350.org

by Tamara Amalia. This article was first published in The Diplomat. 

Energy serves as the backbone of human and economic progress globally. However, the escalating consumption of fossil fuels has led to a surge in carbon dioxide emissions, changing the global climate. The impact is notably severe in Asia, with numerous weather-related disasters disproportionately affecting the region. According to the World Meteorological Organization, Asia had 81 such disasters in 2022, 83 percent of which were floods and storms, claiming over 5,000 lives and more than $36 billion in property damage and losses.

Individuals in vulnerable communities, exemplified by Afsari Begum* in Matarbari, Bangladesh, experience the adverse effects of fossil fuel consumption. In 2014, the government acquired her family’s salt land for a coal power station, resulting in the loss of their livelihood. Health challenges stemming from the coal-fired power plant led to her husband’s premature death. Afsari and 20,000 others in Matarbari also face socioeconomic devastation due to unfulfilled promises of employment training by the Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCBL) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). This underscores the tangible impacts, broken assurances, and the adverse consequences associated with fossil fuel development.

 

Transitioning to renewable energy not only addresses these issues but also paves the way for a more just and equitable world. It ensures widespread access to employment opportunities and electricity for all, fostering a more sustainable and inclusive global community.

But how practical is it for developing nations in Asia to completely phase out fossil fuels by 2050?

Asian countries have made progress in adopting renewable energy, but the transition away from fossil fuels remains challenging for developing nations like Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, and the Philippines. China and Japan, in particular, heavily rely on fossil fuels, with over half of China’s power generation in 2022 coming from coal. Japan’s reliance on coal and gas hinders its capacity to meet the growing demand for renewables.

As leaders convene at COP28, here are four vital discussion points that should be addressed and agreed upon to advance the clean energy transition.

First, governments around the world need to shift subsidies from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Financial aid and investment for renewable energy projects in developing nations is an area of increasing importance and focus. As highlighted in the 350’s recent report launched on November 22, in 2022, only $260 billion was invested in the Global South despite it being home to approximately 5 billion people.  In Asia alone, while numerous Southeast Asian countries have pledged to achieve decarbonization by 2050, the shift to renewable energy production requires a substantial financial commitment. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Southeast Asia will need a minimum of $367 billion to stay on track in achieving its decarbonization objectives over the next five years. Therefore, developed nations must triple their financial support to ensure a successful transition from fossil fuels.

Second, wealthy countries must advance action on climate adaptation and loss and damage. Despite the growing evidence of climate change impacts, those least responsible bear the brunt of the devastation. Current levels of action and financing for communities to build resilience are insufficient. Developing Asian countries need $340 billion annually by 2030 for climate adaptation, but received only $29 billion – less than one-tenth of the required amount – in 2020. At COP28, developed nations must provide the necessary finance for adaptation and aid in recovering from losses and damage in the most affected countries, thereby facilitating a seamless transition to renewable energy to ensure long-term sustainability and resilience.

Third, governments must implement clear and robust policies at COP28. Building upon policies implemented in previous years, leaders must go beyond rhetoric and implement clear and robust policies. This involves reviewing and setting new targets, refining regulations for changing circumstances, and ensuring ongoing clarity for both public and private sectors. Efforts should prioritize gradually reducing fossil fuel subsidies, maintaining a fair playing field for renewable energy, and reinforcing stable regulatory frameworks.

Fourth, the developed world must offer cutting-edge technology for renewable energy infrastructure in developing countries. Acknowledging the efforts made in initiating renewable energy infrastructure projects in developing nations, leaders at COP28 should focus on ensuring that advanced technologies reach these markets at reasonable prices. This assistance may include knowledge transfer, training programs, and collaboration on research and development initiatives. Developed nations, with advanced technological capabilities, can partner with developing nations to deploy innovative and cost-effective renewable energy technologies.

 

In celebration of Indigenous People’s Month, 360 Indigenous Kalanguya students and teachers from Binalian Elementary School and Binalian Integrated National High School came together to champion community-driven renewable energy solutions.

 

To attain a full transition to renewable energy by 2050, developed nations must enhance their commitment. Achieving net-zero targets demands a collective effort, underscoring the necessity for collaboration between the developed and developing worlds. The dream of universal access to a just and fair transition is not just an aspiration; it is an imperative that requires immediate and concerted action. Realistically, this goal becomes achievable if developed nations step up their game, ensuring that no one is left behind in the pursuit of a sustainable and inclusive energy future.

The post Keeping Asia’s Net-Zero Dream Alive appeared first on 350.

With COP28 happening in Dubai, the urgency to address the escalating climate crisis has never been more palpable. In this pivotal moment, 350.org is at the forefront, urging global leaders to embrace a binding energy package that not only sets ambitious goals but also charts a course for a comprehensive and just transition to renewable energy.

Setting the Stage for a Transformative Energy Package:

The discourse put forth by 350.org calls for a paradigm shift at COP28, one that involves committing to a robust and binding energy package. At the heart of this proposal are ambitious targets:

• Tripling Renewable Energy Capacity: The call to triple fair, safe, and clean renewable energy capacity by 2030, with a subsequent deployment of 1.5 terawatts per year, marks a watershed moment in our commitment to combating climate change.

• Doubling Energy Efficiency: Recognizing the intrinsic link between efficiency and sustainability, the proposal to double energy efficiency by 2030 represents a pivotal step towards optimizing communities’ access to affordable and clean energy.

• Phasing Out Fossil Fuels: The unequivocal call for a complete phase-out of fossil fuels by 2050 signals a paradigm shift in our energy paradigm, emphasizing a commitment to a sustainable future.

The Urgency of a Global Renewable Energy Target:

As climate experts warn that 2023 could be the hottest year on record, the significance of adhering to the 1.5°C global heating limit cannot be overstated. 350.org emphasizes that a global renewable energy target is not merely symbolic; it is a practical necessity. However, the success of such a target hinges on its swift implementation at a global scale, coupled with a commitment to equity. A mere proclamation will not suffice – tangible actions are imperative. 

Navigating Financial Barriers to a Sustainable Future:

Andreas Sieber, 350.org’s Associate Director of Global Policy, brings to light the financial complexities that have long hindered the transition to renewable energy, especially in the Global South. Sieber proposes a multi-faceted approach, including debt cancellation, significant concessional finance, and grants to the tune of $200 billion per year. This financial backing is not charity but an essential investment in a just, equitable and sustainable future.

“A renewable energy target at COP28 will only constitute a meaningful step towards climate justice if it is accompanied by a clear roadmap for implementation that includes equitable mechanisms and commitments in the financial and policy realms, as well as an urgent and equitable phase-out of fossil fuels. Without these, any agreement would represent a hollow, ‘easy win’, and risk allowing polluting countries to hide behind a renewables goal while continuing to emit fossil fuels.” Andreas Sieber, 350.org’s Associate Director of Global Policy

May Boeve, Executive Director of 350.org, underscores the concept of climate justice, asserting that a global renewable energy target should be coupled with commitments to finance a just transition. This involves acknowledging the historical disparities and ensuring that the transition away from fossil fuels is both rapid and equitable.

“COP28 presents an opportunity for a long overdue course correction: a global renewable energy target, poised for adoption, is a crucial step towards limiting global heating to below 1.5 degrees. However, it must come with commitments to finance the just transition in the Global South and a rapid, equitable phase out of fossil fuels. 350.org is at COP28 to ensure climate justice is centered in the negotiations, and working with movement partners on the ground, to ensure the voices of those most impacted by the climate crisis take center stage.”  May Boeve, Executive Director of 350.org

Voices from the Frontlines:

In a poignant addition to the narrative, Landry Ninteretse, Regional Director of 350Africa.org, highlights the voices of communities directly impacted by the climate crisis. For these communities, a shift to renewable energy is not a distant goal but an immediate necessity. Ninteretse’s call for wealthier nations to expedite their commitment to scaling up renewable energy investments and supporting the tripling of renewable energy capacity by 2030 amplifies the urgency of the situation.

“For communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis, an equitable global shift away from fossil fuels to safe and sustainable renewable energy is an absolute necessity, as they have felt the catastrophic climate impacts for decades. At COP 28, we expect leaders to commit to significantly scaling up investment in renewable energy and supporting plans for the tripling of renewable energy capacity by 2030, while prioritizing the phase-out of fossil fuels. Wealthy nations must respond with the scale and urgency that matches the escalating climate crisis by delivering on a clear plan for climate adaptation finance, loss and damage and enhancing the support for African countries to undertake nationally determined just transition pathways.”

Ensuring the success of COP28’s proposed energy package requires a multi-faceted approach. 350.org advocates for a legal framework underpinning the final decision text, providing the necessary foundation for accountability. Additionally, the organization stresses the importance of relying solely on proven renewable energy technologies, such as wind and solar, to guarantee the effectiveness of the proposed measures.

The post COP28: A Pivotal Moment for Climate Action and Renewable Energy Advocacy appeared first on 350.

This newsletter is also available in French and Spanish.

In the same month as the global average temperature went over 2ºC of heating for the first time, world leaders are preparing to get together for another round of the UN Climate Talks to hash out strategies and agreements. COP28 happens in Dubai and starts this week, on November 30th. Last week, though, scientists sounded the alarm – with the current pledges and goals, we’re on track for exceeding 3ºC of heating soon. Our movement will, of course, be at COP28 to remind them that the time for words is over: we need urgent, real and ambitious action.

