As governments gather for the G7 Summit to discuss how to build a “strong, sustainable,
balanced and inclusive recovery,” it is critical that G7 governments put “global ambitions on
climate change and the reversal of biodiversity loss at the centre” of their plans1 and stop
financing fossil fuels.
We are at a pivotal moment in the climate emergency. The devastating local, regional, and
global impacts of climate change are already disproportionately affecting frontline communities,
Indigenous people, women, youth, social movements, workers, unions, urban movements, and
farmers in the global South. The longer action is delayed, the harder it will be to avoid the worst
climate impacts and ensure a just transition for workers, communities, and countries. At the
same time, the economic and health impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, combined with the
increasing impacts of climate change, have created devastating situations for countries in the
global South.
We Can’t Afford More Fossil Fuels
The currently planned production and expansion of fossil fuels globally is not compatible with
globally agreed climate targets.2 In its May 2021 report, the International Energy Agency has
confirmed that new oil, gas, and coal projects anywhere in the world are not compatible with
limiting global warming to 1.5ºC and that governments need to urgently step up their ambition in
phasing out existing production.3 Northern countries must pay their fair share for a global
transition and move first and fastest in phasing out fossil fuels.This also means the continued
and deliberate proliferation of coal, oil, and gas in Africa, Asia, and Latin America is contrary to
scientific evidence that calls for an urgent halt to fossil fuel expansion due to debilitating impacts
on the climate, livelihoods, public health and the environment.
Gas is Dirty, Expensive, and Unnecessary for Development
G7 governments and other northern countries continue to promote reliance on gas and other
fossil fuels in the global South. G7 and other northern government financial institutions are
supporting the expansion of gas projects not just at home but overseas with huge sums of
public money. Continued investment in fossil fuels, including gas, will lock in emissions and
create stranded assets that will particularly burden developing countries into the future. Instead
of seeking loopholes to prop up dirty gas development, financial institutions — and the
governments that back them — should explicitly end all financing and support for fossil
fuels.This would in turn free up significant sums of public money to invest in building back better
from the coronavirus and increase support for developing countries.
A Just Recovery Must Alleviate Debt Burdens
The COVID-19 crisis has led to instability in oil prices, less investment, and falling government
revenues, and as a result global South debt payments have become even more unsustainable,
especially in fossil fuel producing countries. These debt payments are mounting at the same
time that countries need to expand healthcare and social protections to deal with the effects of
the pandemic. G7 governments must pursue debt cancellation to alleviate this burden.
What our governments decide now will set the course for whether we cut global carbon
emissions by 2030, stop harming communities with dirty fossil fuel projects, and keep people
whole — or fail to protect our planet and communities.
We, the 353 undersigned organizations from 58 countries, call on the leaders of G7
governments to listen and respond to the voices of global citizens calling for climate
justice, debt cancellation, and an end to fossil fuel extraction, and take the following
actions:
- Cancel debt payments in global South countries grappling with COVID-19 and climate
impacts; - Stop all fossil fuel finance from bilateral and multilateral funding sources, and encourage
other governments to do the same; - Support mechanisms for countries in the South that will speed up a just transition, and
discourage international trade arbitration mechanisms that protect fossil fuel investors; - Pay their fair share of climate finance to global South countries for climate adaptation ,
the development of renewable energy technologies, a just transition to clean energy for
workers, communities, and countries, and access to energy for those who currently lack
it; - Put an end to fossil fuel development in your own countries, including by ending fossil
fuel subsidies; manage the decline of existing production of oil, gas, and coal; and
rapidly initiate a just transition to clean and safe renewable sources of energy – involving
extensive engagement with oil, gas, and coal workers, their unions and affected
communities.
The climate crisis poses the greatest existential threat to our planet and our communities. The
IPCC has warned that we must cut global greenhouse gas emissions roughly in half by 2030 to
avert the most catastrophic impacts. Continued support for fossil fuels undermines global
climate action and puts local communities’ health at risk.
