LETTER TO WORLD LEADERS CALLING FOR GLOBAL PLAN TO PHASE OUT FOSSIL FUELS
"Come together to protect what we love from the threat of fossil fuels"
Dear world leaders,
We are not where we need to be.
Scientists have issued a stark warning for decades: extracting fossil fuels threatens everything we love. Every year, we witness more devastating floods, wildfires, droughts, hurricanes, and heatwaves. Communities across the globe are already experiencing the harsh realities of this crisis, and the most vulnerable among us are suffering the greatest losses.
And it’s not just the climate crisis – fossil fuel air pollution is responsible for 1 in 5 deaths worldwide, the thirst for oil has sparked and exacerbated conflicts for decades, and the extraction of these resources causes devastation to biodiversity and nature across the globe.
Yet, despite overwhelming evidence, our global response remains dangerously inadequate. Year after year, governments have met at the UN Climate Talks to negotiate crucial frameworks to address this crisis – the most important being the Paris Agreement, under which the world has agreed to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
But that threshold is very close to being broken, largely because we currently have no global plan to phase out fossil fuels fast and fairly. Last month, the UN Environment Programme warned that “current policies would deliver up to 3.1°C of warming… which would cause debilitating impacts to people, planet and economies”
Governments can currently claim to be climate leaders but continue to approve vast waves of new coal, oil and gas projects – because the Paris Agreement does not mention these words once. We have been negotiating emissions and targets while increasing fossil fuel extraction. In fact, we are currently on track to extract 110% more oil, gas and coal by 2030 than we could ever burn and stay below 1.5C. Despite their Paris pledges, five wealthy governments – the US, the UK, Australia, Canada and Norway – are responsible for most planned expansion from new oil and gas fields through 2050.
Enough is enough. What we build today will be what we use tomorrow. We must stop expanding the problem.
The science is clear: no new fossil fuel projects fit if we are going to meet goals of climate safety and we have to focus on building the cleaner, safer world we all want and winding down existing fossil fuel infrastructure.
We are joining forces today to call on governments to chart a new course to a safer future. We welcome the leadership of 14 powerful nation-states spearheading the push to negotiate a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty as a complementary plan that will help us meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, and we call on other countries to join them.
A Fossil Fuel Treaty is the missing piece of the puzzle. It would create a binding framework to end the expansion of coal, oil, and gas projects and manage and finance a fast and fair transition away from fossil fuels that is in line with the science and leaves no one behind. Many countries want to either transition away from dependence on fossil fuels or leapfrog directly to clean and safe forms of renewable energy but are simply unable to without a framework for international cooperation and finance.
There is now a potential to build a justice-centred high-ambition international coalition of nation-states ready to lead the transition, who negotiate a treaty that is not consensus-based – meaning no single country can block others pushing to phase out fossil fuels. Given the result of the US election, supporting and uniting governments standing up to the fossil fuel industry to work together will be more important than ever over the coming years.
Throughout history, governments had the courage to forge powerful treaties that have banned nuclear weapons, phased out landmines and saved the ozone. Now, we must do so again and come together to protect what we love from the threat of fossil fuels. Our children’s future depends on us seizing this moment.
Signed by 125 Actors, Creatives, Writers, Authors, Scientists, Academics, Youth Leaders, Faith Leaders, Activists, Civil Society Leaders & Health Profressionals
SIGNATORIES
Actors, Musicians and Creatives
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Rosario Dawson
Actress and Activist
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Sophia Bush
Actress, Activist, Entrepreneur
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Busy Philipps
Actor, Writer, Activist
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Alysia Reiner
Actress, Producer, Activist
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Jessie Mei Li
Actress
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Carice van Houten
Actress
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Lily Cole
Actress, Model, Entrepreneur
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Jerry Cope
Producer/Director
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Sarah Alice Shull
Actor and Writer
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Roland Vossebrecker
Musician, Activist
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Joe Chester
Musician
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Lindsey Wixson Hill
Model, activist
Writers and Authors
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Kim Stanley Robinson
Writer
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Rebecca Solnit
Writer
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Zainab Salbi
Writer and co-founder of Daughters for Earth
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Sophia Li
Award-winning climate journalist
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George Monbiot
Journalist
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Katharine Wilkinson
Writer and climate activist
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John Moorhead-Guinea
Author
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Erika Olofsson Liljedahl
Author
Scientists and Academics
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David Suzuki
Emeritus Professor of Zoology, UBC
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Katharine Hayhoe
Horn Distinguished Professor and Endowed Chair, Texas Tech University
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Professor Anne Poelina