As we gear up for COP28, throughout November we’ve been seeing people around the world orqanizing beautiful and powerful “Power Up” actions – calling for an immediate phase out of coal, oil and gas and for governments to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030. We strategically timed these actions throughout the month, keeping the buzz alive and kicking – and actions will keep happening in Dubai and other parts of the world during the next two weeks!

To add to that, we have a trump card. We’re walking into COP equipped with a game-changing global renewable energy report. This report isn’t just a piece of paper, it’s a roadmap for a just transition rooted on climate justice. We’re pushing hard because this moment, right here, is our chance to drive home the urgency for a sustainable, equitable future. Our leaders can make big moves for climate justice at COP28 and beyond, and we are amped to demand them more!

Why don’t you join our Fossil Free mailing list for all the latest stories on climate organizing from around the world? Stories that matter. Campaigns that inspire. All delivered directly to you every month!

SIGN UP HERE In Case You Missed It Power Up actions

We launched a worldwide powerful month of actions with Power Up. And wow, did it make waves! We kicked off #PowerUp when the fossil fuel industry made public the news about yet another round of their crazy profits – because, seriously, enough is enough! We are demanding climate solutions that prioritize people over profit and can weather heat waves and wildfires.

Starting on November 3-5, citizens, activists, and groups in over 200 locations spanning 63 countries – from Argentina to Zanzibar – linked arms in solidarity. These events were not just gatherings; they were a global call for action on climate change, demanding more investments on renewable and immediate solutions rooted in social justice.

That kickoff was just the beginning of this drumroll leading up to COP28, and actions keep happening all around! Here are just some highlights:

Check more highlights here!

Don’t finance EACOP

On November 20, a global day of action saw activists joining forces from Africa to Europe and North America, in resistance against the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). By now we all know, it is the pipeline project, aimed at transporting crude oil from Uganda to Tanzania coast for export.

Calling on financial institutions like SINOSURE, China Exim Bank, and ICBC, the activists urged them to listen to the concerns of the frontline communities and cease support for this project.

The day also served as a platform to denounce violent attacks on activists who are advocating for more sustainable and cleaner energy alternatives.

One to Watch

Thousands of people from Lamu to New Orleans came together to ignite our Global Power Up month of action early in November – and the energy is still buzzing.

Communities worldwide are raising their voices for climate solutions, and there are so many cool events still happening that we’ll continue to share. From friend groups to big coalitions, everyone’s rallying for a future powered by clean energy, justice and human rights.

Let’s keep the momentum rolling!

Watch Video Use Your Power

We’re on a mission for a world powered entirely by renewable energy, waving goodbye to coal, oil and gas. Join us by signing the petition urging leaders at COP28 in Dubai to triple renewable energy by 2030, in line with the crucial 1.5ºC target – with wider action from rich nations for fairness.

With just a few days till the conference, let’s show our strength against the fossil fuel lobbyists by adding your name and sharing this petition far and wide. Your signature counts in paving the way for a cleaner, fairer future for us all!

Add Your Name SKILL UP YOUR ACTIVISM

We’ve just launched a goldmine of info right before COP28. Our focus? A global renewable energy target that keeps our planet’s temperature rise under 1.5ºC from pre-industrial times, with solutions that are rooted in justice.

The report “Power Up for Climate Justice: Financing and Implementing a Global Renewables Target” is a game-changer. .

In the report, you’ll find lots of important data, information and analysis that can help you talk about why a rapid and just transition is more crucial than ever:

Read the Report

IN OTHER NEWS

• • • • COP28 must not repeat the mistakes of the Africa Climate Summit
      • Q&A: Why deals at COP28 to ‘triple renewables’ and ‘double efficiency’ are crucial for 1.5ºC
      • ‘Crisis upon crisis’ as Kenya and Somalia go from drought to floods

Quote of the month

“Activists need to be in the room where the decisions are being made. We need the people in power to listen to us — the generation that will inherit their decisions.”― Xiye Bastida, Mexican activist

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The post FossilFreeNews – Powering up climate solutions at COP28 appeared first on 350.

Check our 2022 highlights! Download the full report

 

With just days to go until Cop28, we are launching a landmark report to highlight the need for massive investment in renewable energy sources rooted in justice. “Power Up for Climate Justice: Financing and Implementing a Global Renewables Target” makes it clear: an agreement to triple renewable energy capacity to over 11,000 gigawatts by 2030 is poised to take center stage at COP28.

This is a big moment for the climate movement, and offers a glimmer of hope to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees as we wrap up what is almost certainly the hottest year the Earth has experienced in 125,000 years.

But such a target will only deliver for climate justice if it is accompanied by a robust energy package that includes finance for the Global South and financial system reform. 

It is also imperative that a target be accompanied by a binding commitment in the COP28 final text to phase out fossil fuels by 2050. Both the scaling up of renewable energy capacity and the phase out of fossil fuels must be anchored with concrete processes and resources for their implementation.

Earlier this year, G20 leaders acknowledged that a yearly investment of $4 trillion by 2030 is required to finance the global energy transition. But across the Global South outside of China, we are confronted with a stark reality: investment in renewable energy has remained more or less flat since the Paris Agreement.

COP28 must underpin the tripling of renewables with tangible political commitments and processes to unlock finance: debt cancellation at scale, $100 billion in concessional finance, and $200 billion in grants yearly.

The good news is, this is all possible. 350.org’s Power Up for Climate Justice report presents a roadmap for unlocking the finance to make a global renewable energy target at COP28 a significant milestone for the climate. 

 

Check our 2022 highlights! Download the full report

 

Or read the summary in English, Portuguese, Spanish, French or German.

The post Power Up for Climate Justice: a landmark report on financing a global renewable energy target appeared first on 350.

Read this blog in: Deutsch, Español, Português

If you had asked us on October 6th about our plans for the UN climate talks to be held in Dubai, from the 30th of November to the 12th of December we would have responded with the following: this is an opportunity to envision the world we want; our role as a climate justice movement is to inspire people, and urge world leaders to build this world. 

Now, more than a month into the horrific violence in Israel and Gaza, would our answer change? What does it mean to plan for the UN climate talks when civilians are forced to leave Gaza, when ambulances, hospitals and refugee camps are being bombed, and thousands of children’s lives are in danger? 

What does it mean to speak about climate justice when synagogues are being burnt down in the US and Europe, and Muslims globally are facing hate speech, amidst a terrifying surge in antisemitism and Islamophobia? 

How can we contribute to supporting those who want to break the cycle of violence, while grieving the loss of life, including of innocent civilians? 

There is a central thread that connects our work in the climate movement to what is unfolding in Gaza: the need to reclaim our agency, and the power to choose. We need to oppose the idea that there are no alternatives. There are alternatives to climate change; there are alternatives to war. The role of social movements is to point out these choice points when they’re obvious, identify them when they’re not, or even spotlight new options. 

The horrors of this war are being used to divide the climate movement and specifically its active youth leaders. Prominent voices are being attacked: some accused of antisemitism for voicing support for Palestine; others have been asked to part ways with the climate movement altogether. A divided climate movement will certainly limit our options, and reduce our impact towards building a better world.

Climate justice is directly linked to peace. It is about acknowledging that we need to build a more harmonious relationship to our environment, rather than one based on extraction. It is about supporting communities that have been directly affected by the causes – as much as by the consequences – of climate change: extraction, pollution, and extreme weather disasters.

In direct opposition to peace, the revenue generated by fossil fuel extraction plays a disturbing role in funding conflicts old and new. The fossil fuel industry has always fought against the right to self-determination; communities who wish to protect their lands from resource extraction, both at home and abroad, are often met with state violence. The amount of money some nations spend on wars, and on the enabling of resource extraction, directly impacts how much is available for a just transition to renewable energy. Those are the alternatives to fund instead.

Whether it’s the burning planet, or the Gaza strip being bombed, our responsibility is to stop it, to cease all these fires. We urgently need to make the choice – to restore the conditions for a just peace, and to pave the way for justice. 

Climate change is a collective problem, one that must be addressed by working together. Communities will converge in Dubai for COP28 in order to solve that problem, a mere 1500 miles away from a war zone. It is worth noting that the US and China recently affirmed joint goals for climate action in the leadup to COP28. In the current context, this can be interpreted as a powerful signal: of climate talks offering common ground for often adversarial countries whose cooperation is critical to the climate fight. Surely we can be more united as a movement than they are as political bodies!

The climate movement’s plans for the UN climate talks are intended to offer an alternative to our unequal world – to develop and promote people-owned renewable energy solutions. While we pursue this vision, we also recognise that there can be no climate justice without peace and human rights – which begins with backing the calls for an immediate ceasefire, respect for international humanitarian and human rights law, and the provision of humanitarian access and support. It remains our only option to avert further loss of civilian life and humanitarian catastrophe. 

Only then can we continue to emphasise that there is always a choice, an alternative. Alternatives to climate change, to war, to colonialism, to hatred, to antisemitism and Islamophobia. For this is the only way we can achieve a world in which everyone has the right to live, have access to land, to water, to clean air; in which each and everyone’s individual and collective rights would be fulfilled. For this to happen, we need to cease all fires, for climate justice and peace.