At this critical moment, we demand G7 governments demonstrate meaningful climate leadership
and stop fueling the climate crisis with continued support for fossil fuels, including fossil fuel
production and consumption in countries of the global South.
References:
[1] G7 February Virtual Summit Commitments
[2] See Production Gap and The Sky’s Limit reports
[3] IEA: Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector
Signed,
AbibiNsroma Foundation – Ghana
Action Center on Race & the Economy – United States
Action for Nature – Zambia
ActionAid Denmark – Denmark
ActionAid International – International
ActionAid USA – United States
Africa Coal Network – Africa
Africa Institute for Energy Governance – Africa
Africa Network for Environment & Economic Justice – Nigeria
Aitec – France
Akad Cultural Institute – Iraq
Alianza Mexicana contra el Fracking – Mexico
Alliance for Empowering Rural Communities – Ghana
Amazon Watch – United States
Amnesty International – International
Andy Gheorghiu Consulting – Germany
Animal Save Movement – Canada
Animals Are Sentient Beings – United States
Anti-Slavery International – United Kingdom
Arab Watch Coalition – Middle East & North Africa
Asamblea por el Agua y la Tierra de Fiske Menuco – Argentina
Asian Energy Network – Philippines
Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt & Development – Asia
Association La Siesta Mohammedia – Morocco
Association pour l’Autopromotion des Communautes de Base – Togo
Association pour la Taxation des Transactions Financières et pour l’Action Citoyenne France –
France
Association Talassemtane pour l’Environnement et Développement – Morocco
Association Tunisienne de Droit du Developpement – Tunisia
Association Tunisienne de Gouvernance Locale – Tunisia
Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility – Australia
Australian Religious Response to Climate Change – Australia
Automation Control Quality Identification – Belgium
Aytzim: Ecological Judaism – United States
Bank Information Center – United States
BankTrack – Netherlands
Bellagram Telegrams – United States
Berks Gas Truth – United States
Big Shift Global – International
Blue Future – United States
Bold Alliance – United States
Bond – United Kingdom
Both ENDS – Netherlands
Bretton Woods Project – United Kingdom
Businesses for a Livable Climate – United States
California Businesses for a Livable Climate – United States
Call to Action Colorado – United States
Campaign Against Climate Change – United Kingdom
Canadian Health Association for Sustainability & Equity – Canada
Care for the Elderly Intellectuals – Azerbaijan
Care on Call – New Zealand
Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribal Nation – United States
Catherine Park Bushcare – Australia
Catholic Agency For Overseas Development / CAFOD – United Kingdom
CatholicNetwork US – United States
Center for Biological Diversity – United States
Center for International Environmental Law – International
Center for Natural Resources Governance – Zimbabwe
Centr za Ekologiju i Energiju – Bosnia & Herzegovina
Centre de Recherche et d’Action sur les Droits Economiques, Sociaux et Culturels – Senegal
Centre for Citizens Conserving Environment & Management – Uganda
Centre for Climate Safety – Australia
Centre for Environmental Rights – South Africa
Change The Chamber – United States
Chatham Research Group – United States
Christians For Future Germany – Germany
Clean Air Action Group – Hungary
Clean Energy Action Colorado – United States
Climate & Health Alliance – Australia
Climate Action Network Europe – Europe
Climate Action Network South Asia – India
Climate Action Network United Kingdom – United Kingdom
Climate Action Now Western Mass – United States
Climate Emergency Institute – Canada
Climate First! – United States
Climate Reality Project Silicon Valley Chapter – United States
Climate Reality Project Chicago Chapter – United States
Climáximo – Portugal
Coalition to Protect New York – United States
Coastal Livelihood & Environmental Action Network – Bangladesh
Colorado Businesses for a Livable Climate – United States
Colorado Small Business Coalition – United States
Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach – United States
