Center for Biological Diversity

Media Advisory, December 3, 2018

Contact:  Jean Su, Center for Biological Diversity, +1 (415) 770-3187, jsu@biologicaldiversity.org
Naomi Kreitman, Gastivists, +44 7410880588, naomi@gastivists.org

UN Climate Summit Panel: Movement to Phase Out Fossil Fuels Is Growing

KATOWICE, Poland— Environmental and climate-justice groups will host a panel on the global movement to phase out oil, gas and coal production at the United Nations climate conference on Tuesday, Dec. 4.

The UN recently confirmed that the world has one decade to make drastic changes to transform the global energy system by 2030. The panelists will discuss how civil society groups are working to create political will for a phaseout of fossil fuel production and a just transition to clean energy sources.

The groups are part of Reclaim Power, a distributed grassroots campaign demanding that governments immediately enact an equitable and just transition to clean energy.

“Despite their dominant role in the climate crisis, fossil fuels aren’t mentioned in the text of the Paris agreement,” said Jean Su, energy director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Scientists and activists have long sounded the alarm that a managed decline of fossil fuel production is necessary to meet the agreement’s goals. Now some governments are starting to act and finally bring our energy system into the 21st century, all because of grassroots organizing and people power.”

“We are seeing a growing movement of people proudly fighting against gas, as it impacts their livelihoods, their land, their rights and their climate. After a long fight against coal, people are demanding a transition toward a just and clean energy system now, not a lock-in into more fossil fuels,” said Naomi Kreitman of the Gastivists.

“As the world transitions away from coal, oil and gas, fossil fuel CEOs and their political puppets are trying to keep us hooked. The construction of any new coal power plant or mine is inconceivable given the findings of the IPCC report released this October,” said Cansin IIgaz, global projects manager with 350.org. “Every ton of coal burned makes an immediate contribution to the quantity of CO2 in the atmosphere, causing long term and irreversible climate change. We need to keep fossil fuels in the ground now to ensure that we stay below 1.5 degrees in order to avoid catastrophic environmental breakdown.”

What: Reclaiming Power: The People’s Global Movement to Phase Out Fossil Fuels for Real Climate Action. Panel discussion on the successes and strategies of civil society groups in their push to phase out fossil fuel production and transition to clean energy at national and regional levels

When: Tuesday, Dec. 4, 6:30-8 p.m. CET

Where: Room 2 (Bug) at the United Nations climate conference in Katowice, Poland. Live streaming is also available here.

Who: Speakers include Rushka Sthapit of LDC Watch, Naomi Kreitman of Gastivists, Rachel Kennerly of Friends of the Earth UK, Cansin Ilgaz of 350.org and Jean Su of the Center for Biological Diversity. The co-sponsors of this side event are the Center for Biological Diversity, LDC Watch, the Institute for Policy Studies and Demand Climate Justice.

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

350.org is a global network that uses online campaigns, grassroots organizing, and mass public actions to oppose new coal, oil and gas projects, take money out of the companies that are heating up the planet and build 100% clean energy solutions that work for all. 350's network extends to 188 countries.

The Gastivists is a collective that aims to support grassroots groups fighting the construction of new gas infrastructure and facilitate the flow of information between NGOs and local groups resisting the gas industry. We connect people and help build a movement that will stop gas and bring a just energy transition.

www.biologicaldiversity.org

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