 

Endorsed by the following organisations: 

• 350.org
• 350 Pilipinas
• ActionAid International
• Alliance of Non Governmental Radical Youth (ANGRY)
• Asian Peoples' Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD)
• Attac France
• Avaaz
• Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
• Climate Generation
• Conflict and Environment Observatory (CEOBS)
• Corporate Europe Observatory
• Fridays for Future India
• Fridays for Future Lebanon
• Fridays for Future MAPA
• Greek Association of Conscientious Objectors
• Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF)
• Oil Change International
• Publish What You Pay
• Razom We Stand
• Surge Africa
• Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP)
• Youth and Environment Europe

If your organization would like to sign onto this letter please add your name via the form below:

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The post Ceasing Fires: the world we want, the one we don’t appeared first on 350.

Bien que l’Afrique ne contribue que faiblement aux émissions de gaz à effet de serre (3,8 %), le continent est la région du monde la plus menacée par les effets dévastateurs du changement climatique. En plus de la crise climatique, l’Afrique est confrontée à une crise énergétique. L’industrie des combustibles fossiles, dont l’objectif n’est que de faire progresser les économies du monde accidental, a pendant des décennies mené des activités d’extraction motivées par l’appât du gain. Ces activités ont privé l’Afrique de l’énergie nécessaire, faisant d’elle l’une des premières victimes des effets du changement climatique. En 2023, prêt de 600 millions d’Africains n’ont toujours pas accès à l’électricité et près d’un milliard de personnes n’ont pas accès aux moyens de cuisson propre, et dépendent encore de combustibles polluants tels que le charbon ou le kérosène.

 

Pour faire face au double défi climatique et énergétique en Afrique, nous devons empêcher tout nouveau financement en faveur de l’industrie des energies fossiles, faire cesser leurs activités polluantes et tirer parti des énergies renouvelables. Les énergies renouvelables ne sont pas seulement une solution aux problèmes contemporains. Nous devons nous devons faire pression sur nos décideurs pour qu’ils exploitent pleinement ces opportunités et assurent une transition vers les énergies renouvelables, qui réponde aux besoins actuels des africains et ceux des générations futures.

Des études ont montré que l’Afrique a le plus grand potentiel en termes de production solaire au monde et dispose d’une énorme capacité en matière d’énergies éolienne et hydraulique. La combinaison de plusieurs sources d’énergie renouvelable peut être une alternative aux combustibles fossiles et peut être tout aussi fiable.

 

La campagne #Solar4Schools de RE Coalitions a pour but de:

1. éduquer les étudiants, les jeunes et les communautés du Bénin et du Togo à travers la sensibilisation, la formation,
2. Mobiliser les décideurs politiques à travers des actions de plaidoyer en faveur des énergies 100% renouvelables, et…
3. …et la distribution d’équipements solaires.

L’Afrique a besoin d’énergies renouvelables pour résoudre la crise climatique et énergétique que connait le continent. Une transition juste vers les énergies renouvelables favorisera l’accès à une énergie durable, propre et d’un coût abordable. Les énergies renouvelables peuvent éclairer et alimenter l’Afrique en énergie, créer des emplois et stimuler nos économies en créant au moins 26 millions d’emplois sur le continent d’ici à 2050.

The post #Solar4Schools pour des énergies 100% renouvelables au Bénin et au Togo appeared first on 350.

Communiqué de presse

4 novembre 2022

Afrique — À partir d’aujourd’hui, 350.org, en collaboration avec des groupes et des communautés de base en Afrique et dans le monde entier, participera à plus de 200 actions dans 46 pays qui donneront le coup d’envoi d’un mois d’action mondial pour appeler à une révolution des énergies renouvelables et à un abandon équitable des combustibles fossiles. Ces actions s’inscrivent dans le cadre d’une initiative de 350.org baptisée “Power Up”, qui demande aux gouvernements du monde entier d’abandonner les combustibles fossiles polluants (charbon, pétrole et gaz) et de consacrer des investissements substantiels à la mise en place d’un avenir sûr, juste et durable, fondé sur des énergies renouvelables centrées sur l’homme.

Ces actions se dérouleront également dans le contexte de l’annonce de profits faramineux par différentes entreprises de combustibles fossiles, qui privilégient de manière flagrante le profit aux dépens des populations et de la planète. Alors que l’Afrique subit de plein fouet l’aggravation des impacts climatiques tels que les inondations, les sécheresses et les tempêtes, les communautés appellent les gouvernements à responsabiliser les pollueurs en les faisant payer par le biais d’une taxe sur leurs revenus et en réorientant ces fonds vers le financement d’un système d’énergie renouvelable ancré dans la justice. 

Glen Tyler-Davies, chef de l’équipe d’Afrique du Sud, 350Africa.org, a déclaré : 

“La transition vers les énergies renouvelables est en cours. Le plus grand risque aujourd’hui est qu’il s’agisse de plus en plus d’une transition désordonnée – une transition sans plan clair qui préserve ou aggrave les inégalités en termes d’accès à l’énergie et de détenteurs du pouvoir sur la production d’énergie. Cela ruinera les chances de créer un système énergétique et une société plus équitables. Nos dirigeants doivent se réveiller et comprendre cela. Ils doivent proposer et mettre en œuvre un plan pour une transition juste qui fournisse le pouvoir, au sens propre comme au sens figuré, à la population. Nous devons mettre en place un avenir énergétique propre, juste et renouvelable”.

Rukiya Khamis, organisateur régional pour l’Afrique, 350Africa.org, a déclaré : 

“Alors que nous sommes confrontés à des impacts climatiques de plus en plus importants, auxquels le continent africain est le plus vulnérable, nous espérons qu’un avenir vivable est possible. L’Afrique dispose d’un potentiel d’énergie renouvelable abondant qui lui offre une occasion unique de mener la révolution mondiale des énergies renouvelables et de favoriser une transition équitable pour s’affranchir des combustibles fossiles. Nous appelons les gouvernements et les institutions financières à alimenter le continent en toute sécurité en canalisant les fonds vers les énergies renouvelables axées sur les populations, en s’engageant à éliminer progressivement les combustibles fossiles et en demandant à l’industrie des combustibles fossiles de payer pour le rôle qu’elle a joué dans la crise climatique”. 

Zaki Mamdoo, coordinateur de la coalition “Stop EACOP”, a déclaré,

“Ces actions unissent les militants, les organisations et les communautés du monde entier et coïncident avec l’annonce des profits records des géants des combustibles fossiles, réalisés grâce à l’exploitation de notre travail et de l’environnement. Rejoignez-nous dans les centaines d’actions organisées à travers le monde pour exiger la fin de l’ère des combustibles fossiles et une transition vers des systèmes d’énergie renouvelable appartenant à la communauté et fondés sur la justice.

Christian Hounkannou, organisateur régional francophone, 350Africa.org

“Le réchauffement rapide de notre planète n’est pas le résultat de forces naturelles ; il s’agit d’un acte délibéré, d’un crime commis par une minorité de privilégiés à la recherche d’un profit personnel. Pendant de nombreuses années, ils ont fait obstruction aux mesures climatiques afin de préserver leurs immenses richesses. Toutefois, ils ne sont pas exempts de responsabilité. Le potentiel de l’Afrique en matière d’énergies renouvelables dépasse celui de tous les autres continents. Ayant subi les graves conséquences des combustibles fossiles, elle se présente comme un candidat de choix pour mener le monde vers une trajectoire de développement énergétique alternative et propre. Le moment est venu de nous libérer du charbon, du pétrole et du gaz, et de tenir les pollueurs responsables des changements essentiels et immédiats dont nous avons besoin”.

 ###

Notes aux rédacteurs

Pour plus d’informations sur Power Up et une liste complète des actions menées dans le monde entier, visitez le site web globalpowerup.org.

Des photos et des vidéos seront disponibles ici après les événements.

Contact : Anna Amar anna.amar@350.org

The post Coup d’envoi d’un mois d’action mondial pour appeler à passer aux énergies renouvelables appeared first on 350.

COP28’s energy transition package must kickstart the phase-out of all fossil fuels

The open letter demands a full, fast, funded, and fair phase-out of fossil fuels instead of sidelining critical outcomes on energy in pledges as opposed to the formal outcome and promoting unrealistic distractions such as carbon capture and storage.

The letter is signed by over 100 organizations from more than 50 countries. Signing organizations include CAN International, Greenpeace International, and Powershift Africa among others. The open letter is a response to COP28 president Al Jaber raising concerns by laying out expectations for COP28 in two letters to diplomats and civil society published in November and October which sidelines an ambitious outcome on fossil fuels and energy.

November 13, 2023

Dear COP28 President-designate,

We, over 100 civil society organizations write to you two weeks before COP28 deeply concerned by your letters to Parties dated November 8 and October 17 to call on you to facilitate an agreement on an ambitious, science-aligned negotiated energy package at COP28 that enshrines an agreement to phase out all fossil fuels.

We acknowledge the monumental task that lies ahead and the immense responsibility resting on your shoulders as the President of this critical conference. Fossil-fueled climate catastrophes have become too numerous to count, impacting the lives of millions around the world and 2023 will be the hottest year on record. As your letter to Parties dated October 17th rightly points out, the world is “way off track from pathways consistent with keeping 1.5°C and the Paris Goals within reach”. In this context, failure by COP28 to secure an agreement on urgent action in the energy sector in line with a 43% equitable reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 through an agreement to phase out of fossil fuels would have a major impact both on the world’s most vulnerable populations and ecosystems and on the credibility of this process.  We would like to express our unwavering commitment to fight for COP28 to deliver a credible, science-based and equitable response to the climate crisis.

