DAY

In celebration of Africa Day, activists and organisations across the continent came together to raise awareness about the impacts of fossil fuel extraction and advocate for alternative, justice-centered futures. Through screenings of "SHIFTING POWER," a documentary highlighting fossil fuel resistance, communities engaged in discussions on ending extraction and advancing African liberation, including putting an end to fossil fuel extraction, which has perpetuated the vicious cycle of pollution, underdevelopment, debt, injustice, violence and corporate impunity.

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IN THE MEDIA

“Harjeet Singh, at the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, said: ‘For decades, governments, especially in rich countries, have consistently prioritised the fossil fuel industry’s interests over the wellbeing of their people. We have a narrow window to avert the worst outcomes, but it requires urgent, transformative policies that prioritise the wellbeing of people and the planet over profit.’

“Momentum has been building for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty since 2022, when Vanuatu called on the UN General Assembly to phase out the use of fossil fuels. Such a treaty, Vanuatu President Nikenike Vurobaravu said, would ‘enable a global just transition for every worker, community and nation with fossil fuel dependence’.”

“Another example of effective action, this time at the international level, comes from the organizers of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty (FFNPT), an effort to roll back fossil fuels at the global level. Currently, 12 countries have endorsed the initiative, including a number of small island states but also, most recently, Colombia. ‘Colombia is the first continental country to sign, with more than a century of petroleum extraction,’ one of those organizers, Andrés Gómez O, points out. ‘So, this is a very important game-changer in the battle.’”

“Triodos itself was the first bank to join the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and Watts [chief executive, Triodos Bank UK] added: ‘If the financial sector is serious about meeting its climate commitments, we desperately need other banks to follow suit and join us in committing to funding a future that is not reliant on fossil fuels.’

SOCIALS WORTH SHARING

Small island developing states set sail for a Fossil Fuel Free Future!

The Fossil Fuel Treaty team was on the ground at the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (#SIDS4) focused on charting a course to resilient prosperity. SIDS face a threat to their very existence as sea water rises and extreme weather events become more frequent and deadly. Join UnaMay Gordon and Selina Leem as they walk us through Treaty's highlights from the United Nations #SIDS4 conference here in Antigua and Barbuda! 🇦🇬🏝️

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Welcome to #FESTPAC2024, the largest celebration of Pacific culture in Hawaii!

We are here at #FESTPAC2024 to celebrate our shared heritage as Pacific peoples of the moana. For over 50 years, the Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture has been a powerful platform for convening our region’s youth, elders and cultural practitioners, strengthening our communities and preserving our cultures. Together, we’re tackling key challenges: from security and cultural preservation, to the climate crisis and advocating for a fossil fuel free Pacific. 🏝️

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This month, 1 more nation-state, 5 additional cities, 48 new organisations endorsed the call for a Fossil Fuel Treaty!

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