Thread by @fossiltreaty

🚨 Breaking 🚨 The European Parliament just called for nation-states to “work on developing a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty” in its formal #COP27 resolution.

This is a major development in the global push for a #FossilFuelTreaty.

More at fossilfueltreaty.org/eu or in 🧵

Just 3 weeks ago, H.E. President Nikenike Vurobaravu, President of Vanuatu, invited governments to join them in developing a #FossilFuelTreaty at #UNGA – sparking a wave of diplomatic support for the proposal, including now in the European Parliament. fossilfueltreaty.org/vanuatu

In recent weeks we have seen displays of public support for a #FossilFuelTreaty from the:
🇻🇺 President of Vanuatu
🇹🇱 President of Timor-Leste @JoseRamosHorta1
🇹🇻 Tuvalu Foreign Minister @Simon_Kofe
🇳🇿 NZ Climate Minister @jamespeshaw
🇻🇦 Vatican
⛑ @WHO fossilfueltreaty.org/endorsements

Why do we need a #FossilFuelTreaty?

Despite consistent warnings from scientists that emissions must fall dramatically, even without ANY new fossil fuel projects, there is already more coal, oil & gas under production to take global heating well beyond our 1.5ºC climate target.

But instead of addressing this threat, many governments continue to expand the problem.

In fact, the @UNEP #ProductionGap Report shows that governments plan to produce more than DOUBLE the fossil fuels than is consistent with our global 1.5ºC target.

Despite this, our current international climate agreements make NO explicit mention of fossil fuels.

The #ParisAgreement sets the crucial benchmark for global climate action through its global 1.5ºC goal but makes no mention of coal, oil or gas.

That is why the #ParisAgreement must be complemented by a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty with three pillars:

1️⃣ end expansion of new fossil fuels
2️⃣ phase out current production in line with 1.5ºC
3️⃣ enable a global just transition for every worker, community & country.

The push for a #FossilFuelTreaty to manage a global just transition draws significant lessons from other treaties to manage global threats — on nukes, landmines, chemical weapons, tobacco & CFCs.

More in this recent briefing from @christieamcleod: fossilfueltreaty.org/humanitarian-t…

European Parliament resolutions are not binding on Member States regarding foreign policy but act as recommendations & send a message to governments across Europe ahead of #COP27 that parties from the entire political spectrum support the development of a #FossilFuelTreaty.

Many European nations have the capacity to phase out fossil fuels faster than others.

Europe holds greater historical responsibility for climate change than most & must do its fair share in supporting an equitable, global transition.

More in the equityreview.org 👇

However many European nations are doing the exact opposite of what is required.

Currently many lead a dangerous ‘dash for gas’ in Africa – pivoting from importing Russian gas to pressuring the African Union to expand gas.

See the dont-gas-africa.org campaign for more.

It is crucial that European Parliament’s resolution is used to further pressure European nation-states to act, rather than simply a cause for celebration which could greenwash all European actors as climate leaders.

This is a major moment in the pathway toward a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Want to get into the details? Find out more about legal pathways towards an international mechanism to manage a just transition in this briefing paper: fossilfueltreaty.org/legal-pathways…

In addition, the European Parliament resolution calls for nations to:

🏭“phase out fossil fuels as soon as possible”
💰“halt all new investments in fossil fuel extraction”
💸“end fossil fuel subsidies”

More in this press release: fossilfueltreaty.org/eu

If you've made it this far, thank you – a big 🧵for a big moment with important nuance regarding equity & climate justice.

The complexity of how to manage a global transition equitably is exactly why we need a #FossilFuelTreaty.

Get involved 👇 fossilfueltreaty.org

This news is even more incredible with this context. How much things have changed in recent months.

https://twitter.com/fossiltreaty/status/1583094304242688000