Three quarters of global emissions are caused by fossil fuels and their production and use must start falling immediately in line with the 1.5°C limit. The success of COP28 will therefore be judged by whether it secures an agreement on a comprehensive energy package that includes: 

• The just and equitable 1.5ºC-aligned phase-out of all fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) across all sectors, which includes an immediate end to fossil fuel expansion and an urgent decline in fossil fuel production and use this decade.
• The tripling of fair, safe, and human rights compliant clean renewable energy, primarily wind and solar, capacity to 11,000 gigawatts by 2030 (2022 baseline), leading to the annual deployment of 1.5 terawatts of renewable energy from 2030 onwards.
• A doubling of yearly energy efficiency gains with a 2022 baseline.
• A monumental scaling up of grant and concessional finance from richer developed countries  for renewable, efficient and just energy transition in developing countries.

If this is the COP to “correct course” and “keep 1.5°C alive” as you have declared is your priority, all of these elements will need to be part of its formal decision and be accompanied by significantly scaled up and improved funding from rich countries for the just energy transition in the Global South. The phase out of fossil fuels will not happen at the speed and scale needed to limit warming to 1.5°C unless all actors take action to actively plan and implement it. We, the signatories of this letter, will see any outcome that enshrines the need to scale up renewable energy and energy efficiency, but that is silent on the urgent need to phase out fossil fuels, as inadequate and not aligned with science.

In this context, we are gravely concerned that your second letter to Parties signals a shift in tone and a noticeable lowering of ambition on the energy package.

First, we strongly believe that the energy package outcome must be a formal part of the COP28 decision text and not relegated to mere “pledges” as stated in your letter. The COP Presidency should strive to achieve formal negotiated outcomes with the legal status of a COP decision and not rely on voluntary pledges and initiatives that fall outside of the purview of UNFCCC negotiations and can have a poor implementation record. Presenting the energy outcome as pledges undermines the prospects for a meaningful outcome even before the conference has started and mobilizes scarce diplomatic resources in support of voluntary commitments that should instead be directed toward developing an integral part of the formal COP28 decision. 

Additionally, while it is essential that the oil and gas industry commits to and urgently implements reductions in its methane emissions and flaring, this must happen in the context of a clear and formal decision on ending the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure and a phase out of all fossil fuel production and use, and agreement by Parties to develop the policies required to regulate methane emissions reductions from industry. To pursue methane emissions reduction without fossil fuel phase-out and clear targets for scope 3 emissions reduction, in the form of only voluntary pledges from the sector, will be seen as starkly insufficient and tantamount to greenwashing. We need to go well beyond addressing all of the oil and gas industry’s Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, which would only be tinkering at the margins, given that this generally amounts to around 10-20% of oil or gas producing companies’ total emissions.

Secondly, we would like to express utmost concern about your letter’s repeated emphasis on so-called decarbonization “solutions and technologies”. We are aware that this is coded language for the use of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and other “abatement” technologies, carbon removal activities or offsets, whose primary function is to distract from and delay the need to phase-out fossil fuels. CCS has been described by the IPCC as the highest cost, least potential mitigation option in the near term, which negates its relevance as a driver of the urgent and large-scale mitigation that is needed this decade. It has a decades-long history of overpromising and under-delivering and comes with a huge energy penalty. Despite having been around for half a century, CCS facilities currently capture less than 0.1% of global CO2 emissions and serious doubts exist about the permanence of storage. Additionally, if CCS were to be used to store emissions, it would leave the local and regional health and pollution costs of fossil fuel extraction and use unresolved. Science is clear that renewables, especially solar and wind, are by far the cheapest options with the highest mitigation potential. The need for a just transition away from fossil fuels is paramount, and we must not be misled by purported alternatives that do not address the root causes of the climate crisis. Promoting technologies, such as CCS, that will not deliver any meaningful contribution to reducing emissions in the next decade is a dangerous distraction that we will oppose. 

Dear COP28 President-designate, you have rightly stated that the phase out of fossil fuels is “inevitable”. Yet, so far we are deeply concerned this remains an empty statement. The fossil fuel phase out is also urgent and will not happen at the speed and scale that is necessary to limit warming to 1.5°C unless governments jointly agree to and implement a managed phase out of fossil fuel production and use.  You have both a unique power and the responsibility to conduct negotiations in an impartial manner to achieve that outcome, centering the needs of people around the world and not the oil and gas industry’s bottom line. We urge you to champion our shared goal of an ambitious and transformative energy package as part of the formal outcome at COP28, reflecting the principles of justice, equity, and urgency. We are committed to making COP28 a success, and urge you to use your position and power to achieve a strong outcome for people and the planet.

Thank you for your attention, we look forward to your response,

Sincerely,

350.org

AbibiNsroma Foundation

African Coalition on Green Growth
AGIR POUR LA SÉCURITÉ ET LA SOUVERAINETÉ ALIMENTAIRE ASSA
AidWatch Canada
Asociación Generaciones de Paz (ASDEPAZ)
Association Nigérienne des Scouts de l’Environnement ANSEN
BIOCARBON
CAN Africa
CAN Canada

CAN International
CAN Latin America (CANLA)
CAN SOUTH ASIA

CAN Arab World
Carmelite NGO
Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
Centre for Climatology and Applied Research
CENTRE FOR CLIMATOLOGY AND APPLIED RESEARCH
Centre for Environment, Human Rights & Development Forum – CEHRDF
Centro de Atención a la Mujer Trabajadora de Chihuahua A. C.
Centro de Desarrollo Humano. CDH
CENTROAMERICA SIGLO XXI
Christian Aid
Citizens’ Climate Lobby Colombia
Climate Action for Lifelong Learners (CALL)
Climate Action Network Australia
Climate Action Network Southeast Asia
Climate Action Network Zimbabwe (CAN ZIMBABWE)
Climate Generation
Climate Justice Programme
Climate Justice Saskatoon
Climate Nexus
Climate Reality Canada
CliMates Austria
CNCD-11.11.11
College of the Atlantic
Consejera nacional de juventudes
Corporación Sihyta
Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO)
CVX Perú.Comunidades de Vida Cristiana

Debt For Climate
EcoEquity
Ecological Society of the Philippines
EKOenergy ecolabel
Emmaus International
Environmental Defence Canada
Environmental Investigation Agency
Équiterre
Fastenaktion
FOCSIV Italian Federation Christian NGOs
Foro Cambio Climatico y Justicia Socioambiental-FMCJS
Fridays For Future India
Fridays for future Sierra Leone
Friends of the Earth Norway (Naturvernforbundet)
Friends of the Earth US
General Federation of Workers’ Unions in Iraq
Global Institute for Sustainable Prosperity
Grandmothers Advocacy Network
Greenpeace International
Heñói
Iceland Nature Conservation Association
Indian National Trade Union Congress-INTUC
Innovation pour le Développement et la Protection de l’environnement
Jeunes Volontaires pour l’Environnement
Klimadelegation e.V.
Laudato Si Movement
MARBE SA
Misereor – Catholic Bishop’s Organisation for Development Cooperation
Mom Loves Taiwan Association
Natural Justice
Nepal Development Initiative
Observatório do Clima
Oil Change International
Our Kids’ Climate
Oyu Tolgoi Watch
Pakistan fisherfolk Forum
Palmares Laboratório – Ação

Paz y Esperanza

Power Shift Africa
Razom We Stand
Re_Generation
Reaccion Climatica
Recourse
Réseau Action Climat France
RIPESS LAC
Rivers without Boundaries Coalition
SAFIRE
Salam for Democracy and Human Rights

SCIAF

Sierra Leone School Green Club (SLSGC)

SOBREVIVENCIA, Amigos de la Tierra Paraguay

Southern Africa Climate Change Coalition

SOUTHERN AFRICA REGION CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK(SARCAN)

Stamp Out Poverty

SWORD

TEAL Climate

The Climate Center

The Development Fund of Norway

The Movements Trust

Uganda Coalition for Sustainable Development

Union of Concerned Scientists

Uplift

UUSC
Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines
Zimbabwe Climate Change Coalition

 

The post Over 100 Organizations Urge COP28 President in Open Letter: Rethink Fossil Fuel Strategy appeared first on 350.

Power Up comes to the US Gulf Coast

New Orleans, USA— Perhaps now more than ever, we have to ask ourselves: why should it have to be so radical to declare, “we are here” ?

The U.S. Gulf Coast has long been treated by the fossil fuel industry as a sacrifice zone, a place to put all their toxic, climate-destroying production as though no one lives there. These companies are so committed to that mirage that the renderings they submit of their building plans show empty land rather than homes. Every time they submit a proposal for a new plant, that proposal quite openly declares: no one lives here.

But they do. 

And alongside calls for specific community-centered climate solutions, that is what Power Up in the Gulf declared: despite everything, despite centuries of dehumanization and violence, people have lived here, people have thrived here, a rich culture has bloomed. You cannot take that away, and it’s time that we make decisions for this region that reflect what this region wants: health, safety, the right to live and thrive in their home.  

None of this is new. “These power and petrochemical plants are the new plantations in the American South,” said Sheila of Louisiana Bucket Brigade on a tour of the river parish region nicknamed “Cancer Alley.” 

Pictured: community art made for Power Up in the Gulf at “Studio Be” in New Orleans

More than just “Cancer Alley”

Power Up in the Gulf welcomed people of all ages into the climate movement, celebrating the community power and joy of the Gulf while engaging attendees in conversations about the harmful effects methane gas production and exportation plants have on people and the planet. Hosted by 350.org, the event kicked off at 11 a.m. with a joyful Second Line march downtown calling on the government to end corporate subsidies, stop all —old and new— fossil fuel projects, and to usher in real and just climate solutions for the Gulf and the world. 

