Just nine days before world leaders meet at the UN Climate Talks in Dubai, the European Parliament has just voted to set its demands for the COP28 negotiations, including a clear demand for nation states to join the growing bloc of governments seeking to negotiate a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty:
“The European Parliament supports a global target for tripling renewable energy and doubling energy efficiency by 2030 at COP28, together with a tangible phase out of fossil fuels as soon as possible to keep 1,5°C within reach, including halting all new investments in fossil fuel extraction; urges the Union and the Member States to take a proactive and constructive role in that regard; reiterates its call to the Commission, the Member States and other Parties to work on developing a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty.”
The resolution voted on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, marks the second year in a row that the European Parliament reiterated its support for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty proposal in their COP28 position. The resolution received support from a wide range of political parties, including the Greens and Renew.
Unlike the European Council’s pre-COP common position, the European Parliament’s text avoids loopholes such as only phasing out ‘unabated’ fossil fuels, and calls for a tangible and equitable exit from all fossil fuels.
Pär Holmgren, Swedish Member of the European Parliament (Greens/European Free Alliance), who proposed the original amendment calling for a Fossil Fuel Treaty in 2022 as well as this year, said: “The call to the Commission and Member States to triple global renewable energies by 2030 must urgently be combined with a call to halt all new oil, gas and coal projects now, and to phase out fossil fuel projects currently in production. This is exactly what the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty proposes.
“For the second time, the EU Parliament is calling on Member States and the Commission to work with the growing number of countries around the world who formally support the Fossil Fuel Treaty proposal. We need a detailed plan now – with a precise timeline and funding – to end our energy dependence on fossil fuels. Europe has a vital role to play in this just transition to clean and sustainable energies, both for our citizens in Europe and for those in the rest of the world.”
Marie Toussaint, French Member of the European Parliament actively pushing for Europe to take a leading role in the global fossil fuel phase-out, said: “The COP is the crucial moment to save nothing less than the climate and the planet. I support the adoption of a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty to finally put an end to the fossil age. Not a single new fossil fuel project must see daylight. Not a single climate bomb must be built. Since last year, 8 countries have supported the treaty, 8 countries directly threatened by the effects of climate change. Furthermore, we are more than 600 members of parliament from all over the world support this initiative!
“Today’s European Parliament resolution urgently needs to be heeded by the Commission and the leaders of the member states. At a time when fossil fuel lobbies once again enjoy almost unlimited access to climate action negotiations, and when it is becoming urgent to prevent these companies from influencing our policies, let’s show that the fossil era is over, let’s show that we want to act for climate and social justice, and let’s adopt the Fossil fuels Non-Proliferation Treaty!”
Minister Ralph Regenvanu, Minister for Climate Change Adaptation, Energy, Environment, Meteorology, Geohazards and Disaster Management of Vanuatu, the nation state spearheading the global push for a Fossil Fuel Treaty, said: “Ambitious renewable energy targets, like we’ve just seen agreed by the EU bloc, can help support the global transition away from coal, oil and gas we urgently need. In our own region, we are working toward creating a Fossil Fuel Free Pacific. We call on the EU to take the next step in supporting a just transition by joining us and a growing bloc of nation states in seeking the negotiation of a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. We also call on the largest fossil fuel producer in our region, Australia, to respond to calls from the Pacific and now from Europe by ending the expansion of any new coal and gas projects, and setting strong, science-aligned dates for phasing out existing fossil fuel production.”
With international climate negotiations starting at COP28 in Dubai next week, attention and pressure is mounting on whether governments will support a fossil fuel phase-out. World leaders must not only mention the imperative to move away from fossil fuel production in any COP28 outcome text but also agree to set a binding, detailed exit plan through a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Gillian Cooper, Political Director for the Fossil Fuel Treaty initiative, said: “After almost 30 years of climate negotiations, fossil fuels are taking centre stage. But warm words about phasing out oil, gas and coal are not enough. Governments must finally face up to the root cause of climate change and, above all, draw up a plan to accelerate the phase-out. The European Parliament has for the second time made clear its view that the EU needs to join those working for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.
“The climate crisis has reached a tipping point and we have seen its devastating impacts across Europe this year. We therefore call on European decision-makers going to Dubai to waste no more time and convert their warm words on a phase-out into endorsing what can be a major part of the solution – an international agreement that ends the era of fossil fuels fast, fairly and forever. ”
The push for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty is spearheaded by a bloc of eight nation states from the Pacific, the Caribbean and South Asia. The global network behind the proposal is now formed by 2,200 civil society organisations, over 3,000+ scientists and academics, 101 Nobel laureates, the World Health Organisation and hundreds of health professionals, Vatican Cardinals and thousands of religious institutions, a growing number of grassroots organisations, nine Peruvian indigenous nations, thousands of youth activists, 100 cities including Los Angeles, Kolkata, Lima, Vancouver, London, and Warsaw, more than 600 Parliamentarians across the world and a growing number of businesses.
