POWER TO THE PEOPLE​​​​​​

Dia Dhaoibh!

Last month in Bonn, Germany, SB58 - the Bonn Climate Change Conference - brought together the familiar faces of Government representatives, negotiating teams, activists, and of course, fossil fuel lobbyists. It’s a generally unappetizing stew of conflicting interests and increasingly urgent demands. Yet looking to the margins of this – or any – global climate conference, one will see the youth climate movement stirring in the background. Beginning to gather itself for the long and uphill battle towards COP28 in Dubai later in the year. 

If you were to wander onto any of the grass lawns inside or in front of the World Conference Centre on any morning of the SBs, you would have found yourself surrounded by many clusters of youth climate activists. Huddled together on the grass, speaking in hushed tones about planned actions or laughing over the next Twitter quip aimed at Shell or Exxon. One day we took over three lunch tables, pushed them together and made friendship bracelets on them, while the mechanics of the UN continued to creak and groan around us. 

For youth organisers, even getting into the room is a struggle, and we are always sure to be outnumbered by faceless fossil fuel executives who are granted greater access to the negotiations than we are. These conferences, for us, are some of the only chances we are given to gather in our numbers as a truly global movement, which means that for us, every second in those halls, outside on the grass or in a tent, wherever we are, is spent talking, planning, scheming, and appreciating the time we have together. 

If you attended any climate-oriented gatherings last month – in Bonn, Paris, Basel, wherever you might have been, you can be sure that there was a gaggle of youth activists nearby, having fought tooth and nail to get there, laughing, breaking bread, making friendship bracelets, and plotting the downfall of the fossil fuel industry.​​​​​
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Saoi O’Connor
Youth Coordinator
Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative​​​​​

BONN CLIMATE TALKS FAIL TO ADVANCE FOSSIL FUEL PHASEOUT DISCUSSIONS

The 58th session of the Subsidiary Bodies of the UNFCCC (SB58), mostly known as the Bonn Climate Change Conference, came to an end with a familiar sense of failure. Meant to set the scene for the upcoming COP28 in Dubai, UAE, it could not advance in important discussions about the need for a Just Transition away from oil, gas and coal. After spending almost the entire two weeks negotiating, governments' delegations could only agree on a weak and incomplete agenda, signalling an alarming lack of urgency for ambitious climate action to phase out fossil fuels and tackle the root cause of the climate crisis.

The Fossil Fuel Treaty team was on the ground to push for an end to coal, oil and gas. Our director, Alex Rafalowicz, joined the panel of a side event hosted by the Republic of Vanuatu, Stop Ecocide, and CAN International about the power of international law to address the climate crisis, which showed how countries must use innovative approaches, such as the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty or an Ecocide law, to address the climate crisis. Together with Stand.earth, Citizens' Climate Education (CCE), and World Wildlife Fund (WWF), we also held a joint side event focused on the three pillars of the Treaty with speakers from the Republic of Fiji, WWF and the Asian People’s Movement on Debt and Development.

On the closing day of the Bonn Climate Talks, activists and civil society leaders launched the global fight to end fossil fuels, with planned mobilisations across September 15 to 17 all over the world. The mobilisations are intended to send a clear message and demand ahead of the UN Secretary General’s Climate Ambition Summit about ending the era of fossil fuels - fast, fair, and forever.​​​​

PEOPLE POWER ACTIONS AROUND EUROPE

Europe saw a myriad of events happening both in the international negotiations, in civil society and grassroots movements. In Bonn, our team and broader network engaged in a range of activities, including speaking at the #EndFossilFuels community event in Hofgarten on June 4th, joining dozens of protest actions organised by the Kick Big Polluters Out campaign and others both inside and outside the UN venue, as well as convening an informal “big tent” strategy conversation among energy campaigners about COP28 outcomes. 

A week later, we were in Paris for the Global Financial Pact Summit, where thousands of us took to the streets to call on governments to #MakePollutersPay. One of the most exciting events was the Global Citizen concert, where Treaty champions Mitzi Tan and Brianna Fruean called for a Fossil Fuel Treaty in front of a crowd of changemakers, celebrities and world leaders. Then, in Brussels, protesters gathered in front of the EU Summit to demand the EU Council to call on its 27 member states to #StopEcocide and back the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.

