Oil Change International Response to Marrakech UN Climate Negotiations

In response to the outcome of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change's COP22 negotiations nearing conclusion in Marrakech, Morocco, Oil Change International released the following statements from its experts following various aspects of the negotiations:

"The COP outcome once again failed to meet the urgency of the climate crisis, but people-powered movements around the world aren't going to let our leaders get away with a COP-out. In the last two weeks, hundreds of organizations banded together to stand up to all new fossil fuel development, and dozens of climate vulnerable countries committed to 100% renewable energy futures. Climate science, the Paris Agreement, and millions of people around the world demand an end to new fossil fuel development and a just transition to renewables."
- Stephen Kretzmann, Executive Director, Oil Change International

"While the U.S. election could have derailed the negotiations, what's happened in Marrakech has given hope that global action on climate change will not be deterred by isolated politicians. These negotiations' outcome once again failed to meet the urgency of the climate crisis, but countries and social movements came together to keep pushing forward at a time when resolve is essential. The lessons of Marrakech are clear: Don't look to bureaucrats or climate-denying Presidents to take the lead on global climate action. Look to the people in the streets and in communities around the world. These are the people-powered movements resisting fossil fuels and building a renewable energy future, and this is the path to victory."
- David Turnbull, Campaigns Director, Oil Change International

"People power led the way in Marrakech at COP22, with over 400 organizations from more than 40 countries around the world signing a letter calling on leaders to stop all new fossil fuel development, and for rich countries to start a managed decline of current production and a just transition to renewables. Climate science demands it, and the world can't wait. Implementing the Paris Agreement means no new fossil fuel development. Period."
- Matt Maiorana, Senior Digital Campaigner, Oil Change International

"Much of the finance discussion at COP22 focused on adaptation finance, with many richer countries claiming their cupboards are bare and they simply can't afford to support those countries already feeling the devastating impacts of climate change. This doesn't ring true. Some of the world's wealthiest countries - the G7 plus Australia - continue to fund fossil fuel exploration and production at a rate more than 20 times higher than their contributions to help developing countries adapt to climate change. If governments want to get real about implementing the Paris Agreement, they need to stop funding fossils, and start funding solutions."
- Alex Doukas, Senior Finance Campaigner, OIl Change International

"COP22 has continued Canada's long tradition of presenting a positive image on the world stage, while not backing up those words with real action at home. For Prime Minister Trudeau and his government to be the climate leaders they claimed in Marrakech, Canada must reject the dangerous Kinder Morgan TransMountain Pipeline proposal, stop funding the problem by ending fossil fuel subsidies, and update Stephen Harper's climate targets to reflect real ambition."
- Adam Scott, Senior Canada Campaigner, Oil Change International