Chair, Indigenous Knowledges and Senior Research Fellow, Nulungu Research Institute
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Kate Raworth
Senior Teaching Fellow, Oxford University Environmental Change Institute
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Dr. Michael E. Mann
Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Science, Penn State University
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Dr. Genevieve Guenther
Author, Founding Director End Climate Silence
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Professor Emerita Lesley Hughes
Climate Change Scientist
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Mark Z Jacobson
Director of the Atmosphere/Energy Program, Stanford University
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Jason Hickel
Anthropologist
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Professor Sir Andy Haines
Former director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
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Dr Fachruddin M Mangunjaya
MSi, Chairman Center for Islamic Studies Universitas Nasional
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Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò
Associate Professor of Philosophy, Georgetown University
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Kevin Anderson
Professor of Energy and Climate Change, Universities of Manchester
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Albina Arjuman
Storyteller & Scientist
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Claudia Kemfert
Professor Energy Economics, Hertie School of Governance
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Sandra Steingraber, PhD
Senior Scientist, Science of Environmental Health Network
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Professor Damon Matthews
Department of Geography, Planning and Environment at Concordia University
Government Leaders and Officials
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Valérie Plante
Mayor of Montréal
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Anna Reynolds
Lord Mayor of Hobart and Board Member of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy
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Amanda Ellis
Former New Zealand UN Ambassador
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Jessica Stanley, PhD
Area Director, Regional District of Nanaimo
Youth Leaders
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Aditi Mayer
Storyteller & Climate Activist
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Xiye Bastida
Climate justice activist
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Sage Lenier
Executive Director of Sustainable & Just Future
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Elizabeth Wathuti
Founder of the Green Generation Initiative
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Mikaela Loach
Author and Climate Justice Organiser
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Disha Ravi
Co-Founder of Fridays For Future India
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Mitzi Jonelle Tan
Climate justice activist and organiser
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Dominique Palmer
Climate Justice Activist, Writer
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Eric Njuguna
Youth climate justice organiser
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Ayshka Najib
Climate Justice Activist
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Leïla Réau
President of Swiss Youth for Climate
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Leah Thomas
Founder Intersectional Environmentalist
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Tafadzwa Chando
CEO of Chando Capital, Youth & Climate Activist
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Mark Haver
Youth Advocate for Ocean Climate Action
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Bodhi Patil
Ocean Champion
Faith Leaders
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Baron Rowan Williams
104th Archbishop of Canterbury
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Rev. Fletcher Harper
Executive Director of GreenFaith
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Bishop Gerry Alminaza
National Laudato Si' Program, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines
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Rev Dr Martin Poulsom
Senior Lecturer in Theology, University of Roehampton
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Revd Dr Darrell Hannah
Chair, Operation Noah
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Guy Wilkinson
Trustee Faith for the Climate
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Rt Revd.Olivia Graham
Former Bishop of Reading, Church of England
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The Right Reverend Jeremy Greaves
Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane
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Taualo Penivao
General Secretary of the Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu
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Rode Wanimbo
Coordinator of Women Department of Evangelical Church of Indonesia
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Bruce Henry
Presiding Clerk, Quakers Australia
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Louise Cleary CSB
Brigidine Sisters
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Rev Charissa Suli
President, Uniting Church in Australia
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The Rt Rev'd Dr Paul Barker
Assistant Bishop, Anglican Diocese of Melbourne
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Sr Anne Lane
President, Society of Presentation Sisters of Australia
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The Very Revd Dr Andreas Loewe
Dean of Melbourne, St Paul’s Cathedral
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Jo Chamberlain
Church of England National Environment Officer
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The Revd Dr Sharon Moughtin
Vicar of St Mary's Eco Church
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Sheikh Shadi Alsuleiman
President of the Australian National Imams' Council
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Rev. Chris Parnell
President of the Shepparton Interfaith Network
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Most Rev. Gerardo A. Alminaza, D.D.
