2023-12-02 09:01:29
Dear COP28 Presidency,
Over 320 civil society organizations say:
This United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) must unlock an equitable global energy transition that phases out fossil fuels – the primary cause of the climate crisis.
COP28 has the potential to be an historic moment in confronting the climate crisis. The COP28 Presidency has an opportunity to secure a transformational negotiated outcome, if it secures a robust negotiated energy package, including an unambiguous agreement to end all new oil and gas expansion, a clear call to equitably and rapidly phase out all fossil fuels, and a commitment to triple deployment of nature-positive and community-beneficial renewable energy and double energy efficiency.
However, instead of focusing on this historic opportunity, the COP28 Presidency appears to have been encouraging fossil fuel companies to make yet another set of hollow voluntary pledgeswith no accountability mechanism or guarantee the companies will follow through. Releasing another in the long succession of voluntary industry commitments that end up being breached will not make COP28 a success. Voluntary efforts are insufficient, and are a distraction from the task at hand.
Over 310 civil society organizations agree: COP28 must adopt a comprehensive energy transformation package with legal force – including a full, fast, fair, and funded fossil fuel phaseout, renewable energy and energy efficiency targets, real protections for people and nature, and massively scaled up public funding on fair terms. This is a chance for the COP28 Presidency to show true leadership.
This year, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reiterated its finding multiple times that any new oil, gas and coal expansion beyond existing fields and mines is incompatible with keeping warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius (°C). The November 2023 update of the Global Oil & Gas Exit List confirmed that oil and gas companies worldwide still plan to produce far more oil and gas than can ever be burned to limit warming to 1.5ºC – with the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) ranking very worst in terms of overshoot beyond the IEA’s 1.5ºC scenario.
The only way to achieve the ambition of the Paris Agreement is to substantially reduce the extraction and consumption of fossil fuels, starting now. In fact, Oil Change International research shows that far too much oil, gas, and coal is already developed: 60% of the fossil fuels in currently active fields and mines must stay in the ground to limit global temperature to 1.5 °C.
Despite this, fossil fuel companies and their enablers – including some governments – appear to be trying to ignore the scientific reality, pretending cutting their operational emissions is enough to meet climate targets, while approving new projects that expand overall oil and gas production and worsen the climate crisis.
Through this year, media reports have covered successive versions of COP28 Presidency led “Global Decarbonization Accelerator” (the “Global Decarbonization Accelerator” has also been referenced as the “Oil and Gas Decarbonization Accelerator”, the “Oil and Gas Charter”, and the “Global Decarbonization Alliance”) that serves primarily to greenwash the fossil fuel industry. Even the most recent drafts appear to contain only limited commitments to address these companies’ operational emissions, while ignoring the vast majority of their total emissions. In reality, 80 to 90 percent of oil and gas companies’ emissions result when the fossil fuels they produce and sell are burned (called ‘scope 3’ emissions) – which this voluntary commitment entirely ignores.
Reducing oil and gas operational emissions without sharp reductions in overall fossil fuel production will fail to achieve the cuts in methane emissions necessary to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Cutting methane pollution from the oil and gas supply chain is an important component of near-term emissions reductions – but it is not enough on its own. A new report from the IEA and the Climate and Clean Air Coalition released October 11 makes clear that the only way to limit global temperature rise to 1.5ºC is to phase out fossil fuels, and that methane reductions serve only to ensure that operational emissions do not undermine progress toward that goal. The IEA has stated repeatedly that the story of carbon capture and storage “has largely been one of unmet expectations”. The only safe and effective way to “clean up” fossil fuel pollution is to phase out fossil fuels.
Methane emissions and gas flaring are symptoms of a more than century-long legacy of wasteful, destructive practices that are routine in the oil and gas industry as it pursues massive profits without regard for the consequences. That the industry, at this crucial moment in the climate emergency, is offering to clean up its mess around the edges in lieu of the rapid oil and gas phase-out that is needed is an insult to the billions impacted both by climate change and the industry’s appalling legacy of pollution and community health impacts.
By refusing to commit to address the emissions from oil and gas being burned and to end fossil fuel expansion, the proposed ‘Global Decarbonization Accelerator’ would serve as a smokescreen to hide the reality that we need to phase out oil, gas, and coal.
Voluntary commitments are a dangerous distraction from what is needed at COP28. Oil and gas companies meeting to sign a pledge that only deals with their operational emissions is like a group of arsonists meeting to promise to light fires more efficiently.
We encourage the COP28 Presidency to drop the Global Decarbonization Accelerator and instead work with all negotiators at COP to secure a comprehensive energy transition package, including a full, fair, fast, and funded phase-out of all fossil fuel production and use.
