Thread by @WeSmellGas

OVERHEARD at #EuropeanHydrogenWeek:👂👂👂

"We need to stop thinking of North Africa as far away- they’re our neighbour”.

@EU_Commission, people’s homes are not your profit machines. STOP the neocolonial resource grab. See thread 👇

Why should Morocco, Algeria and Egypt use their own energy to make hydrogen for European markets? Europe has vast, untapped potential meet renewable targets locally & sustainably. We have historic responsibility to former colonised nations to do so.

caneurope.org/ngos-demand-fu…

The #RepowerEU hydrogen plans uphold the influence of oil & gas giants like @Shell & @TotalEnergies in North Africa, whose histories are rooted to colonial extractivism.

The fossil fuel industry (with @EU_Commission support) wants to preserve its infrastructure so they can keep plundering the Global South for their own gain.

#EUHydrogenWeek - there is no such thing as 'clean' neocolonialism.

corporateeurope.org/en/2022/05/hyd…

This imperial model led to the ongoing climate and global-racial inequality crises.

If we want to mitigate the worst of #ClimateEmergency & undo the enduring legacies of colonialism, then Europe must stop its endless pursuit of resources and labour in the Global South.

Renewable energy in North Africa should be used for their nations’ own energy transitions, NOT for inefficient/expensive hydrogen for Europe.

Former colonising nations should support North Africa to get off gas through debt-free, meaningful and adequate #climatefinance packages. Not exploit more gas via greenwashed dirty hydrogen. The transition to renewables must be participatory, just and truly DECOLONIAL.