Bishop, Diocese of Bacolod / Vice President, Caritas Philippines
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Sr Wendy Flannery
Sister of Mercy, Vice-President, Human Rights UN Association of Australia, Queensland
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Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg
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Stephana Wei
Executive Secretary, Integral Human Development Team, Association of Major Religious
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Superiors of Men and Women In Taiwan
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John Arnold
Bishop of Salford
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Tomasz Zalewski OP
Dominican Family Taiwan JPCC Promoter
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Rev. Fr. Rodolfo Vicente Cancino Jr
Executive Secretary, CBCP-ECHC, Vicar Provincial Superior
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Fr. Liton Hubert Gomes csc
Executive Secretary, Episcopal Commission For Justice and Peace-CBCB
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Brother Chris Poppelwell
Director, Champagnat Marist Centre, Fiji
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Karon Donnellon RSM
Leader of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New guinea
Activists and Civil Society Leaders
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Bill McKibben
Author and environmentalist
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Laura Turner Seydel
Chair Emeritus, Captain Planet Foundation
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Tom Goldtooth
Executive Director, Indigenous Environmental Network
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Kumi Naidoo
Human rights activist
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Princess Daazhraii Johnson
President, Deenaadàį’ Productions
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Pennie Opal Plant
Cofounder, Movement Rights
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Callum Grieve
Co-Founder, Campaign Collective
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Ingmar Rentzhog
CEO, We Don’t Have Time
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Osprey Orielle Lake
Founder, Women's Earth and Climate Action Network
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Carissa Cabrera
CEO, FutureSwell
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Grey Gowder
Executive Director, Carolina Ocean Alliance
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Edwin Mumbere
CECIC Uganda
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Bianca Pitt
Co-founder and Steering Committee, SHE Changes Climate
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Dr. Gail Bradbrook
Co-Founder Extinction Rebellion
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Gerard Arances
Executive Director, Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED)
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Antoinette Vermilye
Co-Founder Gallifrey Foundation and SHE Changes Climate
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Eva Seo-Andersen
Founder SpringWorks
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Alex Lenferna
General Secretary, South African Climate Justice Coalition
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Kayinga Muddu Yisito
Network Coordinator, Community Transformation Foundation Network
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Rupert Read
Co-director of the Climate Majority Project
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Dirk Van Onsem
Founder Beyonders Foundation
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Lauriane Boutboul
Climate community manager
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Alexia Leclercq
Executive Director of Start:Empowerment
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Cameron Saul
Founder and CEO, Togetherband
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Amber Nuttall
Founder, Extreme Hangout
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Charitie Ropati
Yup’ik & Sāmoan Water Engineer & Climate Justice Advocate
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Muhonja Mujega
Social and Cultural Activist
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Shreya Ghodawat
Host, Sustainable Tea with Shreya
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Isabella Zizi
National Organizer, Movement Rights
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Amy Seidman
Founder and CEO, Noble Profit
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Nina Marenzi
Founder, The Sustainable Angle
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Maya Mailer
Co-Director, Our Kids' Climate
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Susan McPherson
Founder, CEO and Author
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Annemiek Hoogenboom
Founder of The Orchard Foundation
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Danny Kennedy
Venture Partner, New Energy Nexus
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Katharine Wilkinson
DPhil, Co-founder & Executive Director, The All We Can Save Project
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Jane Burston
CEO of Clean Air Fund
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Karen Wristen
Executive Director, Living Oceans Society
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Tess Burrows
Peace activist
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Jane da Mosto
Co-Founder, We are here Venice
Health Professionals
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Dr. Jemilah Mahmood
Executive Director, Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Malaysia
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Chris Zielinski
President, World Association of Medical Editors
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Dr Margaret Winker
Trustee, World Association of Medical Editors
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Vishnu Khanal
Senior Editorial Board Member, BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, Research Fellow, Menzies School of Health Research
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George D Lundberg
President the Lundberg Institute
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Semir Vranic
Pathologist, Corresponding Member, Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Professor Dr. José Florencio F. Lapeña, Jr.
Philippine Journal of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
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Peter C Gøtzsche
Professor emeritus, biologist, specialist in internal medicine
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Akhtar Sherin
Prof & Chief Editor, Khyber Medical University Journal
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Dr. Patrick Dave Q. Bugarin
Vice-President for Linkages, Philippine International Studies Organization
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Mirko Spiroski
MD, PhD, Founder and Director of Scientific Foundation SPIROSKI, Skopje, Macedonia
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Faruk Skenderi
Editor of Biomolecules and Biomedicine journal
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Prof Joseph Ana
Pioneer/Advocate 12-Pillar Clinical Governance programme
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Patrick Alexander Wachholz
Professor, Editor in Chief of Geriatrics, Gerontology and Aging journal
About the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative
The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative is spurring international cooperation to end new development of fossil fuels, phase out existing production within the agreed climate limit of 1.5°C and develop plans to support workers, communities and countries dependent on fossil fuels to create secure and healthy livelihoods. For more information on the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative and proposal, access here.
The concept of a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty is gaining significant traction around the world. It has been endorsed by more than 2000 civil society organisations like yours, over 3,000 academics, 101 Nobel laureates, the World Health Organisation and hundreds of health professionals, a Vatican Cardinal and hundreds of religious institutions, a growing number of Indigenous organisations and youth activists, over 200 cities and 600+ MPs across the world, the European Parliament, and a bloc of fourteen nations.