After the March, hundreds gathered in New Orleans’ historic Congo Square for a day-long celebration of community power, resistance, and climate solutions. The celebration declared quite definitively that the Gulf is not “just” a sacrifice zone: attendees ate food from local vendors. Children got their faces painted and played in bouncy houses. The activist corner was powered by free microgrids provided by local partner Footprint Project. Local NOLA-based Comedian Kamari Stevens, MC’d the event. Attendees danced to music from three Gulf artists: Big Freedia, Mannie Fresh, and HaSizzle, who have helped grow and spread bounce music, which is New Orleans’ own unique hip hop music that is said to have originated as early as the late 1980s in the city’s housing projects. 

Pictured: Kinfolk brass band performs during the Second Line March in New Orleans

Pictured: Frontline communities and partners gather in Congo Square for the Second Line March

 

Roishetta Ozane to Fossil Fuel CEOs: “We Are Not Your Sacrifice”

“We want to send a message that it is time to put funds into communities that are disproportionately impacted by the decisions made by the government. In New Orleans we are coming together as frontline folks from along the Gulf Coast to say to fossil fuel companies and the government that we are NOT your sacrifice.” said Roishetta Ozane of the Vessel Project of Louisiana based in Lake Charles, LA. “I am doing this as a mother. I have six children, some of my children have asthma. We are no longer talking about generations far away. The people we are trying to save are here now. And today we are also showing the world why we love this place, why we fight for this place, why we love the Gulf Coast.” 

Power Up in the Gulf was co-hosted by the Vessel Project of Louisiana and 350.org, and it was sponsored and co-planned by many partner organizations fighting for climate solutions for the Gulf: 350 New Orleans, Louisiana Bucket Brigade, Sunrise Movement New Orleans, Eternal Seeds, stand.earth, Healthy Gulf, 2030 Fund, People over Plastics, All 4 Energy, Earth Justice, Hip Hop Caucus, Rainforest Action Network, Power Coalition, and the Sierra Club. Frontline speakers included Roishetta Sibley Ozane, Kami and Kamea Ozane, Founder and Director of the Vessel Project; Breon Robinson of Healthy Gulf; Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis; Joy Banner of the Descendents Project; Big Chief Beautiful, Debra Sullivan, Lois Malvo, and Paul Geary of Concerned Citizens Table of Lake Charles⁣. 

Power Up in the Gulf was one of our 200 actions taking place worldwide over the coming month, creating a global drumbeat building up to the UN climate talks, calling on world leaders to power up a renewable energy revolution. The end event of this month-long initiative will be the “Global Day of Action” scheduled for 9 December, during COP28.

Learn More:

For more on the Vessel Project of LA, co-host of Power Up in the Gulf, go to https://www.vesselprojectoflouisiana.org/

For more on Power Up across the globe, go to globalpowerup.org

The post Power Up in the Gulf Celebrates Climate Solutions and Frontline Strength appeared first on 350.

At the weekend, 350 groups and partners around the world kicked off a month of ‘Power Up’ actions, demanding a cleaner, more sustainable and more equitable renewable future for all. Check out the beautiful images and videos from the weekend, and find out about events happening soon or sign up to organise one yourself, on the global Power Up website. 

Here in the UK, it couldn’t come at a better time as we enter what will be a tough winter for thousands of households, and energy companies like BP and Shell publish their stomach-wrenching profits. 

350.org and youth activists take part in Power Up Month of action in Nepal to demand government to power up renewable energy.

We elect politicians to represent our best interests and to work to make our lives better and easier while we do the hard work to ensure society keeps ticking over. That’s the deal and the fact is that this government time and time again fails to hold up their end of the bargain.

Instead, they continue to lend their ear to and side with fossil fuel giants at the expense of the people and planet. One household every ten seconds was cut off from the energy they needed in the winter of 2022 as well as seven million households unable to heat their homes. Also, giving energy companies like British Gas the power to enter properties and forcibly fit pre-payment meters. 

At the same time, fossil fuel companies make billions in profits and take billions in subsidies from  taxpayers while new oil fields like Rosebank are being approved. This flies in the face of reason, given climate experts say we can’t have any new oil and gas if we want to keep below 1.5 degrees of warming. We are in a climate and cost of living crisis that’s making us poorer while oil barons are getting richer. 

Climate activists from 350 Aotearoa, ActionStation, Oxfam Aotearoa took action at the New Zealand Parliament in Wellington, to call on the new government to Power Up climate solutions.

Everyone in the UK deserves to live comfortably with access to enough heating and electricity to warm or cool our homes. We should all be able to power the appliances we need to live dignified lives. This isn’t the reality currently, but it could be.

We’re teaming up with organisations like Fuel Poverty Action to make visible the link between solving the energy bill crisis and protecting our planet. Instead of relying on expensive, unreliable and harmful oil and gas causing bills to rise. We’re campaigning for a clean, reliable energy system that’s owned by us and run for us, the people. 

That starts by us coming together to demand this Government wipes household energy debt, bans pre-payment metres (PPMs), guarantees permanent access to our basic energy needs and ensures big fossil fuel companies help pay for the implementation of a renewable energy system. 

Together with Fuel Poverty Action, 350 supporters across the UK joined a digital day of action just over a week ago – calling for a ban on PPMs which are the leading cause of people being disconnected from their energy supply. Public pressure last year helped to suspend this practice but now the government is lifting the suspension. Thanks to everyone who participated in the action! We are keeping the pressure on the government and will let you know what happens.

If you want to get involved further in this campaign and find out more about the issues involved, Fuel Poverty Action are running an online collective learning sessions this week that you can join!  (Please note: this registration is hosted on an external site, not owned by 350.org)

Onwards, 

Kennedy – 350 UK Organiser 

P.S Find out how you can be part of the ‘Power Up’ month of action here. We’re still looking for event organisers across the UK and we’re planning a big action in London – more information on this coming soon! 

The post Power Up – Energy for All appeared first on 350.

BRAZIL – In Silves, city of Amazonas State, heart of the Amazon forest, 350’s local partners – Silves Association for Environmental and Cultural Preservation (ASPAC), Amazon Network Working Group (Rede GTA), Itacoatiara’s Pastoral Land Commission (CPT-Prelazia de Itacoatiara), APIRÁ, Amazon Resistance Group, Amazon Resistance Women’s Group)-, will be holding a 2-day event that will gather religious groups, bishops, indigenous communities, quilombolas, riverine communities, students, among many more. 

They have already started a big mural painting in a traditional local soccer field, Saracá F.C.

“We felt that art would be the best way to express to the World what are our fears, our expectations and how we are interpreting Just Transition in our place.”, says Jorge Barros one of the coordinators of Power Up Amazônia.

Impacts of extreme drought in Amazônia

The climate resilience of these Amazonides is something to be inspired by. They are not living in normal conditions as the extreme drought is so intense that is impeding boats from sailing and this is affecting the distribution of basic supplies such as water and food to half a million people.

“Some of the artists were unable to come due to the limited transportation to Silves. Our municipality used to be an island rounded by rivers but because of the drought we are now connected to the land. Climate change is impacting so much our municipality, our region. Right now, many people are at home without food, water and medicines.”, says Márcia Ruth from ASPAC. 

At least 60 cities have already declared an emergency situation. Traditional communities that rely on fishing as their main source of income are also being impacted as the rivers are not in normal conditions. In one week, around 10% of the rare Amazon pink dolphin population was decimated because the water temperature reached 40°C, resulting in the deaths of 70 dolphins in a single day.

Fight against the Fossil Gas industry

In Silves, Amazonas, indigenous and traditional communities are also dealing with the exploitation of fossil gas. In addition to operating in the region without the proper environmental licenses, Eneva began operations without consulting the local communities that are being impacted by the extraction. 

ASPAC, together with the indigenous Mura people, filed a lawsuit against the company and initially succeeded in temporarily suspending the polluter’s operations. Since then, however, they have suffered repression from local politicians who have tried to displace them, spreading hate speech and discrimination. 

But once more, they inspire us with their resilience, they have been working even harder creating the Amazon Resistance Women’s Group, supporting and teaching women, empowering them with information, and tools to let them know their rights, exercise their citizenship, defend their families, culture, ancestry, and territories. 

Let´s support these amazing communities, and strengthen their fight!

 

The post Art in a soccer field mural to advocate for Climate Solutions – this is how Brazil is warming up to Power Up appeared first on 350.

Women who are fighting for a better world have gathered in Silves, Amazonas to form a collective of leaders from traditional communities who believe in sustainable, economically viable, and socially just development. Together they are learning how to make this possible.

The Amazon Resistance Women’s Group, led by Márcia Ruth, president of ASPAC (the Silves Association for Environmental and Cultural Preservation),  has created a space for women to skill up through training in law, citizenship, the environment, climate change, and energy transition.

“The formalization of this women’s group offers an exciting opportunity for resistance in the Brazilian Amazon. Not only for socio-environmental reasons but also because it empowers independent women who know their rights and their potential to make change in a society that can often be sexist and exclusionary. Our group is made up of farmers, fisherwomen, students, artisans, university students, pensioners, and urban workers. All dreamers of a fairer world, rooted in solidarity, for present and future generations,” says Márcia Ruth.

“Hearing women in the community express how happy and enthusiastic they are motivates us to participate in the initiative and continue our fight for social and environmental climate justice,” she adds. 

