Fossil Free

There’s no doubt that we are living in scary and heightened times. Just as we know that climate grief and climate anxiety can take a very physical toll, so too can political news. So we encourage everyone to do what they need to ground themselves, process and channel anxiety, and rest up so they can keep on in our collective pursuit of justice. I hope as you read this you’re able to take a breath, and know you’re in community with us wherever you are. You can find resources and trainings for activist care and resilience here.

As we have seen dominating the headlines, this weekend there was an attempted assassination on the former U.S. President Trump that tragically killed a bystander, and also caused multiple injuries, including to Trump. 350.org condemns all forms of violence and mourn the loss of life. 

We also continue to mourn lives lost to all forms of political violence, including genocide and ecocide.

We remain grounded in the knowledge that violence and destruction are at the crux of what we are fighting—the violence of a powerful few deciding that whole regions, whole populations, are expendable in the name of profit. That, and the decisions that system leads to, are also deadly. And we seek to end them and to usher in a better, more sustainable, renewable, and life-giving way. 

The complex reality is that most political violence targets vulnerable and frontline communities, whether climate defenders in Colombia and Brazil, or folks resisting toxic pollution in the Gulf of Mexico. We recognize that there is inherent risk in championing justice. There is no getting around that, and U.S. political violence is likely to continue in the coming months.

This political violence is laying bare the contradictions in U.S. society right now. This is a country in which guns are considered more important than people, the Supreme Court believes it has the ability to legislate from the bench, and elected representatives deny electoral results and the reality of science. We are also facing the uncertainties of whether our nation’s leaders are able to lead. 

The most powerful interests in the world would rather we cowered from the uncertainty and backed away. And that’s why we need to do the opposite. We need to keep calling out the corporate and governmental entities that perpetuate injustice.

So we continue to mobilize and to connect the dots both in the U.S. and globally. This month, we’re joining Summer of Heat in New York to push back on the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). This week we also launch REPower Afrika to speed up the global shift away from fossil fuel projects like EACOP to distributed, community-owned renewable energy. Next month, 350 groups take action across the nation to hold utility companies accountable for price-gouging and refusing to transition to clean energy. And we know that over the next few months, thousands of us will encourage friends, neighbors and strangers to vote. 

As we keep on in challenging times, it can be hard for any of us to assess where to place our energy. We vow to stay true to our mission, to move into action and provide opportunities for you to join and lead, and to stay nimble in our movement for intersectional climate justice. 

In my Jewish faith, there is a verse that says “You are not obligated to finish the task, but neither are you free to desist from it.” We need you.

Our team will be right there with you, sharing resources so you can assess risks and maximize safety, while urging us all to think about how we rise to this moment. In our own work and upcoming actions, we will plan for and maximize participant safety every way we can. We will also continue to offer virtual options for taking action from home. 

I continue to have hope and to be buoyed by all of you. Our movement is strong and growing. There is a growing collective appetite for a just and more livable world. 

Arundhati Roy reminds us, “Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.”

It might not be a quiet day, but she is still coming, waiting for us to usher her in. And at the precipice of deep, healing, systemic change, there is often upheaval. Our task is to make sure that the tide turns for the better. That’s why 350 was founded, and that’s why we continue with renewed resolve. 

Find resources for activist care and resilience here, and stay tuned for more recommendations.

With grace and care,

Jeff Ordower

North America Director, 350.org

The post Resilience Amidst Upheaval: Reflections on U.S. Political Violence appeared first on 350.

When they work well, our utilities exist in the background of our lives: they power our homes, cool us down when it’s hot, give us heat when it’s cold. But too often, they are sources of aggravation: the power goes off when it is dangerously hot or cold out, our bills skyrocket, our utility companies threaten to shut off our utilities due to inability to pay… the list goes on. We know that climate change raises those stakes even higher—and our utility companies themselves play a massive role in exacerbating the climate crisis. 

80% of electric utilities in the U.S. run on fossil fuels. Tackling utilities head on is integral to working towards a safer climate.

And yet the system is designed to make it difficult for us to fight back.

But there’s good news: we just need to equip people with the skills and information that utility and fossil fuel companies work so hard to keep from us. That’s why over the past two months, we hosted a public education series to dive deeper into how our utilities work and what tactics we can use to fight and restructure them. 

Hundreds of people joined to learn how to take on their utilities, from public utility commissions to legislation and corporate accountability.

So what’s next? We act.

Next month, together with local groups and affiliates across the country, we are taking to the streets all across the country to hold utility companies accountable for their role in the climate crisis.

Interested in joining us? Pledge your support for the week of action

If you did not get a chance to join us for our public education series, you haven’t missed out! You can watch the recordings and get a preview below.