Yours faithfully,
350.org
Greenpeace
Oil Change International
The Climate Reality Project
Earthworks
Tearfund
Sierra Club
Environmental Defence Canada
Oxfam International
WWF International
Avaaz
Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED)
Germanwatch
Bretton Woods Project
American Jewish World Service
Leave it in the Ground Initiative (LINGO)
World Benchmarking Alliance
Recourse
Indigenous Environmental Network
Uplift
Climate Nexus
Stand.earth
Climate Action Network Australia
Third Act
Friends of the Earth United States
Transport & Environment
Progressive Democrats of America
Zero Hour
Shift: Action For Pension Wealth & Planet Health
COOKER HOOD
Rainforest Action Network
The Climate Route
Parents for Climate Aotearoa
Transformative Wealth Management
Judson Memorial Church
350 New Zealand
Public Power New Mexico
Mental Health & Inclusion Ministries
Equiterre
Pax Christi Toronto
Lebanon Pipeline Awareness
Southwest Organization for Sustainability
Working for Racial Equity
Climate Risk Horizons
Citizen Movement against Climate Change
Human, Environmental and Leadership Prevalent Center (HELP Center)
Damascus Citizens for Sustainability
Climate Generation
Physicians for Social Responsibillity, AZchapter
Responsible Decarbonization Alliance (RDA)
Concerned Health Professionals of Pennsylvania
Mindful Money
Hibiscus Coast Zero Waste (The Sustainable North Trust)
self
TIAA-Divest!
Third Act Richmond, VA
People, Energy and Environment Development Association
Our Sacred Earth
New York Progressive Action Network
350 Mass
Environment and Conservation Organisations of New Zealand, ECO
Resource Renewal Institute
ColorbrightonGreen.org
Milwaukee Riverkeeper
Positive Money UK
Western Slope Businesses for a Livable Climate
Sustainable CSRA
Strategic Response on Environmental Conservation (STREC)
350 Yakima Climate Action
Friends of the Earth Spain
Healthy4Purpose
Generation Zero
Long Beach Alliance for Clean Energy
Flackville Fir Farm
Peace, Justice, Sustainability NOW!
Center for a Sustainable Coast
Aotearoa New Zealand Human Rights Foundation
Mayfair Park Neighborhood Association
ClimateVoice, a project of Tides Center
South Durban Community Environmental Aliance
Climate Club
Plastic Pollution Coalition
Third Act North Carolina
350NYC
People for a Healthy Environment
Elmirans and Friends Against Fracking
The Park Church in Elmira
Larimer Alliance for Health, Safety, & Environment
Sierra Club Moshannon Group
Association for Farmers Rights Defense, AFRD
198 methods
New Progressive Alliance
Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania
Peace Movement Aotearoa
Common Ground Rising
350Juneau–Climate Action for Alaska
DJs For Climate Action
The Climate Center
Eco Action Families
Bronx Jews for Climate Action
Gender Equality: Citizenship, Work and Family
Polar Bears International
Montbello Neighborhood Improvement Association
Youth United for Climate Crisis Action
Kamukunji Paralegal Trust (KAPLET)
Western Environmental Law Center
FIMA NGO
Unite North Metro Denver
Community for Sustainable Energy
Stop Rosebank
Mom Loves Taiwan Association
350 Milwaukee
Climate Defenders
Care About Climate
The Revolving Door Project
Green House Connection Center
Virginia Community Rights Network
Kauai Climate Action Coalition
The Norwegian Nature Conservancy
Crooked Creek Conservancy Society
Virginia Citizens Consumer Council
Global Sustainability
SoCal 350 Climate Action
The Last Plastic Straw
Campus Climate Network
Citizens’ Climate Europe
For a Better Bayou
Climate Safe Lending Network
Climate Action California
Bank Climate Advocates
NEPA Green Coalition
StopPlastics
Latino Outdoors
Vote Climate
SLO Clean Water
350Wenatchee
Save the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Texas Campaign for the Environment
North American Climate, Conservation and Environment(NACCE)
Earth Path Sanctuary
Turtle Island Restoration Network
GLOBAL 2000
Climate Action Merribek
The Victoria Secular Humanist Association
Democratic Socialists of America Southwest Louisiana
Fast For the Climate
SanDiego350
Climate culture (Norway)
350 Triangle
Accelerate Neighborhood Climate Action
Berks Gas Truth
Better Path Coalition
No False Solutions (PA)
Earth Neighborhood Productions
Living Oceans Society
Workshop fo All Beings
350 Montreal
Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments
Pennsylvania Interfaith Power & Light
Solutions for Our Climate
AbibiNsroma Foundation
Mountain Lakes Preservation Alliance
Intertwined faith community
North Range Concerned Citizens
The People’s Justice Council
Bank Information Center
Climate Action Team of First Parish Framingham, MA
Climate Reality Massachusetts Southcoast
350 Bay Area
Peoples Climate Movement – NY
Mind’s Eye Productions
Sustainable Upton
Climate Families NYC
Center for International Environmental Law
North Country Earth Action
Mothers Rise Up
UK Youth Climate Coalition
Creatives for Climate
Canadian Voice of Women for Peace
ClimateFast
Preserve Montgomery County VA
Pro Information Pro Environment United People Network PIPE UP Network
The Climate Reality Project, Western New York Chapter
MARBE SA
Interfaith Power & Light
The Phoenix Group
Azul
General House of the Society of the Sacred Heart
Businesses for a Livable Climate
Colorado Businesses for a Livable Climate
RapidShift Network
Small Business Alliance
New Energy Economy
Climate Justice Saskatoon
Green Education and Legal Fund
350 Silicon Valley
International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute
Chatham Research Group
FrackBustersNY
Earth Action, Inc.