Márcia Ruth is at the frontline of the fight against fossil gas exploration in the Amazon. She has been threatened by the local politicians who approved the fossil project, which was done without the proper environmental licenses and consultations with Indigenous and traditional peoples.

Luiz Afonso Rosário from 350.org Brasil believes this initiative is important and will have a big impact:

“Women play an integral role in traditional communities defending the well-being of their families, maintaining balance, and helping the community to thrive. Supporting them in skilling up and empowering them with information means giving them the tools to know their rights, exercise their citizenship, defend their families, culture, ancestry, and territories.”

ASPAC is counting on the support of 350 Brasil to strengthen the Amazon Resistance movement in Silves, Itapiranga, and Itacoatiara and help them fight against misinformation about the risks and damage oil and gas explorations do to the physical and social environment in the region.

###

Livia Lie –  350 Latin America

The post Women of the Amazon united for a fairer world appeared first on 350.

By Charity Migwi, Christian Hounkannou and Aly Sagne

The global community is at a crossroads, with climate change posing a dire threat to the planet’s future. Senegal, like many other developing nations, faces a critical challenge in meeting its growing energy demands while mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. The country’s current energy mix is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, which are both polluting and expensive. This has led to high levels of energy poverty, with many Senegalese people unable to access reliable and affordable electricity. As a signatory to the Paris Agreement, Senegal has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning towards a sustainable, low-carbon economy. To achieve this, it is imperative that Senegal prioritizes renewable energy investments over fossil fuels.

In June 2023, Senegal and the International Partners Group (IPG), comprising France, Germany, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada, announced a new Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). The JETP will provide Senegal with €2.5 billion in new and additional financing to help the country accelerate its transition to a clean energy future over the next three to five years. The JETP, which targets the deployment of renewable energy to reach 40% in installed capacity by 2030, is a welcome development and has the potential to make a significant difference in Senegal’s energy sector. 

It is important that these funds are actually channeled to renewable energy projects instead of fossil gas or perpetuating the reliance on fossil fuels, which are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and are not compatible with Senegal’s commitment to sustainable development. In this regard, there is a great deal to be done to ensure robust policies and pathways that counter greenwashing and dangerous distractions associated with JETP deals. Senegal has abundant solar and wind resources, which could be used to generate decentralized clean and affordable electricity that meets the needs of its people. The JETP could also help Senegal to develop its renewable energy export market, creating new jobs and opportunities for economic growth while maintaining a cleaner and healthier environment for its people.

However, the JETP deal is not without fault, as the political declaration states that “Senegal intends to use its natural gas resources as a transitional energy in the perspective of a low-carbon and climate change resilient socio-economic development leading to a significant decrease in emissions compared to the baseline scenario (BAU) of the energy sector as defined in the 2020 NDC, through a gradual phase-out of heavy fuel oils.” This is counterproductive as the use of gas and other fossil fuels is not in line with the goal of limiting global temperature increase to 1.5° C. Furthermore, gas infrastructure investments inhibit the progress towards a decarbonized energy system by locking countries into long-term dependency on fossil fuels, undermining the transition to renewable energy sources. These investments tend to have a long lifespan, creating a risk of stranded assets as the world increasingly moves away from fossil fuels. This could be a deliberate tactic, potentially benefiting external entities, such as the IPG, in the short term. This short-sighted approach could result in Senegal being left with stranded assets, hindering economic benefits and hampering the country’s ability to fulfill its domestic energy needs.

The JETP must recognize that true justice lies in ensuring that the most impacted communities benefit from the transition, and this can only be achieved through people-centered renewable energy solutions. By prioritizing renewable energy investments, Senegal can extend electricity access to remote and marginalized communities that currently lack reliable energy sources. Renewable energy technologies, such as off-grid solar systems, can provide affordable and sustainable power solutions, improving living standards, supporting education, and enabling economic activities. Furthermore, the deployment of renewable energy in rural areas can foster job creation and empower local communities, ensuring that the benefits of energy access are equitably distributed.

The success of the JETP calls for a participatory process that provides for consultation and inclusion of the Senegalese citizens in the implementation of the JETP. Senegalese civil society has an important role to make the JETP process more inclusive and transparent by calling for early stakeholder engagement,ensuring representation of workers’ and community members’ interests in the final processes, decisions and implementation.There is a need to build trust between the government and key stakeholders. Greater transparency would also bolster political will and ensure that the support for the JETP deal is longer term.

The JETP is a chance for Senegal to make a major step forward in its transition to a clean energy future. It is important that the funds are used judiciously and that they are channeled to renewable energy projects that will benefit the people of Senegal and the planet. The next steps necessitate the determination of the nature and composition of financial instruments on offer under the JETP. Transparency on not only the amount of money in the headline, but also the delivery, governance and grievance mechanisms of that funding is crucial to prevent wastage of resources in trying to meet the hidden conditionalities of the finance. Bearing in mind the urgency of the energy transition globally, timely disbursement of funding will be key in setting the transition in motion.

****

About the authors

Charity Migwi is the Africa Regional Campaigner at 350.org

Christian Hounkannou is an Africa Regional Organizer (Francophone) at 350.org

Aly Sagne is a Founder of Lumière Synergie pour le Développement | LSD

The post Senegal’s Just Energy Transition Partnership appeared first on 350.

Eight years ago, I was sent on my first assignment at 350.org to be part of the team that organized the People’s Climate March in Jakarta, Indonesia. It was there that I first met my new colleagues in person.

Among them was Hoang Thi Minh Hong, from Vietnam—her name was unknown to me until that moment, yet her presence left an indelible mark.

I didn’t know her at the time, but from the get-go, I already knew that Hong carries with her a unique spirit—one that is infused with what I can only describe as a lighthearted tenacity. It’s a quality reminiscent of the unyielding spirit that has long fueled the Vietnamese people’s struggle for self-determination amid their tumultuous history.

Vietnam’s narrative unfolds as a tapestry woven with threads of resilience and an enduring battle for self-determination against a backdrop of empires. Growing up in this crucible, Hong emerged with an indomitable spirit—one that finds solace in the cadence of music, the rhythm of dance, and the vitality of Zumba—an exercise routine she made sure all of us would do when she hosted the first 350 East Asia Climate Leadership Camp in 2015.

On this same camp, we had the opportunity to visit Ha Long, a coastal city in northeastern Vietnam, with historical connections to coal due to its proximity to significant coal mining areas in the Quang Ninh Province. This region has long been known for its rich coal deposits, which played a pivotal role in the area’s economic development and historical significance.

We were given the chance to immerse ourselves with people from the province, dialogue with coal miners and visit their coal museum, which provided insights into the history and significance of coal mining in the region and the role it played in the area’s development and history.

This is where I came to appreciate Hong’s understanding of the intricate nuances of transitioning away from fossil fuels. She recognizes the profound connection of her country’s history to coal enough to know the mineral’s strategic importance in Vietnam’s industrial rise intertwined with its defiance against colonial powers.

Ho Chi Minh once eloquently stated, “Nothing is more precious than independence and liberty.” Hong embodies the unwavering spirit of the Vietnamese people—individuals who weathered the onslaught of numerous empires’ attempts at subjugation.

What truly sets Hong apart, however, is her unwavering motivation. Her call to action springs from an abiding love for humanity and the planet we call home. Her actions serve as a testament to the belief that freedom is more than just a right; it’s the unfettered ability to act, think, and speak without the stifling constraints that bind us. It’s an inalienable liberty and an opportunity to effect change unencumbered.

It grieves me deeply to write these words, for at this very moment, Hong is sentenced to a most unjust three-year imprisonment on spurious grounds of tax evasion.

Her dedication to climate justice transcends mere duty; it’s a joyful celebration of life itself. She grasps that the road to a sustainable future must be illuminated by happiness, nurtured by solidarity, and guided by unwavering resolve.

Confronted with such formidable adversity, we must resoundingly echo the call for the release of Hong and the many other advocates who find themselves unjustly incarcerated for their unyielding dedication to the cause of a sustainable future.

 

Take action

Here are some things you can do now to get involved and show support:

• #FreeHongFreeThemAll – call for Hoang Thi Minh Hong’s release and stand in solidarity with all climate defenders.
  

Send a letter to your minister »

• Watch and share this video:

The post For the love of people and the planet appeared first on 350.

This newsletter is also available in French and Spanish.

September was a very eventful month: we’ve seen streets fill up in various places to march to end fossil fuels, people-power showing up in solidarity with imprisoned climate activists, and much more.

At 350.org, the energy is buzzing as we gear up for Power Up in November. We are inviting everyone to come with us and show decision-makers that the money for funding just climate solutions is there – we just need to put it in the right place! Activists, volunteers, local groups are getting together to put their creativity in action and organise events – and we want to see more actions happening where you are, too! Join us!

Why don’t you join our Fossil Free mailing list for all the latest stories on climate organizing from around the world? Stories that matter. Campaigns that inspire. All delivered directly to you every month!

SIGN UP HERE In Case You Missed It 600 actions to End Fossil Fuels

On September 15 and 16, people in 60 countries took to the streets to demand an end to fossil fuels and a transition to renewable energy that powers up people, communities, and nature. The great energy coming from over 600 actions spilled over the New York Climate Week, which started on September 17.

In New York, more than 600,000 people came together under the slogan END FOSSIL FUELS! A just transition to renewable energy needs to happen fast, and we’re making it impossible to ignore!

