The wave of mobilisations to end fossil fuels started on Friday, September 15, 2023, with millions of people on every continent, marching, rallying and striking for a #FastFairForever end to the fossil fuels devastating the climate and worsening inequality.
From Pacific nations, heavily affected by sea level rise and storms, through Mumbai to Manila, London to Nairobi, over 650 actions across 60 countries are planned over the weekend, culminating in a march in New York City on September 17, in support of the UN Secretary General António Guterres’s call for nations to make ambitious commitments to phase out fossil fuels at the upcoming Climate Ambition Summit.
More than 3,800 organisations are said to have endorsed the demands of the marches, which are expected to draw millions of participants.
The Global Fight to End Fossil Fuels calls for nations to renew and enhance their commitments for a rapid, just, and equitable phaseout from fossil fuels in favour of sustainable renewables. The campaign opposes the fossil fuel industry, which is said to have made obscene profits at the expense of the world’s people, biodiversity and a safe and liveable climate. It calls on governments and companies to immediately end fossil fuel expansion and subsidies.
Tzeporah Berman, International Programme Director at Stand.earth and Chair of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, said: “For decades, people around the world have been pushing to end the expansion and toxic, extractive legacy of fossil fuel production. Many battles have been won yet the fossil fuel industry’s greed continues to grow the climate, health, economic, and security risks associated with oil, gas, and coal. Now, the end of the fossil fuel era is finally upon us. People around the world are joining their efforts together under a common call to move away from fossil fuels in a way that is fast, fair, and forever. Collective action is growing, starting with a global youth mobilisation on September 15 and followed by a march in New York City on September 17 which will be amplified by events on every continent and online.
“Supporters of a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty will be deeply engaged, rallying around a bold yet simple idea. Accelerate the adoption of renewable energy and other low-carbon solutions, end the expansion of oil, gas, and coal given there is no room to do so and ensure humanity’s survival and phase out existing production to keep people, communities, and our environment safe. Momentum is building with the State of California being the largest economy in the world to endorse the call for a Fossil Fuel Treaty and as seven Pacific Island Nations bring that call to United Nations meetings in New York in September.”
Seble Samuel, Head of Africa Campaigns & Advocacy for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative: “The Africa Climate Summit has ended in deception. Fossil fuel interests have hijacked what was a unique opportunity for our continent to position itself as a climate and renewable energy leader. Despite this failure, the summit was a triumph for African movements, holding firm to the imperative to collectively build an Africa free from fossil fuels. We are taking this collective energy and people power to every corner of the world for the global mobilizations to end fossil fuels from September 15-17.
“This international cooperation and solidarity is vital if we are to move away from fossil fuel dependence and catalyse an energy transition that is just. Global North political leaders gathering in New York must respond to the UNSG’s calls for them to shoulder their climate debts owed to Africa and the vast territories and geographies around the world not responsible and terribly impacted by the climate crisis. The upcoming Climate Ambition Summit must mark the commitment of wealthy countries to support the call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, the missing mechanism for a just transition away from fossil fuels to renewable energy for all, on the scale of our planet, which is already on fire.”
Luisa Fernanda Umaña Hernández – Member of Censat Agua Viva’s Energy and Climate Justice team: “In Colombia there is currently a government that mentions climate justice as a priority in its political agenda. This is the result of struggles to defend territories from the dispossession generated by the fossil model. International efforts to move away from the fossil economy are a fundamental support to strengthen community demands that escalate into government decisions, such as joining the BOGA.
“We hope that the next step will be for Colombia to join the call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, a fundamental proposal to concretely implement a just energy transition for fossil-dependent countries like Colombia and many others. We join the global mobilisations to end fossil fuels and we call on decision-makers meeting in New York to support the transitions we are already building, both for the planet and for humanity.”