VOTE YES FOR YASUNÍ

A milestone in the defence of participatory rights and the rights of nature in Ecuador and the world is coming up. After 10 years of struggle, the Constitutional Court of Ecuador authorised the holding of a popular vote to keep the oil in Block 43 of the Yasuní National Park in the ground. In the heart of the Ecuadorian Amazon, and known as “ITT” – standing for the oil fields of Ishpingo, Tambococha and Tiputini –, the block in question extends over almost 2,000 hectares, 100 of which lie inside Yasuní.

The national vote will take place on August 20, 2023. A Yes vote for Yasuní (#SíalYasuní) would not only keep the oil in Ecuador's largest protected area in the ground, but would also defend the territory of Indigenous peoples in isolation and protect one of the most biodiverse areas in the world. Allies from Ecuador request our support to publicise this campaign.

FIJI REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO THE FOSSIL FUEL TREATY PROPOSAL

During a side event at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Fiji publicly reaffirmed its commitment to the Port Vila Call for a Just Transition to Fossil Fuel Free Pacific in a statement expressing Fiji’s support for the call for the negotiation of a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. The call was welcomed by Tuvalu’s Finance Minister, Hon. Seve Paeniu who stated, “A Fossil Fuel Treaty will ensure that we do not cross the 1.5 warming threshold, which is a red line for Tuvalu, Fiji and all Pacific Small Island Developing States who are constantly having to deal with extreme weather events and the degradation of our lands and livelihoods.”

OIL STATE CAPITAL AUSTIN ENDORSES THE FOSSIL FUEL TREATY

Austin, Texas formally endorsed the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty proposal, becoming the first capital of a major oil producing region to call on world leaders to negotiate a framework to manage a just transition away from fossil fuels. Texas is by far the largest oil-producing state in the United States, home to 43% of the nation's crude oil production. 

Austin joins Los Angeles, the Hawai’i State Legislature and 90 other cities and subnational governments globally who have formally supported the call for a treaty that would end expansion of new coal, oil and gas projects while also managing a global just transition away from existing fossil fuel production to clean, renewable energy.

WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES BACK THE FOSSIL FUEL TREATY

The World Council of Churches, which represents 352 churches and 580 million Christians from more than 120 countries, formally endorsed the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty during a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. WCC Moderator Bishop Dr. Heinrich Bedford-Strohm said, "I wholeheartedly support the initiative for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. The fact that the World Council of Churches Central Committee has endorsed it at its recent meeting may be a big backwind for a world which takes seriously that it is God’s creation given to us not for indiscriminate exploitation but for good care. Humans can only lead a good life together with nonhuman creation, not against it!"​​​​​

IN THE MEDIA

The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty was mentioned by the press over 150 times in June, across both international and local media. Here are some of the most prominent articles:

• Tzeporah Berman penned an op-ed for The Guardian entitled, “Canada is on fire, and Big Oil is the arsonist.”

• She also appeared on Democracy Now! to elaborate further on the link between wildfires globally and carbon emissions from fossil fuel companies. Her interview with Amy Goodman was published on Truthout.

• Tzeporah Berman spoke to New York Times climate journalist Lisa Friedman at the Sun Valley Forum about her hopes for COP28 and Sultan Al Jaber’s Presidency, as well as why the Treaty idea has “taken off like being shot out of a rocket.”

• She also guested on the Cleaning Up podcast to talk about leadership in the time of climate change.

• Harjeet Singh appeared on Al Jazeera English during the Paris Global Financial Summit to talk about the need for climate finance. He says, “Wealthy nations have always looked at climate action as a business opportunity. The climate emergency is here and now. We should be looking at it as a public good. [...] We need a global plan to move away from fossil fuels. That's why we demand a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty that can complement the Paris Agreement. International cooperation is so fundamental.”

• Amy Westervelt penned a powerful op-ed for The Guardian on fossil fuel lobbyists’ transparency at COP28, writing: “To give the world’s leaders a chance at a global treaty that actually meets the moment, the UN cannot continue to allow Cop to be dominated by those who fight against the very change the summit is supposed to catalyse.”

• Vanuatu’s Minister of Climate Change, Hon. Ralph Regenvanu guested on ABC News Australia to talk about why he accused the Australian government of “not recognising the main security threat to the Pacific” — adding that “their action does not match the rhetoric.” He demanded them to stop investing in fossil fuels, and spoke on the Pacific’s push for a Fossil Fuel Treaty.