March to end fossil fuels, NYC Climate Week, 2023. Photo-credit: 350.ORG

G20 to triple renewable energy

On September 9-10, the leaders of G20 countries met in India for another round of talks and – surprisingly! – this time they came out of it with some promising outcomes for the greener future we all want.

They announced not only to triple renewable energy capacity globally by 2030. But also committed to take further steps to reform the inadequate financial system. As refreshing as this news is, it still falls short of what we need to hear from them. We need them to set major climate goals, including the complete phase out of fossil fuels.

The richest countries that make up part of the G20 need to take their responsibility to provide the support needed to meet renewable energy investments. Our job now is to hold them accountable and continue to put pressure to ensure more is done!

Hong’s 100th day of unjust detention

September 8th marked the 100th day of the unjust imprisonment of our dear fellow activist Hoang Thi Minh Hong in Vietnam. And this week, she will go to trial.

If you remember, we previously explained how she and 4 other prominent people in Vietnam were wrongfully targeted and imprisoned. Without courageous people like them, progress for the environment in Vietnam wouldn’t be possible.

At 350.org we are not giving up on her and all climate defenders. To continue on this path to show solidarity, we and other partners held a webinar during NYC Climate Week with the intention to bring awareness to a broad mainstream audience. We are taking all possible opportunities to ensure that climate justice prevails and all voices are heard. Will you stand with us?

Take Action Now

 

Standoff – Climate Protesters & Standard Bank South Africa

Climate activists set up camp outside the Standard Bank Headquarters in Rosebank, Johannesburg for three days. What was meant to be a peaceful protest from our comrades from the StopEACOP Coalition turned ugly as the bank’s security violently confronted the climate protesters.

What we need to remember is that this company is one of the three financial advisors involved in the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project. They’re planning to start building it in 2025, and it’s going to stretch a whopping 1,400 kilometers all the way from Uganda to Tanzania. They’re saying it’s a $4-billion investment for East Africa, but if history has taught and shown us anything, these pipelines drastically affect the communities, nature, and the climate.

We must amplify the call for banks to end financing fossil fuel projects, and for our right to protest to be respected!

DAILY MAVERICK: Climate protests at the Standard Bank offices in Johannesburg. (Photo: Julia Evans)

One to Watch

September has been rough and devastating for places like Libya, Hong Kong, Greece, Canada and Brazil. Extreme rainfalls left hundreds dead and thousands displaced after unprecedented flash flooding transformed city streets into raging rivers, and intense wildfires and record-breaking heatwaves have put uncountable people under stress.

How are locations so far away from each other experiencing such extreme weather events at the same time? The answer, FOSSIL FUELS! The root of all this trouble is our continued reliance on coal, oil and gas – which fuels the climate crisis and is hitting the most vulnerable communities the hardest.

It’s crucial that those responsible for this mess start footing the bill for #LossAndDamage, and we need to pressure our governments to divest from fossil fuel companies.

Watch Video Use Your Power

As you know, on November 3-4, just prior to COP28, a global movement is forming to encourage governments to invest in community-based renewable sources, steering away from fossil fuels. It’s global Power Up!

Our friends in Kenya are organising impactful actions that will highlight their culture and demand the cancelation of a coal-fired power plant. Meanwhile, people in Asia are getting together at the ‘Group Chat’, with actions planned in Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Taiwan, Pakistan. And in the UK, supporters are targeting their Member of Parliament (MPs) with petitions for a Green New Deal, and taking the action to the offices. The plans are set and we are taking up space.

Whether you’re a seasoned climate activist or a new joiner, Power Up will have an action for you! And if there aren’t yet events organised near you… why don’t you start one?

Sign Up Now SKILL UP YOUR ACTIVISM

You might be considering hosting or joining a Power Up action but unsure how to go about it effectively.

Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. Our team has made sure you are well-prepared and equipped for your event, with content which can be incredibly helpful in connecting the dots and hyping up people for some action. We provide a range of resources, including step-by-step guides, promotional material like visual guidelines, logos and fact sheets.

Click Here

IN OTHER NEWS

• Climate takes center stage at UN as global temperatures hit record
• Environmental Groups Slam Biden for Skipping Climate Ambition Summit
• UK absent from key international statement on climate action

Quote of the month

“The climate fight is broad and diverse, from those fighting to phase out ALL fossil fuels, to all the communities working to build real climate solutions that put people over profit – and together, we can build a better future.”

— May Boeve, 350.org executive Director at the Climate Week NYC 2023

The post FossilFreeNews – 600 actions to End Fossil Fuels appeared first on 350.

I’m Taylor Smith-Hams (she/her), a U.S. Senior Organizer at 350.org based in Baltimore, MD. 350 US has made it a campaign priority to fight investor-owned utility companies because we know that economic justice and climate justice are intertwined. Across the country, these companies are blocking our transition to renewable energy while raising rates on working families.

The major utility company where I live, called Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE), is a prime example of how investor-owned utilities are climate villains. 

BGE is currently proposing a $602.4 million rate increase over the next three years. If allowed to move forward, BGE’s plans would increase the average customer’s bill by $810 per year. This outrageous rate hike would disproportionately impact Baltimore, which has the highest net energy burden in the state of Maryland at 11%. (Net energy burden refers to the percentage of household income that goes toward energy costs). 

And what’s driving these unaffordable and unjust rate hikes? You guessed it: fossil fuels. BGE’s plan to spend $1.8 billion on new fossil gas infrastructure (p. 6) is the key force behind these rate hikes. While the company has been framing this fossil fuel infrastructure buildout under the guise of “safety,” it’s clear that this is about profit. 

According to an analysis from the Office of the People’s Counsel, BGE is spending more than $6,000 per home on their new gas equipment program. But they plan to recover that investment at an average of at least $19,000 per house – turning quite a profit for their shareholders. All the while, BGE would be locking in more fossil fuels across its service territory in central Maryland and flouting the state’s climate goals. 

But the people are fighting back.

How Baltimore is Fighting Back

Dozens of ratepayers in Baltimore City, Howard County, and other impacted jurisdictions across Maryland have testified against BGE’s rate hikes and fossil fuel infrastructure buildout at recent hearings. They have called out the utility for putting profits above people and the planet. 

Liz Bement, a community leader in the Upper Fells Point neighborhood, warned Commissioners at an August 13th hearing that “the residents of Baltimore City are the collateral damage in BGE’s quest for shareholder profitability, placed above their required mission as a public utility to provide equitable and safe service to the citizens of Baltimore.” 

During a virtual hearing on the rate hike proposal, college student Roric Coletta told the Public Service Commission (PSC) that the recurring power shutoffs in his neighborhood during extreme heat this summer were actively harmful to his health. Coletta has a health condition that is exacerbated by heat. “People can’t be expected to pay already rapidly increasing energy rates when their quality of service is subpar,” concluded Coletta. 

Founding member of Baltimore 350, Dave Neun, explained the climate implications of BGE’s fossil gas infrastructure buildout at a hearing on September 20th, pointing out the climate costs of methane and how BGE’s plans contradict Maryland’s climate goals. “In the next 20 years, that’s super warming. That’s the storms that are going to affect our city, that are going to affect our area, and we have to pay for the rebuilding when it hits us.” He concluded, “so that’s a waste of money right there, especially when the state has clearly declared that we need to reduce our emissions by 60% by 2031 and reach net zero by 2045.” 

What You Can Do to Support

Check out this video to learn more about BGE’s plans to raise rates to fund more fossil fuels, the impacts to everyday Marylanders, and how ratepayers are fighting back. And take action! Sign this petition to the PSC telling them to reject BGE’s outrageous rate hike and to use its authority to put Maryland on a path toward climate justice.

The post What Baltimore Teaches Us about Why Utility Rate Hikes are a Climate Justice Issue appeared first on 350.

by Namrata Chowdhary, Chief of Public Engagement at 350.org

On 9 September, the G20 Summit will start in India where leaders from the world’s 20 most powerful economies will convene to discuss the most pertinent issues of the day, ostensibly with the interests of their constituents at heart. While we look to the start of the event with hope, there’s an underlying irony that’s hard to quell, and a coincidental calendar note that’s hard to ignore. 

The G20 Summit will coincide with President Biden’s planned visit to Hanoi, strengthening the diplomatic relationship between the US and Vietnam. And just a day before, friends of climate defender Hoang Thi Minh Hong and allies in the climate movement across the world are observing a somber anniversary: 8 September is Hong’s 100th day of imprisonment in Vietnam. Her continued incarceration under the vague application of Vietnam’s tax laws is part of a deeply concerning trend of arbitrary imprisonment threatening activists in Vietnam, a trend disturbingly familiar to climate defenders in many other countries, including those at the G20 Summit. 

At last year’s G20 Summit in Bali, it was announced that Indonesia would enter into a financial funding scheme, known as JETP, with the United States and Japan to assist the country in its renewable energy transition. Diplomatic initiatives and summits like the G20 present a stark reminder of glaring paradoxes: while state leaders and finance ministers discuss the future of billions of people behind closed doors, members of civil society – who could offer significant and meaningful improvements to these partnership schemes – are not only left without a seat at the table, but far too often are kept at bay, or (as in the case of Hong) locked up in detention centers. 

Hong – an Obama scholar – has inspired people across the climate movement, with her warm and personable advocacy touching many hearts. She has played an instrumental role in Vietnam’s most prominent environmental achievements in recent years, and further afield, she has inspired the continuing bravery climate activists need to demand a more just and equitable future in their own contexts. 

