Renowned Canadian climate activist and advocate as well as Chair and Founder of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, Tzeporah Berman, has been named to the 2024 TIME100 Climate List, TIME’s prestigious annual compilation of the most influential and innovative leaders making a difference in the fight against climate change.
From her early days campaigning in Canada to her current leadership on international platforms, Berman’s dedication to climate action has made her a driving force for systemic change, disclosed the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, adding that she has been instrumental in transformative campaigns that have shaped environmental policies and raised public awareness about the urgent need to address climate change by phasing out fossil fuel production.
Berman said: “I am truly honoured to be included in the 2024 TIME100 Climate list. It wasn’t that long ago that those of us calling to keep fossil fuels in the ground were considered radicals. This recognition is a validation of the work of many who have marched, protested and spoken out about the need to stop the relentless expansion of oil, gas and coal and the need for new international cooperation to ensure we move quickly to build cleaner and safer energy systems.
“For decades, impacted communities from Canada to the Amazon have spoken out against new fossil fuel projects and I am honoured to work with them and bring a solution like the Fossil Fuel Treaty centre stage so that they are not fighting alone anymore. Together, we are a force capable of ending the dirty era of fossil fuels. We encourage more countries to stand up to the fossil fuel industry and protect what we love.”
Berman found her voice in 1993 on a logging blockade in Canada’s Clayoquot Sound, the largest remaining temperate growth rainforests in the world, when a friend handed her a megaphone. That summer, at 22 years old, she was arrested and charged with 857 counts of criminal aiding and abetting and faced six years in jail.
What was then called the “War in the Woods” resulted in one of the largest wildlife protection agreements in world history, with 85% of what became known as the Great Bear Rainforest being protected. The Great Bear Rainforest agreement established the right of First Nations in the region to co-manage the Great Bear Rainforest with the government and develop conservation-based economic opportunities.
In the decades since then, Berman has designed successful advocacy campaigns and policies and led environmental negotiations with industry and government. As a co-founder of Stand.earth (previously called ForestEthics), Berman continued her work challenging destructive logging practices in Canada, the Amazon and around the world. What became clear to her is that what lay below forests was threatening ecosystem health and diversity as much as logging – oil and gas and the incessant greed drive to extract it.
Recognising that the world’s future hinges on our ability to rethink our dependence on fossil fuels, Berman then turned her attention to this threat. She was co-Director of Greenpeace International’s Climate and Energy Programme before moving on to act as Executive Director of the Tar Sands Network to coordinate campaigns in Canada and internationally. This initiative contributed to the rejection of major projects including Northern Gateway and Energy East, and provided a foundation to further expand her work internationally.
Berman co-found the Global Oil and Gas Network and, in 2019, was awarded the $2 million Climate Breakthrough Project Award to develop a bold new global fossil fuel phase out strategy, the culmination of which was shared via a highly viewed TED Talk presenting the case for a global treaty to phase out fossil fuels.
Today, she leads the bold, groundbreaking Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative she founded, a diverse movement seeking to negotiate a global, binding plan to complement the Paris Agreement by addressing the main causes of the climate crisis – oil, gas and coal. Working alongside a growing group of now 14 nations and 115 local and subnational governments from around the world, Berman is leading the charge to halt the expansion of fossil fuel production, advocating for a just and equitable transition to clean energy.
Kumi Naidoo, recently appointed President of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative and a longtime mentor for Berman, expressed his admiration for her dedication: “Tzeporah is a trailblazer in the battle for climate justice. Her dedication to mobilising nations and pushing for urgent action on fossil fuels inspires us all. In the face of climate inaction, she is a powerful reminder that we have both the agency and the responsibility to create a sustainable and equitable future. As the world turns its attention toward COP29 – a moment where decisions will shape our collective future, Tzeporah’s recognition reinforces the idea that with courage, determination, and cooperation, we can and must confront the climate crisis head-on.”
Berman has been listed as one of the 35 Most Influential Women in British Columbia by BC Business magazine, awarded the YWCA Women of Distinction Award in British Columbia, and was included into the BC Royal Museum permanent exhibit of one of 150 people who have changed the face of British Columbia. She lives on unceded Tsleiwatuth, Squamish and Musqueam territories in Vancouver, Canada. Berman holds an honorary doctorate from the University of British Columbia and was an adjunct professor at York University for five years.
The 2024 TIME100 Climate list features leaders from various backgrounds who are making significant impacts in the realm of environmental policy and action. This year’s edition also includes many champions of the Fossil Fuel Treaty initiative, like the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia, Susana Muhamad; the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan; Kenyan environmentalist, Wanjira Mathai; and Australian businessman founder and chairman of Fortescue Metals Group, Andrew Forrest.
“As COP29 kicks off in Baku, the recognition of these powerful leaders serves as a powerful reminder to heads of state of the collective responsibility to mobilise resources, influence policy, and drive meaningful change to protect our planet,” submitted the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative.