Comisión Interdisciplinaria de Medio Ambiente – Argentina
Comité Nacional de Lucha Contra el Cambio Climático – Dominican Republic
Conejo Climate Coalition – United States
Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S. Provinces – United States
Consumers’ Association of Penang – Malaysia
Coordination des Associations et ONG Féminines du Mali – Mali
Coordination Office of the Austrian Bishops’ Conference for International Development &
Mission – Austria
COP26 Climate Action Plan – United Kingdom
Corporate Accountability & Public Participation Africa – Nigeria
Corporate Europe Observatory – Europe
Council of Canadians – Canada
Council of Canadians Nelson Chapter – Canada
Cultura Ecológica – Mexico
Defensores do Planeta – Brazil
Derecho Ambiente y Recursos Naturales – Peru
Dibeen For Environmental Development – Jordan
Divest Hackney – United Kingdom
Divest Strathclyde – Scotland
Dublin Friends of the Earth – Ireland
Earth Action / Earth Ethics – United States
Earth Day Initiative – United States
Earthlife Africa – South Africa
Eat for the Earth – United States
Echo Public Association – Kazakhstan
Eco Action Families – United Kingdom
Eco World – Azerbaijan
eco-union – Europe
EcoEquity – United States
EcoFair Trading – Canada
Ecological Party of Uganda – Uganda
Economic Justice Network of Fellowship of Christian Councils in Southern Africa – South Africa
Elmirans & Friends Against Fracking – United States
Empower Our Future – United States
Energy & Environmental Initiative of Colorado Democratic Party – United States
Environics Trust – India
Environmental Defence Canada – Canada
Environmental Justice Foundation – United Kingdom
Environmental Rights Action / Friends of the Earth Nigeria – Nigeria
Environmental Smart – United Kingdom
EnvironmentaLEE – United States
Espace de Solidarité et de Cooperation de l’Oriental – Morocco
Ethical Markets Media – United States
Eurodad / European Network on Debt & Development – Belgium
Extinction Rebellion Cardiff – Wales
Extinction Rebellion New Brunswick – Canada
Extinction Rebellion New Orleans – United States
Extinction Rebellion San Francisco Bay Area – United States
Extinction Rebellion Teesside – United Kingdom
Food & Water Action Europe – Belgium
Food & Water Watch – United States
Foro del Buen Ayre – Argentina
Fossil Free California – United States
Fossil Free London – United Kingdom
Fossil Free Sweden – Sweden
Fossil Fuel Divest Harvard – United States
Frack Free United – United Kingdom
FrackBustersNY – United States
FracTracker Alliance – United States
Fresh Eyes – United Kingdom
FreshWater Accountability Project – United States
Fridays For Future Angola – Angola
Fridays For Future Bangladesh – Bangladesh
Fridays For Future India – India
Fridays For Future Kyoto – Japan
Fridays for Future MAPA – Global South
Fridays for Future USA – United States
Friends of the Earth England, Wales & Northern Ireland – United Kingdom
Friends of the Earth Europe – Europe
Friends of the Earth International – International
Friends of the Earth Japan – Japan
Friends of the Earth Scotland – Scotland
Friends of the Earth Togo – Togo
Friends of the Earth U.S. – United States
Fund Our Future – International
Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales – Argentina
Fundación Quantum – Costa Rica
Gender Action – United States
Glasgow Calls Out Polluters – Scotland
Glasswaters Foundation – Canada
Global Catholic Climate Movement – International
Global Greens – International
Global Justice Now – United Kingdom
Global Witness – International
Good Energies Alliance Ireland – Ireland
Grand(m)others Act to Save the Planet – Canada
Green 13 – Canada
Green Christian – United Kingdom
Green Education & Legal Fund – United States
Green Party of Lebanon – Lebanon
Green Retirement – United States
GreenFaith – International
GreenLatinos – United States
Greenpeace
Groupe de Recherche et de Plaidoyer sur les Industries Extractives – Côte d’Ivoire
Health of Mother Earth Foundation – Nigeria
Hellard Media – Australia
Inland Ocean Coalition – United States
Institute for Policy Studies Climate Policy Program – United States
Instituto Brasileiro de Análises Sociais e Econômics – Brazil