Hong’s arrest is part of a disturbing trend – she is the fifth prominent figure to have been targeted in Vietnam in recent years, including environmental justice lawyer Mr. Dang Dinh Bach who is currently serving a five year sentence. Without the work of these brave individuals, the progress that has been made for the climate in Vietnam would be far less tangible, and a JETP may not have become a reality.

In principle, JETPs can offer positive and necessary mechanisms to facilitate leaving fossil fuels behind. Indeed, their emergence is in large part thanks to the commitment of climate defenders like Hong, who have highlighted the impact of fossil fuels, researched the alternatives, and are championing real solutions that would truly empower communities while protecting the planet. These partnerships could open up new opportunities for collaboration, not just between donor and recipient countries, but also between governments and civil society representatives of their citizens. If the energy transition is to be truly rooted in justice, it is essential that these JETPs employ the knowledge and expertise of climate defenders. Vietnam is one of the top five countries likely to be most affected by climate change: but without the ability for civil society members to participate in its energy transition, it will lose out on a tremendous opportunity to shape an alternative future.

At 350.org, we work in communities around the world to build a better future. Part of our work is to hold governments accountable for the implementation of climate solutions rooted in justice – and when it comes to international partnerships like JETPs, this rigor applies to donor countries as much as recipients. The United States and other donor countries have a responsibility to ensure that any financial partnerships it enters into truly upholds the principles it is purportedly designed for. Transparency, human rights, and the implementation of real, community-centered renewable solutions must be at the heart of a JETP, with accountability and evaluation processes included in every agreement.

There is still time to turn the tide for those unjustly incarcerated. This September, we could see diplomatic power exercised in service of a new hope rising: in Vietnam, where President Thuong and President Biden could arrive at agreements that see the Vietnam 5 released, and in India at the G20, where participating nations could commit to more inclusively designed partnerships that uphold justice in its truest sense. This path – where the world stays on track to tackle climate change while all efforts remain rooted in justice – is essential if we are to tackle the greatest challenge of our time. 

 

The post Partnering in Justice: climate defenders holding out hope appeared first on 350.

My name is Porag, and I am a young climate justice advocate from Atapara in the Bogura district. I started organizing for climate justice during my school days.

I am writing to congratulate you on your appointment as the Prime Minister’s special envoy on climate change. As a young person living in a vulnerable country, I am deeply concerned about the climate crisis, and your appointment is a ray of hope for the future.

I am particularly excited about your commitment to amplifying the voices of young people in climate action. As you know, young people are disproportionately affected by the worsening impacts of climate change, and we have much to offer regarding solutions. I hope you will work to ensure that our voices are heard at the highest levels of decision-making.

One of the most important ways to amplify young people’s voices is to ensure they have access to climate education. Young people must have the knowledge and skills to fight climate change. I urge you to focus on climate education in Bangladesh and work with educators and policymakers to ensure that young people learn about the climate crisis and are equipped to take action.

Another way to amplify the voices of young people is to create opportunities for them to participate in spaces tackling climate action. This could include funding youth-led projects or paving the way for young people to directly engage with policymakers and decision-makers. I hope that you will work to create more ways for young people to be involved.

Finally, I commend your work on Just Transition and Renewable Energy. These are essential issues for Bangladesh, and I am confident you will continue to advocate for them in your new role. Young people of the country have been advocating for a Green New Deal, and this advocacy, paired with your new role, can bring about positive changes in the country’s energy scenario. 

Please take heed. Young people have so much to lose if we don’t act urgently, yet know that we also have so much to offer in the fight against climate change. So it is my deepest hope you will work with us to build a more sustainable future for Bangladesh and the world.

The post Dear Saber H Chowdhury: From a young climate activist in Atapara, Bogura appeared first on 350.

STOP CENTREX MINING ON BANABA: SIGN THE PETITION

 

My name is Tekaneati Teririaki and my grandmother’s name is Tebureraai Kirenang. During my childhood and teenage years, my grandmother shared stories about her beloved Banaba (Ocean Island). She shared the challenges they faced because of the phosphate mining and forced relocation, and the hardship and emotional trauma they experienced under the British, Australian, and New Zealand mining of Banaba Island. She wanted me to ensure that never again would we allow the extraction or mineral exploration on any parts of our homeland. The land that belonged to our ancestors and remains precious to our people.

Banaba Island has historically been one of the most lucrative and high-grade sources of phosphate rock for global markets. It was mined from 1900 to 1980 by colonial phosphate interests, and the people displaced to Rabi in Fiji. Global demand for phosphate has grown, not just for fertilisers but now for semiconductor industries and today, we have to again fight off the poison of extraction threatening our island.

My grandmother told me that we would suffer the same fate as they did if we allowed any company to re-mine our island. The benefits would only go to government officials and mining companies, not to our people. Whenever she shared the stories and memories of their relocation, she would shed tears. I took it lightly before, but now I understand all of the hurt and the pain that she and many families on Banaba experienced.

Since then, I have shared these same stories to my children on the importance of protecting and defending our land. If there is remaining phosphate, that doesn’t give us the right to exploit and strip what is left of our islands. We need to to find alternative and sustainable sources of income and rather than pandering to mining companies, our leaders should help us build a future beyond extraction.

I will continue to teach my children to respect our ancestors, protect our island and to never forget the stories of what our people have gone through. This will ensure our future generations will not make the same mistakes. I carry the torch of my grandmother’s plea to defend what is left of Banaba Island.

She said, never again. We cannot allow this to ever happen again. That’s why I say no to Centrex. I say no to exploration, I say no to exploitation, and I say no to mining.

STOP CENTREX MINING ON BANABA: SIGN THE PETITION

 

 

 

 

 

The post Never Again: My grandmother’s call to end mining on Banaba Island appeared first on 350.

The Maui wildfires have dominated the news cycle over the past week. The confusing and misleading narrative on social media and in many major press outlets has only added to the damage facing the people of Maui. The death toll from the wildfires is still climbing, and the stories coming from the ground are unbearable: people have jumped into the ocean to stop from burning; they have watched a home that had already been ravaged by tourism be dissolved without warning. This is the unimaginable grief and destruction of the climate crisis. 

We will keep fighting to stop this from continuing and worsening around the world by ending the era of fossil fuels and ushering in a justly sourced and implemented transition to renewable energy. But the climate movement also needs to stand with the people of Maui right now as they grieve, rebuild, and resist relentless colonialism. Real estate interests are already looking at how they can profit off of the rebuilding. Much of the news coverage has described Lahaina—a rich and tight-knit community that was once the royal capital of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi—as simply a tourist destination. This is the climate crisis: inextricably tied to capitalism, colonialism, and extraction over people. 

Decolonizing the Wildfire Response

Even as many people have erased the reality facing Maui residents by focusing on mourning their own vacations, still others have—even more egregiously—continued to take those vacations, despite clear calls from the local community not to come. 

“Leave,” said Lahaina resident Alika Peneku in an interview with CNN. “Give us the chance to heal. If any one of those tourists’ homes burned down, they wouldn’t want anybody outside their home doing fun excursions. They would want time to mourn. They would want time to rebuild.”

NBC News reported that many Native Hawaiians have chosen to remain as close to their homes as possible instead of evacuating—even if only ashes remain—as an act of community and resistance in spite of settler- colonialism and a rampant tourist industry that has been trying to displace them for years. Maui County Council Vice Chair Keani Rawlins-Fernandez says that local efforts are “taking charge” of the response, citing distrust of the disappointing formal government response, historically-grounded fear that those “with money are trying to capitalize on the trauma,” and the urgent need to get critical supplies to the people who have chosen to stay and fight for their home.

Wildfires, Climate Change, and Utilities

Distrust rightfully extends to the leading utility company as well—according to NBC affiliate King5, a class action suit has been filed that cites Hawaiian Electric Co’s own documents “showing it was aware that preemptive power shut-offs such as those used in California were an effective strategy to prevent wildfires but never adopted them.”

This has led to some saying that blame should be put on the power company instead of on climate change and the fossil fuel companies directly causing it. But we say: it’s both, they reinforce each other, and this is just another example of why we need to change the way utilities are structured so they are more accountable to the public. 

Axios reported on the ways in which climate change helped create the conditions for the Maui wildfires: droughts, rising temperatures, and more intense storm conditions like high winds. Add to that an investor-owned utility company that is hesitant to take any preventative measures that might hurt profits, plus an island that has been largely cast aside by entire industries as a tourist attraction, and you get the devastation currently facing Maui. 

Wildfires displace Indigenous communities across the world

Meanwhile, wildfires continue to rage across the world as well, including in Canada, where Indigenous communities are also often on the frontlines of raging wildfires. This week, over 230 wildfires are burning in Canada’s Northwest Territories, which are nearly 50 percent Indigenous. All 20,000 residents of Yellowknife are evacuating via land and air as wildfires approach the territory’s capital city. Read more on climate change, wildfires, and decolonizing the response in 350 Canada’s resource here. Donate to the United Way’s emergency fund for wildfire evacuees from the Northwest Territories here.  

So what can we do, right now, to offer meaningful support to the people of Maui? 

1. Correct the narrative whenever we see it, and oppose real estate interests and big business trying to capitalize on the destruction.
2. Prioritize the frontline and Indigenous communities, and support the response efforts that they are leading.
3. Donate to the Hawaiʻi People’s Fund, which is dedicated to providing a safe and trusted conduit to move kōkua (help/aid) quickly in support of community organizers and organizations already engaged in this work.

The post What we can Learn from Maui about Decolonizing Wildfire Response appeared first on 350.