Reboot PH
Church Women United in New York State
Foundation for Environmental Management and CampaignAgainst Poverty
Oil and Gas Action Network
System Change Not Climate Change
412Justice
Physicians for Social Responsibility
350 Colorado
Climate Action for Lifelong Learners (CALL)
MarchOnHarrisburg
Native Movement
Centre for Climate Safety
7th Generation Initiative
350Brooklyn
Fossil Free California
Citizens Alliance for Saving the Atmosphere and the Earth (CASA)
Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines
Seas at Risk
Baruch Initiative for Transformation
Fridays For Future Uganda
Rise to Thrive
Instituto Talanoa
Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance
Cleantech21 Foundation
RootsAction.org
Urgewald
Seventh Generation
Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network
Climate Connections
Wall of Women
Peace Action WI
Alaska Community Action on Toxics
Corporate Europe Observatory
350 Eugene
Centre for Social Change
Climate Action Iowa
Littleton Business Alliance
LIVE International
Santa Cruz Climate Action Network
Tompkins County Climate Protection Initiative
GreeningUSA
Rapid Transition Alliance
350 Eastside (Seattle)
Indivisible Ambassadors
Quantum Leap
Interstate 70 Citizens Advisory Group
350 New Hampshire Action
Breathe Easy Susquehanna County
Our Kids’ Climate
Brown Grove Preservation Group
Womxn from the Mountain
Eco-Justice Collaborative of the American Baptist Churches, Rochester-Genesee Region
Greece Baptist Church Sustainability Team
Green 13
350 STL
Climate Hawks Vote
Elders Climate Action
Vessel Project of Louisiana
PRESERVE MONROE
Centre for Citizens Conserving Environment & Management (CECIC)
NY Climate Advocacy Project
Rtse Up WV
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC)
350 Pensacola
Mother Earth Project
Buy Local, Grow Local
Ocean Defense Initiative
Climate Mental Health Network
Animals Are Sentient Beings, Inc.
Young Volunteers for the Environment
Spirit of the Sun
Earth Justice Ministries
350Merced
Sunflower Alliance
People’s Coalition for the Right to Water (KRuHA – Indonesia)
MAUSAM (Movement for Advancing Understanding of Sustainability And Mutuality
350 Tacoma
Call to Action Colorado
Catholic Network US
Climate Observatory
Don’t Waste Arizona
Tools For Solidarity
EKOenergy ecolabel
Green World Consulting
Friends of the Earth Malta
Move Past Plastic
Breathe
NGO Forum on ADB
Unitarian Universalists for a Just Economic Community
Responsible Future
Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter
Coal Action Network Aotearoa
Cooperative Energy Futures
Climate delegation eV
Climate Crisis Policy
The Earth Bill Network
EcoEquity
Center for Oil and Gas Organizing
Delaware Riverkeeper Network
Justice Is Global
Peacemakers of Schoharie County
Los Jardines Institute
People of Asia for Climate Solutions
TEAL Climate
Tikkun Olam Chavurah
Nuclear Energy Information Service (NEIS)
350 Sacramento
Interfaith EarthKeepers
Extinction Rebellion San Francisco Bay Area
San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council
Climate Action for Lifelong Learners (CALL)
Labor Network for Sustainability
Environmental Defense
350 Seattle
The Enviro Show
Emergenzaclimatica.it
Climate Out of the Fossil Campaign
Climate Action Now (Western Massachusetts)
Concerned Health Professionals of Pennsylvania
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#Open #Letter #World #Transformational #Outcome #Voluntary #Pledges