Our education series focused on six topics and tactics:

1. Legislative and Ballot Initiatives, featuring John Farrell, Institute for Local Self-Reliance; Lucy Hochshartner, Pine Tree Power; & Taylor Smith-Hams, 350.org
   1. Find out how different states rank when it comes to energy democracy and utility accountability
   2. Learn from Pine Tree Power, Maine’s campaign for the first statewide utility with a climate mandate  
   3. See how 350.org’s utility legislation toolkit can help you win your campaign 
      1. Watch the recorded training
2.  Community Run Renewables, featuring Sachiko Graber, Cooperative Energy Futures; & Jonathan Walle, Cleveland Owns
   1. Learn how Ohio’s own community solar co-op is shifting the energy system towards energy democracy
   2. Dive deeper into how to change energy systems and drive profit back to communities
   3. See how 350.org’s Our Own Power toolkit can support your community-centered work
      1. Watch the recorded training
3. Corporate Accountability and Finance, featuring Bill Regan, Movement Cooperative; Kim Fraczek and Michael Paulson, San Energy Project; & Rob Galbraith, Little Sis
   1. Learn how legislatures enable utilities to have monopolies, and how to campaign on rate cases
   2. Find out how to campaign for public utilities to have a non-profit model
   3. See what movies utilities and how to build your corporate campaign strategy
      1. Watch the recorded training
4.  Public Utility Commissions, featuring Nancy LaPlaca, Third Act; Susan Miller, Earthjustice; & John Qua, Lead Locally
   1. Learn what Public Utility Commissions (PUCs) are and why they’re important sites of struggle
   2. Sift through different types of proceedings at PUCs and how to engage in them
   3. Unpack local and state utility elections and how to build an electoral utility strategy in your community 
      1. Watch the recorded training
5.  Power Mapping and Campaign Research, featuring Lauren Parker, LittleSis
   1. Learn how power research and power mapping can strengthen our campaigns against powerful actors like utilities
      1. Watch the recorded training
6.  IRA Direct Pay, featuring Heejin Hahn, Congressional Progressive Caucus
   1. Learn how to get federal funds to support building renewable energy projects in your community
      1. Watch the recorded training

The post In the fight for utility and climate justice, public knowledge is power appeared first on 350.

This election has brought an end to a catastrophic 14 year Conservative rule that has decimated our public services and pushed millions of people into poverty. Make no mistake, the continued resistance and push back on Conservative policies from people like you is part of the reason for their colossal decline in this election. Thank you.

But perhaps like me, you’re feeling a mixed response to a Labour majority government. Whilst the end of the Conservative reign is truly welcome, we’re seeing some of the least ambitious politics from the Labour party in recent history and many of their positions on climate policy are weak. The Labour Party won on a platform largely made up of xenophobia, an attack on LGBTQ+ rights, and increased policing. As a trans person I cannot celebrate an incoming Prime Minister who is an outright transphobe and it feels impossible to feel represented by a government failing to call for a ceasefire in Palestine.

However, I believe an election doesn’t give us our leader, it gives us our opponent. A new Prime Minister is simply a new pressure point and under a Labour government there are far more opportunities to achieve change, than under a Conservative one.

This election has given me hope in other ways. We finally have a new government committed to no new oil and gas production, and during the election we saw a swell of people pushing for ambitious policies around climate, nature and democracy. The Green Party has 4 new MPs and 5 pro-Palestine independent candidates were voted in, in place of Labour MPs.

Whilst the Labour government has won a majority, the voter turnout was the lowest it’s been in 20 years and many of the seats were won by a lower number of votes than expected. This shows a lack of faith in Labour and their politics from the get go — something that will be impossible for them to ignore. As the new government finds its feet, this is a huge opportunity and we can and must push harder for the ambition we need.

Very soon we will be launching a new, ambitious campaign laying out what we think the UK government should be focusing on to tackle the cost of living and the climate crisis. 

We must not ignore that this election also saw a terrifying rise in support for far right politics. Across the channel our neighbors in France are facing the terrifying prospect of a far right government for the first time since the second World War, and it’s looking increasingly likely that Trump could return as President in the US. As we move forward, we cannot be intimidated or isolated by these hateful politics. A better climate and thriving communities can and will be won only by uniting together to fight for collective peace, justice and liberation for everyone.

Thank you to all our supporters for everything you have done to help bring climate and justice to the forefront of this election. There are never perfect wins, but today’s government has many more things that are better about it than the one we had yesterday.

Let’s take a moment today to celebrate what we have achieved together, and we will be in touch soon to continue the fight.

Whatever your feelings about today’s results, remember that in our victories, in our despair and in our fight — we’re all in this together.

If you’d like to help us push for better, bolder policies for people and the planet, please consider making a donation today. With your support, we can seize this moment and push for the climate action and social justice we desperately need.

The post Turning hope into action appeared first on 350.

This newsletter is also available in French and Spanish.

It’s early summer for most, but we’ve already had a taste of the harsh realities of climate change: brutal droughts in Africa, dangerous rain floods in the Arabian Peninsula, and savage storms in the US.

In my own country of India, along with other parts of Asia, we are experiencing a severe heat wave with record-breaking temperatures, losing lives everyday. In Brazil, relentless floods, fueled by climate neglect, continue to wipe out entire cities.

