PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 20 October, 2021

New report reaffirms current plans for fossil fuel production are in violation of Paris goals. 

20 OCTOBER 2021 - The latest iteration of the Production Gap Report sends a strong signal ahead of COP26 to industry, investors and governments that tackling fossil fuel production head on is a prerequisite for limiting warming to 1.5°C. 

Despite self-proclaimed climate leaders declaring long term “2050 Net Zero” goals, the lack of action to tackle fossil fuel production today means we are still far off track to meet the Paris temperature target. Released today by the Stockholm Environment Institute, International Institute for Sustainable Development, ODI, E3G, and United Nations Environment Programme, the report finds the world’s governments are still expected to produce more than twice the amount of fossil fuels in 2030 than would be consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C.

Alok Sharma, the COP president, has said he aims to make COP26 the moment the world “consigns coal to history” and is pushing countries to make commitments to end coal generation. Such an aim fails to account for the 57% more oil and 71% more gas that governments’ production plans and projects would generate by 2030 than is consistent with 1.5°C.

Tzeporah Berman, Chair for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative and Stand.earth International Program Director, said: “For decades countries have been negotiating targets and constraining emissions but behind our backs the fossil fuel industry has been growing production. This report makes clear no new oil, gas and coal projects fit with climate action and governments must act now to wind down fossil fuel production. A Fossil Fuel Treaty would help governments do that in a way that is just and equitable.”

Released less than two weeks out from COP26, the report is a strong signal to countries such as the US, Norway and Canada that they cannot go ahead with new oil drilling, pipelines or fracking. The UK, COP26 host, cannot claim climate leader credentials while also building the Cambo oil field. Instead these countries and other wealthy fossil fuel producers must lead and support countries with greater dependence on fossil fuels and be part of the transition to renewable energy and low-carbon economies and communities. 

The Fossil Fuel Treaty would create the missing framework for constraining the supply side of fossil fuels, first stopping expansion and then carefully reducing production all while prioritizing a just transition. Its necessity is made more evident by the lack of progress since the Production Gap Report’s inception. The Treaty’s work with partners towards a Global Registry of Fossil Fuels also answers the report’s call for “verifiable and comparable information on fossil fuel production and support”.

About the Production Gap Report

The report is produced by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), ODI, E3G, and UNEP. More than 80 researchers contributed to the analysis and review, spanning numerous universities, think tanks and other research organizations.

Media contacts:

Viviana Varin, Senior Communications Associate, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty
viviana@fossilfueltreaty.org
+33 6 63 48 52 67

Jemma De Leon, Communications Strategist, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty
jemma@fossilfueltreaty.org
+1 909 536 9714