Climate Action Is In the Air
Leaders are responding because the public demand for action is undeniable.
The following remarks were made at the conclusion of the UN climate talks, which formally concluded in Bonn, Germany, on Thursday.
This week -- and the past few months -- have seen an incredible surge of momentum for climate action around the world. Climate action is in the air.
"Much more work to be done, but change is going to come."
People, businesses, faith communities, and even some politicians, are showing that they are ready to turn away from fossil fuels and towards a 100% renewable energy future.I have a three-page list of accomplishments from outside this process, but since there's limited time, let me share just a few highlights.
First, the fossil fuel divestment campaign is on a winning streak.
Last week, Norway's $890 billion dollar government pension fund sold close to $9 billion worth of coal investments. In the last month, Oxford University, Edinburgh University, Georgetown University, the insurance company AXA and more, have also made divestment commitments with banks like Credit Agricole refusing to finance new coal. And campaigns continue to grow at hundreds more institutions around the world.
Businesses are also moving their money in the right direction. IKEA recently pledged EUR1 billion euro of climate finance. No offense to rich countries, but if a furniture store is making a EUR1 billion euro commitment, you could probably up your game.
Some politicians do seem to be getting the message. The mountain air must have been invigorating, because this week the G7 leaders announced an end to the fossil fuel age, agreeing to decarbonize the global economy and transform their energy sectors. While these long-term goals are promising, short-term action is still grossly lacking. In the real world, the only way to match that rhetoric will be for the G7 to start leaving fossil fuels in the ground, while providing the finance and support for others to do the same.
Let's look at the road map to get to this fossil-free destination.
Leaders are responding because the public demand for action is undeniable. New data from World Wide Views show that 80% of people around the world are very concerned about climate change. And 68% of citizens think tackling climate change will improve their quality of life. Also, according to a report by the International Trade Union Confederation - 9 out of 10 people want to see leaders take climate action.
That demand will only grow louder over the months ahead.
Just next week, we will welcome the Pope's climate encyclical, which we expect to issue a clear moral call for action. Soon after, the medical community will weigh in on the health impacts of climate change with the new Lancet commission report.
And the people will keep marching: mobilizations are planned across Europe and around the world. Just this morning, activists with the German group Ende Gelande hosted an action training outside this conference center to prepare for a mass protest of the Rhineland coal mines, the largest source of CO2 emissions in Europe, located just 40km from here in Bonn.
All these actions should send shivers down the spines of the fossil fuel industry. Much more work to be done, but change is going to come. In many places it already has.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
The following remarks were made at the conclusion of the UN climate talks, which formally concluded in Bonn, Germany, on Thursday.
This week -- and the past few months -- have seen an incredible surge of momentum for climate action around the world. Climate action is in the air.
"Much more work to be done, but change is going to come."
People, businesses, faith communities, and even some politicians, are showing that they are ready to turn away from fossil fuels and towards a 100% renewable energy future.I have a three-page list of accomplishments from outside this process, but since there's limited time, let me share just a few highlights.
First, the fossil fuel divestment campaign is on a winning streak.
Last week, Norway's $890 billion dollar government pension fund sold close to $9 billion worth of coal investments. In the last month, Oxford University, Edinburgh University, Georgetown University, the insurance company AXA and more, have also made divestment commitments with banks like Credit Agricole refusing to finance new coal. And campaigns continue to grow at hundreds more institutions around the world.
Businesses are also moving their money in the right direction. IKEA recently pledged EUR1 billion euro of climate finance. No offense to rich countries, but if a furniture store is making a EUR1 billion euro commitment, you could probably up your game.
Some politicians do seem to be getting the message. The mountain air must have been invigorating, because this week the G7 leaders announced an end to the fossil fuel age, agreeing to decarbonize the global economy and transform their energy sectors. While these long-term goals are promising, short-term action is still grossly lacking. In the real world, the only way to match that rhetoric will be for the G7 to start leaving fossil fuels in the ground, while providing the finance and support for others to do the same.
Let's look at the road map to get to this fossil-free destination.
Leaders are responding because the public demand for action is undeniable. New data from World Wide Views show that 80% of people around the world are very concerned about climate change. And 68% of citizens think tackling climate change will improve their quality of life. Also, according to a report by the International Trade Union Confederation - 9 out of 10 people want to see leaders take climate action.
That demand will only grow louder over the months ahead.
Just next week, we will welcome the Pope's climate encyclical, which we expect to issue a clear moral call for action. Soon after, the medical community will weigh in on the health impacts of climate change with the new Lancet commission report.
And the people will keep marching: mobilizations are planned across Europe and around the world. Just this morning, activists with the German group Ende Gelande hosted an action training outside this conference center to prepare for a mass protest of the Rhineland coal mines, the largest source of CO2 emissions in Europe, located just 40km from here in Bonn.
All these actions should send shivers down the spines of the fossil fuel industry. Much more work to be done, but change is going to come. In many places it already has.
The following remarks were made at the conclusion of the UN climate talks, which formally concluded in Bonn, Germany, on Thursday.
This week -- and the past few months -- have seen an incredible surge of momentum for climate action around the world. Climate action is in the air.
"Much more work to be done, but change is going to come."
People, businesses, faith communities, and even some politicians, are showing that they are ready to turn away from fossil fuels and towards a 100% renewable energy future.I have a three-page list of accomplishments from outside this process, but since there's limited time, let me share just a few highlights.
First, the fossil fuel divestment campaign is on a winning streak.
Last week, Norway's $890 billion dollar government pension fund sold close to $9 billion worth of coal investments. In the last month, Oxford University, Edinburgh University, Georgetown University, the insurance company AXA and more, have also made divestment commitments with banks like Credit Agricole refusing to finance new coal. And campaigns continue to grow at hundreds more institutions around the world.
Businesses are also moving their money in the right direction. IKEA recently pledged EUR1 billion euro of climate finance. No offense to rich countries, but if a furniture store is making a EUR1 billion euro commitment, you could probably up your game.
Some politicians do seem to be getting the message. The mountain air must have been invigorating, because this week the G7 leaders announced an end to the fossil fuel age, agreeing to decarbonize the global economy and transform their energy sectors. While these long-term goals are promising, short-term action is still grossly lacking. In the real world, the only way to match that rhetoric will be for the G7 to start leaving fossil fuels in the ground, while providing the finance and support for others to do the same.
Let's look at the road map to get to this fossil-free destination.
Leaders are responding because the public demand for action is undeniable. New data from World Wide Views show that 80% of people around the world are very concerned about climate change. And 68% of citizens think tackling climate change will improve their quality of life. Also, according to a report by the International Trade Union Confederation - 9 out of 10 people want to see leaders take climate action.
That demand will only grow louder over the months ahead.
Just next week, we will welcome the Pope's climate encyclical, which we expect to issue a clear moral call for action. Soon after, the medical community will weigh in on the health impacts of climate change with the new Lancet commission report.
And the people will keep marching: mobilizations are planned across Europe and around the world. Just this morning, activists with the German group Ende Gelande hosted an action training outside this conference center to prepare for a mass protest of the Rhineland coal mines, the largest source of CO2 emissions in Europe, located just 40km from here in Bonn.
All these actions should send shivers down the spines of the fossil fuel industry. Much more work to be done, but change is going to come. In many places it already has.