Maine becomes the third U.S. state to join the global momentum for an equitable energy transition, joining a growing call from coastal communities to stand behind this proposal

Portland, Main / Key West, Florida - Maine lawmakers announced their endorsement of the proposal for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty this week, making it the third U.S. state, after Hawai’i and California, to join the global call for a fast and equitable energy transition. This comes on the heels of an endorsement from Key West, Florida, as coastal communities increasingly demand protection for the people and places they care for from rising temperatures, pollution, loss of biodiversity, among other threats caused by fossil fuel production.

On Tuesday, Maine’s democratically-held Senate passed a resolution affirming the State Legislature's commitment to the Paris Agreement, and calling on the U.S. Government to support a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. The resolution was introduced by Representative Rebecca Millett, and co-sponsored by Senator Stacy Brenner. As a complement to current global climate treaties, a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty would hold governments and the fossil fuel industry accountable for impacts on lives and livelihoods from the burning and production of oil, gas and coal. 

“The extreme weather we’ve experienced here in Maine this winter, including severe storms and devastating coastal flooding, is evidence that the climate crisis is not a distant concern to be dealt with far off in the future – it is a threat right now,” said Representative Millet. “The provisions outlined in the Paris Climate Agreement are essential to addressing this crisis head on, and the United States has a responsibility to be a global leader in the critical effort to end our reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate the worst impacts of climate change. I am thankful that this resolution was adopted by both the Maine House and Senate, affirming our state’s commitment to preserving our planet for future generations.”

Solidifying its commitment to combating the ongoing climate crisis, the State of Maine becomes the third U.S. State to join local communities around the world in a global effort to make the Fossil Fuel Treaty proposal a reality. Over 100 cities and subnational governments have endorsed the Treaty initiative, including most recently Key West, Florida, Hawai’i, and the State of California - the fifth largest economy in the world.

“This endorsement, alongside that of Key West and California, shows that it is the communities that are feeling the most acute effects of climate change that will carve out a pathway to a sustainable future for all. Coastal storms, wildfires, and rising sea levels are threatening their lives and livelihoods, and through the power of local leadership they are signaling that change is both needed, and possible,” said Lucas Snaije, Cities & Subnational Campaign Coordinator at the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative.

Around the world, a growing bloc of 12 nations - Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Tonga, Fiji, Niue, the Solomon Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, Timor-Leste, Palau, Colombia, Samoa and Nauru - have endorsed this initiative. The Treaty is also supported by the World Health Organization, the European Parliament, nine Peruvian Indigenous Nations, 2,500+ civil society organizations, and over half a million individuals, including Nobel Laureates, 3,000 leading academics, scientists, hundreds of Indigenous, health, youth and faith groups, celebrities and influencers who understand the imperative of this crucial crusade.

“This resolution holds a profound significance not only for our generation, but also for the wellbeing of our planet for generations to come,” said Senator Brenner in the Maine Morning Star. “We find ourselves in a pivotal moment in history where the choices we make today will determine the future of our environment and the quality of life for all living beings.” 

Findings from the United Nations Environment Programme indicate that governments are planning to expand fossil fuel production at double the amount that would be consistent with keeping within 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming, the temperature threshold agreed upon by the international scientific community. This conflicts with national government commitments under the Paris Agreement, but despite this threat, there is no mechanism in place to limit fossil fuel expansion. A Treaty would provide the missing framework for coordinating a global wind down of oil, gas and coal production and fair energy and economic transition where countries with the greatest financial and institutional capacity such as the United States, UK, Norway and Canada lead and support nations with greater dependence on fossil fuels to shift away from fossil fuels.