100 signatures reached
To: New Zealand's leaders
Aotearoa NZ: Let's back a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty
We, the undersigned, join our voices with the collective of Māori and Pacific climate activists in calling for Councils across New Zealand to endorse the call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. We believe that this action is essential for the future of our planet and our communities.
The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty concept proposes three pillars of action:
- Non-Proliferation: Preventing new coal, oil, or gas developments.
- Equitable Phase Out: Phasing out existing fossil fuel production plans.
- Just Transition: Ensuring that no community, region, or worker is left behind.
Why is this important?
If we are to have a fighting chance at meeting the commitments of the Paris Agreement, limiting emissions to below the upper threshold of 1.5 degrees is next to impossible when the proliferation of fossil fuels continues at record levels and without a clear pathway for a just transition.
Coal, oil, and gas alone account for over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 86% of all carbon emissions in the past decade, yet many leaders, including ours, are continuing with business as usual while our islands, cities, and communities continue to suffer.
We urge our Local Councils to stand in solidarity with the six Pacific nations and 80 cities worldwide that have already endorsed the call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and to add their endorsement.
Without addressing the production of fossil fuels, we risk blowing through our climate targets. With the recent IEA, IPCC, and UNEP reports, now is the time to put the question of managing an equitable transition away from fossil fuels on the local agenda. It's crucial that we see leadership at the local level and that local Councils across the country back the concept of a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, just as Wellington City Council and Kāpiti Coast District Council have now done.