At the same time, big players like the EU, UK, France, and the US are prepping for major elections that could really determine the direction of the climate crisis globally. These economies are a part of the G7 group which is responsible for 27% of global oil and gas production and nearly half of carbon pollution from new projects. We want them to elect leaders who will push hard for a fair, safe energy future.

So we are doubling-down on our efforts to hold the G7 accountable. When their leaders met in Italy this month, we demanded that they urgently stop funding fossil fuels abroad and provide fair finance for renewable energy in vulnerable countries.

We know we have the power and resources to reduce these frightening climate impacts!

As one of the 10 Most Influential Environmental Campaigns, our work matters, now more than ever before…

We kicked off June with a bang during our annual AfrikaVuka Week, led by 350 Africa. We honored local heroes in renewable energy through the AfrikaVuka Awards, celebrating incredible people and organizations from Cameroon, Senegal, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa for their dedication to renewable energy solutions.

Among the stars were individuals like Julius Mujuni, who has supported 190+ clean energy entrepreneurs, created 800 jobs, and offset 200,000+ metric tonnes of carbon in Uganda and groups like the Circle of Grand Pioneers, setting up decentralized renewable energy systems in Benin. For us these awards celebrate the rise of renewable energy in Africa, led by communities saying no to fossil fuels and yes to sustainable power! Congratulations to all the AfrikaVuka Awards winners – keep inspiring Africa and us all!

The Circle of Pioneers receive their AfrikaVuka Award at the AfrikaVuka Awards Ceremony in Benin. Photo credit: Cogito Arts Photography

With the European Parliament elections in full swing from 6-9 June, we knew it was our moment to raise our voices loud and clear! Across 13 countries in Europe, including Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain, Austria, Poland, Denmark, France, and Belgium, we joined forces in over 130 cities. Teaming up with our partners at Climate Action Network (CAN) International, we took to the streets with clear demands for climate and justice:

• End fossil fuel finance and subsidies,
• Tax the rich and make polluters pay,
• Cancel the debt of Global South countries so the money can go to renewable energy.

We believe in the collective Power to the People: we have the right to decide how to manage politics, economics, and our energy systems. Our message was strong and unwavering: together, #WeMakeTheFuture!

Activists march in Germany on 2 June, ahead of European Parliament Elections. Photo credit: Santiago Rodriguez

On 10 June, we had a powerful virtual press conference where we launched our Principles for Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs). JETPs are collaborative efforts among countries to ensure a speedy transition for developing countries to renewable energy sources. Sadly, the reality is that expensive access to finance traps these nations in debt and takes resources away from funding this transition.

The Principles for JETP advocate for fairness, transparency, and equity in climate finance, ensuring developing countries can transition to renewable energy without falling into debt. Collectively developed by 350africa.org, 350.org and our partners, they aim to empower local communities, promote climate justice, and call on global leaders to support sustainable energy solutions for all.

An overview of the principles for just energy transition partnerships in developing countries. Taken from: Principles for a fair JETP by Recipient Countries

Throughout Asia, our Flip the Switch Campaign gained momentum as we joined forces at the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Asia Clean Energy Forum. From Bangladesh to Japan, our teams rallied in protest, urging the ADB to support a fair transition to cleaner energy across developing countries. We made it clear: no more funding for destructive projects like dams, nuclear facilities, waste-to-energy schemes, and fossil gas. Instead, we demanded a shift towards renewable energy sources. We called for transparency, fairness, and responsibility in investments and emphasized the importance of involving local communities in decision-making processes to protect their rights and livelihoods. Our activists protested directly outside ADB offices and project locations, showing the Bank that we are not backing down.

A hundred activists protest in front of the ADB headquarters, on 6 June, in Manila, the Philippines. Photo credit: 350 Pilipinas

Our fantastic team in Indonesia has just launched the long-awaited extended version of their film AdventuRE, where we explore the exciting challenges and opportunities of community-based renewable energy in Indonesia.

Have a look at Java’s powerhouse role in generating over 60% of the nation’s electricity, Bali’s bold steps towards a green energy transition, and Sumba’s eye-opening reality of unequal development:

Watch the film

Are you sick of hearing about the devastating impacts of the climate crises? Do you want to do something about it? Join our movement by taking actions from signing a petition to organizing in your community for change. We’ve made it easy for you:

Get involved

We’ve talked a fair bit so far about the need for our leaders to take action against the fossil fuel industry.

But do you know where the real power lies? That’s right – it’s with us, the people! We’re the ones choosing our leaders and we are the ones rallying every day to push them for change.

Dive into our fun (and free!) 20-minute course, developed by the 350.org team, and discover how social movements like ours can win, even against the wealthy and politically connected fossil fuel industry.

Discover the course

“The planet is trying to tell us something. Now is the time to mobilize, now is the time to act, now is the time to deliver.”

– António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations on World Environment Day, 5 June 2024

IN OTHER NEWS

• COP29 climate hosts say they’ll keep expanding fossil fuels
• Climate finance chasm remains unbridged at the Bonn Climate Conference
• Will Mexico’s new climate scientist President change the country’s energy policy?

The post Fossil Free News – A critical time for climate action appeared first on 350.