Hi John,

So far at COP26 true leadership has been shown by Indigenous communities, young people and grassroot activists, not only in Glasgow but all around the world taking action for our planet. But we need more from government representatives and world leaders in the building. 

At the halfway point of the talks, countries have announced a string of voluntary agreements containing vague language and big loopholes. To make matters worse we’ve just seen the first draft of the Glasgow decision text - which lays out the next steps for nations to tackle the climate crisis and is what countries will sign when COP26 ends. Staggeringly, phasing out fossil fuels isn’t even mentioned! [1] At this crucial moment we need a firm commitment to end one of the most destructive foundations of the climate crisis.

Alok Sharma, the president of COP26 can and must work harder to get that agreed in writing this week. He has to use his position to get governments to commit to ending fossil fuels and support developing nations, will you tell him to step up?

The science couldn’t be clearer. Burning fossil fuels is the biggest driver of the climate crisis. And if we are to save ourselves from catastrophe and limit warming to below 1.5°C experts say countries need to end new coal, oil and gas immediately. [2] This has been known for decades but after a quarter of a century of climate talks world leaders haven’t officially acknowledged reducing fossil fuel use as the action needed to tackle climate change once! It’s like not mentioning smoking cigarettes at a lung cancer conference.

Fossil fuel interests have consistently blocked action on reducing fossil fuels, just as tobacco companies lobbied against policies to stop people from smoking.

It sickens me to tell you that the fossil fuel industry has the most delegates at COP26 - more than any country. [3] And fossil fuel producing countries like Saudi Arabia and Australia are doing all they can to stop fossil fuel reduction even being mentioned in the final decision text that comes out of COP26.

The president of COP26 can influence what delegates discuss and decide on by the end of this week. He must push for a final agreement that:

• Commits governments across the world to end fossil fuels
• Ensures wealthy countries significantly scale up their financial support for poorer nations to tackle the climate crisis and adapt to its damaging impacts  

Will you send a quick email to Alok Sharma and help fight against fossil fuel corruption?

There’s no dispute that we can’t tackle the climate crisis without phasing out fossil fuels. And we know this is the last decade we have to avert full climate breakdown. For countries in the Global South that are already being badly affected by this crisis and for future generations we must act now. 

Please email COP26 president Alok Sharma now.

Thank you for being with us at such a crucial time.

All the best,

Jack

Greenpeace UK

[1] COP26 final text 1st draft 

[2] Net Zero by 2050 - A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector

[3] COP26: Fossil fuel industry has largest delegation at climate summit

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