14 September 2022 - Today, Kolkata endorsed the global call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty to equitably phase out fossil fuels and support a just energy transition. It joins Paris, Los Angeles, Vancouver, Lima, Nepalese municipalities Dhulikhel and Itahari, and more than 60 global cities to become the largest city to support a global intiative to phase out oil, gas and coal production, responsible for more than 80% of CO2 emissions in the last decade.

Kolkata, home to more than 4.5 million inhabitants, is among the top 10 cities across the world that face the most dangerous multi-hazard risks like cyclones, floods, droughts, earthquakes, landslides and are most vulnerable to disaster-related mortality. Rapid urbanisation and near-complete dependence on fossil fuels by the transport sector makes the city's air quality extremely poor while the international scientific consensus is clear: the WHO and 200 other health organisations - many of them Indian - are calling on governments to stop "environmental vandalism” by adopting a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty to protect human and planetary health.

Firhad Hakim, Mayor of Kolkata, said: "Despite various challenges, we have been working on several aspects of climate change and are happy to join this global initiative that is expected to contribute to our climate resilience. It is extremely important to make sure that the city population remains well prepared to minimise the catastrophic future effects of climate change. In this direction we, with support from the state government, have been pushing several actions like running the city's commercial vehicles on non-fossil energy sources from 2030, particularly promoting electric vehicles in a major way; which will significantly reduce the city's carbon footprint. Calling for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty is another feather in the cap for Kolkata.”

Sanjay Vashist, Director, Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA), said:  "I congratulate the city of Kolkata as the first and largest city in the South Asian region to pledge its support to the global call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. Kolkata is demonstrating incredible leadership in calling for an international mechanism to create pathways for a fossil fuel free world and expressing its intent to limit the use of fossil fuel and inculcate climate resilience within the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, in the State of West Bengal. As an old saying goes: 'What Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow.' In this vein, I hope the rest of the metropolitan cities in the South Asian region, already reeling under the effects of rapid urbanisation and climate change, will support the call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. Local efforts, especially at the city level, are extremely important in order to help minimise the catastrophic effects of climate change and adapt to the impacts better."

Despite India and West Bengal's dependence on coal production, Kolkata is demonstrating its desire to move away from reliance on fossil fuels, paving a new way forward for renewable, sustainable development with a diversified economy not tied to the volatile future of coal, oil and gas markets.

Harjeet Singh, Global Engagement Director for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, said: "The city of Kolkata is leading the way and its support for the Fossil Fuel Treaty initiative strengthens the public policies already in place. Climate leadership from climate-vulnerable cities is essential to spur national governments to action. However, from a global perspective, we must not forget that it is the countries of the North, historically responsible for the climate crisis, that must act first to phase out oil, gas and coal. The rich industrialised countries, with the greatest resources for the energy transition, must provide financial support to developing countries and act as true climate leaders."