• Multiple regional outlets covered the news of Fiji’s public announcement in support of the Fossil Fuel Treaty at the Bonn Climate Conference, including Common Dreams, FBC News, PINA, and the Church Times.

• The civil society launch of a global mobilisation to #EndFossilFuels #FastFairForever in September was also picked up by the Samoa Observer, Common Dreams, and Truthout.

• Pacific island nations, some of which are part of the bloc of countries who endorsed the Fossil Fuel Treaty, spoke to The Straits Times about the need for climate finance at the Paris summit. The article was also picked up by Radio France International (RFI), France 24, and The Japan Times.

• The Bonn Climate Talks put a spotlight on the COP Presidency, as reported by France 24, South China Morning Post, Cairns Post, Iraqi News, and Yahoo! News. "Fossil fuels are certainly the main culprit in this climate change fight," said Samuelu Laloniu, special envoy of the government of Tuvalu.

• Mohamed Adow, director of Power Shift Africa, said to "regain the world's confidence ahead of COP28", countries must press on with a plan to "phase out fossil fuels" - the primary cause of climate change. Yahoo! News pointed out how this idea is “so contentious,” that it has failed to make it to any global treaties.

• EnviroNews Nigeria and Pakistan Observer talked about the failure of the Paris Summit to meet its goal, quoting Deputy Director Rebecca Byrnes saying, “A Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty is the missing legal mechanism that can incentive and enforce the finance needed for a just transition away from destructive fossil fuel production.”

• Harjeet Singh spoke to The Rahnuma and Energy World (from the Economic Times) on why the Global Finance Pact needs to tackle fossil fuels, stating, “It is crucial to revert the global financial architecture and make polluters pay for the damages they have been causing for decades. It is about climate justice and that’s what the Fossil Fuel Treaty is all about: breaking our dependence on fossil fuel production through a fair and sustainable financial system.” In the Peninsula Qatar, he is seen holding the Fossil Fuel Treaty sign.

• Alex Rafalowicz spoke to Radio Habana Cuba to commend the UNSG’s speech in the closing of the Bonn Climate Talks, saying that it “echoes the call from people from across the world today demanding an end to the era of fossil fuels.”

• The Energy Mix covered Austin, Texas’ endorsement of the Fossil Fuel Treaty.

• Canada Today interviewed Fossil Fuel Treaty champion Donna Grantis about how the music industry is changing its attitude towards climate change.

• Canada’s National Observer and EnviroNews Nigeria picked up the news about the World Council of Churches endorsement of the Fossil Fuel Treaty.

SOCIALS WORTH SHARING

• During the Bonn Climate Conference, climate activists Eric Njuguna and Greta Thunberg explained why they support the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.

• Mitzi Tan and Brianna Fruean appeared on the Global Citizen stage to champion climate justice and the Fossil Fuel Treaty.

• Minister Ralph Regenvanu delivered the opening plenary speech at the IEEFA Energy and Finance Conference to talk about the momentum of the Fossil Fuel Treaty led by Pacific island nations, adding that the global response to the pandemic and the war in Ukraine proves, “it is completely possible to act when there is a will.”

• He also sat down with the Australia Institute along with Minister Seve Paeniu for a webinar on how Australia can truly support the Pacific, stating: “It's quite discordant between what the Pacific wants and what Australia is doing. Coming into this so-called Pacific COP, they need to do a lot more examination around climate policy & finance."

• Kenyan climate activist Rahmina Paullette urged her national government to endorse the Fossil Fuel Treaty proposal, saying it was important for them to be part of these processes that include a “change for the future.”

• Marvel actress Alysia Reiner came out in support of the Treaty, linking the need to end fossil fuel production to her advocacy to stop plastic pollution.

• Alex Rafalowicz was interviewed by Nick Nuttall of We Don’t Have Time about the Fossil Fuel Treaty proposal, saying “We’ve seen real growth in renewable energy, but we haven’t seen it push fossil fuels out of the system. We feel we’re fighting the energy challenge with one hand behind our back. We have to find a way to disentangle fossil fuels from systems and that’s going to take focused cooperation.”

• We collaborated with the Climate Propagandist on Instagram to talk about why the “F words” (fossil fuels) are historically excluded from international climate talks.

• For this month’s ‘What the F?’, we published a look back on Pride Month, and Big Oil’s ‘pinkwashing’ tactics through BP and Shell’s sponsorship of the British LGBT Awards.

UPCOMING EVENTS