Climate activists to stage global protests against fossil fuels today

70 events are planned across 20 African countries, with Kenya and Nigeria hosting more than 20 actions each, including rallies and theatrical performances

Across more than 50 countries, climate activists are mobilising through  more than 150 events on Friday, calling on governments to urgently implement a fast, fair and funded phase-out of fossil fuels. Their goal is to prevent further climate catastrophe and accelerate the transition to renewable energy, ensuring that the phase-out happens equitably and swiftly to protect vulnerable communities worldwide.

According to a press statement, over 70 events are planned across 20 African countries, with Kenya and Nigeria hosting more than 20 actions each, including rallies and theatrical performances.

It adds that over 70 demonstrations are also  being held across 62 cities in Asia, targeting coal plants and protesting new coal projects in countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, India and others.

It further adds that to meet the 2015 Paris Agreement goals, the transition from oil, gas and coal must occur quickly to keep global temperature rise below 1.5°C.

The statement adds that many Global North countries are doing the opposite, expanding fossil fuels, providing billions in subsidies, and supporting fossil fuel growth in the Global South through public and private investments.

It adds that the rallies will begin a global week of action ahead of Climate Week NYC from September 22-29, coinciding with the upcoming UN General Assembly and the first UN Summit of the Future.

Lidy Nacpil

“The climate crisis Is escalating rapidly, yet global coal use and capacity is at an all-time high. Global North nations are bankrolling coal expansion in Asia, despite their leaders’ COP28 commitment to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels. We are calling on Asian governments to stop the expansion of coal in our countries and implement a rapid, equitable and just phase-out of existing coal. We demand a stop to direct and indirect public and private financing of coal. New electricity demand can be met with renewable energy, which is less costly, quicker to build, easier to make accessible to all communities and reduces reliance on imported fuels,”  says Lidy Nacpil, Asian Peoples Movement on Debt and Development/Global Campaign Demand Climate Justice.

Manuel Pulgar-Vidal,

“As we see climate records being shattered, the political importance of the energy transition is even more compelling and urgent. But, the truth is that fossil fuel use is still rising, subsidies for fossil fuels remain in place, and new exploration projects are being announced. We are at a pivotal moment in time to secure a liveable and sustainable future for our planet. A rapid and fundamental transformation of the energy system is essential if we are to have any hope of limiting warming to 1.5°C. Countries must do everything possible to accelerate the phase out of fossil fuels in a fair, fast and equitable way, and enable the rapid scale up of renewable energy in this decisive decade. To fail at this, will be to fail future generations,” says Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, WWF Global Climate and Energy Lead and former Minister of Environment for Peru and COP20 President.

Marta Schaaf

“Climate change is a justice issue, it is producing a human rights crisis of climate injustice, racial injustice, gender injustice, intergenerational injustice and debt injustice. Lives, health, livelihoods and the right to a healthy environment of billions are at risk, especially of the most marginalised, yet historical emitting countries and high-income fossil fuel producers are failing to take the urgent steps we need for a full, fast, fair and funded phase out of all fossil fuels. We demand that states deliver on their human rights obligations to rapidly and equitably end fossil fuel production and use,”  says Marta Schaaf, Director of Amnesty International’s Climate, Economic and Social Justice and Corporate Accountability Programme.

“We demand action, not empty words. Rich nations call for a transition away from fossil fuels but do little to reduce their own emissions, and instead we are seeing their continued oil, gas and coal expansion. This double standard perpetuates the colonial legacy, and disproportionately devastates communities in the Global South. Africa, Asia, and Latin America & the Caribbean are paying the price with lost lives, destroyed infrastructure, and ruined livelihoods. Rich nations must lead and end the expansion of fossil fuels,” says Tasneem Essop, Executive Director, Climate Action Network International, which is coordinating the global protest.

Tasneem Essop

The organisers say that the ‘Global Fight to End Fossil Fuels’ and the ‘#PayUp Climate Finance Campaign’ are joining forces for the week from September 13 to 20 as part of the Global Week of Action for Climate Finance and a Fossil-Free Future.

They add that the Global Week of Action includes a series of online and offline mobilisations starting with the ‘End Fossil Fuels Action’ on September 13 and concluding with the ‘Pay Up for Climate Finance Action’ on September 20.