Record heat, deadly wildfires, droughts, mega storms, and floods are now wreaking havoc around the world on a daily basis. The climate crisis is impossible to ignore.

Burning oil, gas, and coal are to blame. And yet, fossil fuel companies plan to extract more oil,gas, and coal globally than ever.

 

People who have done the least to cause the climate crises are hardest hit by its impacts. Volatile oil and gas prices drive up the cost of living. Rising temperatures threaten crops, fisheries, and water supplies and accelerate the spread of infectious diseases. Pollution from drilling and burning fossil fuels chokes the skies and poisons the soil.

Science tells us that to stay within safer climate levels of 1.5°C, the era of fossil fuels must come to an end. Renewable energy is the safer, cheaper, and cleaner way to provide good jobs and a livable future.

 

Governments must act urgently. To limit global temperature to livable levels, they need to:

  • STOP all new oil & gas production and infrastructure projects. 

Any new oil & gas production licences, leases, or contracts should be halted with immediate effect. We must end approval and funding of any new infrastructure to transport or consume fossil fuels, including pipelines, liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals, power plants, and heating systems in buildings.

  • PHASE OUT all fossil fuels: establish a clear end date for oil, gas and coal production and use, ensuring a fast, fair and equitable transition.

Commit to an end date for fossil fuel production and use, aligned to globally agreed targets to limit global warming to 1.5°C and to principles of fairness and equity. Devise and implement a managed scheme to gradually remove fossil fuels from energy systems and take fields out of production as new sources of clean, renewable energy come online.

  • DOUBLE the pace of energy efficiency by 2030 (from 2020 levels). 

Reduce waste in energy systems by employing well-proven energy efficiency measures across all sectors, while spurring technological and societal innovation, incentivizing sustainable behaviors, and developing circular economies.

  • TRIPLE renewable energy capacity by 2030: by deploying at least 1,500 GW of new renewable energy capacity each year by 2030 and beyond.

Embrace the electrification of the global economy based on renewable energy sources. Drastically ramp up investment in renewable energies from solar and wind at a global scale, from today’s US$1.3 trillion per year to over $4 trillion per year by 2030. Avoid relying on dangerous distractions like carbon capture and hydrogen.

  • DELIVER TRILLIONS of dollars of financing for rapid, just and equitable transition to 100% RE systems and adaptation in developing countries.

Provide the necessary incentives and taxation instruments to increase finance flows into developing countries towards the US$4 trillion a year or higher; the core element of finance must be from public sources.

 

Download PDF for 5 steps to phase out fossil fuels – PDF