Three things to take away from the climate conference in Dubai
Is this email not displaying correctly? View in your browser ([link removed])
Hi John,
At the end of COP28, I wanted to write and thank you for all the actions you have taken to stand up for climate justice and support our work to demand an end to fossil fuels.
We felt hopeful at times in the fortnight that COP could end with a clear agreement to phase out fossil fuels. The final outcome fell a long way short of that, and was filled with loopholes – world leaders are still failing to rise to the most important challenge any of them face. But there are rays of light in the darkness, narrow windows of opportunity which we can work together to throw open wider – from Colombia endorsing the Fossil Fuel Treaty, to the loss and damage fund being established.
You can read our full media reaction to COP28 here ([link removed]) .
I also wanted to share here our key takeaways from the last two weeks.
** 1. COP28 proved we need a Fossil Fuel Treaty
------------------------------------------------------------
The COP28 agreement finally put fossil fuels in the firing line, with wording that signalled the need to transition away from fossil fuels for the first time. But the final agreement is filled with loopholes, dangerous distractions and massive funding gaps. It allows rich nations to treat gravely needed climate action as an ‘opt-in’, while continuing to expand their arsenals of fossil fuels.
It’s small wonder we are here, when record numbers of fossil fuel lobbyists were once again given access to the world’s most important climate talks.
Many world leaders spent the last two weeks pretending to wring their hands about the climate crisis while taking active steps to block the action needed to solve it. The UK, for instance, has joined other rich nations in demanding a fossil fuel phase out, without promising anything like the funds rich countries must pay to make it happen – and being unapologetic about plans to ‘max out’ the UK’s oil and gas fields in the North Sea.
Saying that rich countries must fund the energy transition is not asking for an act of charity. The UK is the fourth highest historic emitter in the world. It destabilised much of the global south through colonialism. It must fund the energy transition. This is necessary for global justice.
The failures of COP28 are exactly why we need a new system of international cooperation to exit the fossil fuel era. COP is poisoned by the deadly fossil fuel industry, and too dependent on the agreement of every single country to create real change. We need a new process alongside it that puts climate vulnerable countries in the driving seat and gives them true power to shape the transition that COP28 acknowledged is needed.
The movement for a Fossil Fuel Treaty is ever-growing. As well as buy-in from highly climate-vulnerable island states, Colombia also took the historic step at COP28 of being the first oil-producing country to join the call.
We will be stepping up our campaign to build support for the treaty in the UK in the months ahead - you can help by signing our petition to the party leaders now.
Support the Fossil Fuel Treaty now ([link removed])
If you want to know more about the campaign for a global exit plan, and how you can get involved in making it a reality, join our online event ‘Winning a fossil-free future: The international fight against fossil fuels and the case for a global exit plan’ on 22 January.
Our speakers will discuss the international fight against fossil fuels, the hows and whys of the Fossil Fuel Treaty itself, and crucially, how you can help make the treaty happen from wherever you are in the UK.
Join the Fossil Fuel Treaty webinar on 22 January ([link removed])
** 2. The power of movements is the antidote to the climate crisis
------------------------------------------------------------
Regardless of the weasel words that world leaders cook up in private meetings, our call is still clear and it won't change: end fossil fuels. Fully and forever.
We must stop all fossil fuel expansion. We must make a global plan that would make sure all countries can phase out to fair timelines and account for which countries have been making trillions from belching out emissions and draining resources from the global south.
We must fight for a just and equitable transition around the world that sees the global north pay up for fixing the crisis it has overwhelmingly caused.
At COP28, world leaders were forced to talk about ending fossil fuels on the global stage. The final agreement will help us keep forcing them onto the agenda.
But politicians didn’t just wake up one day and decide that they should finally do something about fossil fuels. Oil and gas came to the COP negotiating table from the streets.
It's because of people all around the world, including you, taking action to demand an end to the oil and gas that we know is killing us. Saying that you won't stand by while lives are sacrificed for the profit of oil giants like Shell and BP. Making it undeniable that people around the world want a fossil-free future.
It's clear the fossil fuel industry is scared of this movement and how loudly we are shouting for a full, fast, fair, and funded phase out that is not only necessary for our survival, but also completely possible.
** 3) The movement for climate justice is not going anywhere
------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday 9 December was the global day of action for climate justice, with 275 actions in 40 countries, spanning 4 continents! From Birmingham to Bangkok, Costa Rica to Cameroon, we marched in solidarity with climate justice activists demonstrating at COP28 in Dubai.
In the UK alone there were over 45 actions. It was truly a day of unity, with people coming together from every part of the movement, and all corners of the world, to demand climate justice.
Together we have already achieved so much: fossil fuels are finally on the table. Despite the scale of corporate lobbying to shift attention away from the fossil fuels that we know are driving the climate crisis, world leaders are being forced to talk about them.
That's thanks to the incredible amount of pressure created by the millions of activists who have been working tirelessly on this for years, on the streets, in your communities and online.
Thank you. Change is possible, and we’ll keep fighting.
Izzie McIntosh
Climate campaigner, Global Justice Now
** Big change comes from resilient, empowered and informed movements
------------------------------------------------------------
which consistently and creatively demand a better world.
By joining as a member, you can help bring people together to campaign for a fairer economic system, through activism and events, media exposure and research.
Join today to make our movement stronger.
Join today ([link removed])
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
This email was sent by Global Justice Now, which you are receiving because you most probably signed up on our website, took a campaign action or attended one of our events. If you no longer want to receive our emails you can
update your preferences ([link removed]) or unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
Our mailing address is:
Global Justice Now
66 Offley Road, London SW9 0LS
Phone: 020 7820 4900
Global Justice Now: company no 2098198
Global Justice Now Trust: registered charity no 1064066, company no 3188734
============================================================
