The primary cause of our climate system spiralling out of control is fossil fuels, which release significant quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) throughout their lifecycles, from extraction at coal mines and oil and gas wells through to combustion in our homes, industries and vehicles.
The problem
Today, fossil fuels supply about 80 per cent of the world’s energy and rapid reductions are required to keep global heating within safe limits. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has stated that “the level of greenhouse gas emission reductions this decade largely determine whether warming can be limited to 1.5°C or 2°C”, further noting that “CO2 emissions from existing fossil fuel infrastructure without additional abatement would exceed the remaining carbon budget for 1.5°C.”
Despite this, it wasn’t until CoP28 in 2023 that the UNFCCC finally called on Parties to contribute to “Transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner, accelerating action in this critical decade, so as to achieve net zero by 2050 in keeping with the science.” Governments around the world are planning to produce more than twice the amount of fossil fuels in 2030 than would be consistent with limiting warming to 1.5°C – and almost three times in 2040.
We need a global Fossil Fuel Treaty.
To safeguard our climate system, the countries of the world must come together to end the expansion of new fossil fuel production and to phase out existing fossil fuel production, coupled with a rapid rollout of renewable energy.