Instituto Talanoa – Brazil
International Marine Mammal Project – International
International Network for Sustainable Energy East Africa – Uganda
Japan International Volunteer Center – Japan / Asia
Jubilee Australia – Australia
Jubilee Scotland – United Kingdom
Just Earth Toronto – Canada
Justiça Ambiental / Friends of the Earth Mozambique – Mozambique
KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives – Canada
Kitsap Climate Team – United States
Klimadelegation – Germany
Law & Policy of Sustainable Development Research Center – Vietnam
Legambiente – Italy
Les Amis de la Terre / Friends of the Earth France – France
Lesy Čekanová – Czech Republic
Let There Be Light International – International
Liberty Tree Foundation – United States
Madhvi4EcoEthics – United States
Magyar Természetvédők Szövetsége / Friends of the Earth Hungary – Hungary
Managers For Future – Belgium
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns – United States
Medcall Health – New Zealand
MediCorner – Canada
Mekong Watch – Japan
Methane Action – United States
Milieudefensie – Netherlands
Mineral Inheritors Rights Association – India
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd – United States
Natural Justice: Lawyers for Communities & the Environment – International
Nature & Youth / Young Friends of the Earth Norway – Norway
New Brunswick Anti-Shale Gas Alliance – Canada
New Energy Economy – United States
North American Climate, Conservation & Environment – United States
North Range Concerned Citizens – United States
Nuclear Information & Resource Service – United States
Nurture The Children – United States
Observatori del Deute en la Globalització – Spain
Ocean Conservation Research – United States
Oil Change International – International
Oilwatch Africa – Africa
Operation Noah – United Kingdom
Our Part Foundation – United States
Parents For Future Austria – Austria
Parents For Future Global – International
Parents for Future United Kingdom – United Kingdom
Peace Boat – Japan
Peace Point Development Foundation – Nigeria
People for a Healthy Environment – United States
People’s Climate Movement Greater Toronto – Canada
Periodistas por el Planeta – Argentina
Petrocultures Research Group – Canada
Philadelphia Solar Energy Association – United States
Physicians for Social Responsibility Arizona – United States
Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania – United States
Plastic Pollution Coalition – United States
Platform – United Kingdom
Portage Community Rights Group – United States
Powershift Africa – Africa
Progressive Democrats of America – United States
Progressive Democrats of America Arizona Chapter – United States
Protect All Children’s Environment – United States
Public Advocacy Initiatives for Rights & Values in India – India
Publiez Ce Que Vous Payez Côte D’Ivoire – Côte d’Ivoire
Publiez Ce Que Vous Payez Mali – Mali
Publiez Ce Que Vous Payez Niger – Niger
Publiez Ce Que Vous Payez Togo – Togo
Publish What You Pay Eurasia – Balkans / Black Sea / Central Asia
Publish What You Pay United Kingdom – United Kingdom
Publish What You Pay United States – United States
Rachel Carson Council – United States
RapidShift Network – United States
Reclaim Finance – France
Recourse – The Netherlands
Reseau Action Climat France – France
Réseau des Organisations pour la Transparence et l’Analyse Budgetaire – Niger
Resonate! Yemen – Yemen
Respecting Aboriginal Values & Environmental Needs – Canada
Robin Hood Tax – United Kingdom
Sahabat Alam Malaysia / Friends of the Earth Malaysia – Malaysia
Sanford-Oquaga Area Concerned Citizens – United States
Santa Cruz Climate Action Network – United States
Saskatoon Youth Climate Committee – Canada
Save Animal Save Climate Foundation – India
Seneca Lake Guardian – United States
Seventh Generation Initiative – Canada
Sisters Health & Wellness Collective – United States
Social Eco Education-Los Angeles – United States
Sociedad Amigos del Viento – Uruguay
Society of Native Nations – United States
Solutions for Our Climate – South Korea
SOS from the Kids – United Kingdom
South Durban Community Environmental Alliance – South Africa
Spirit of the Sun – United States
Springfield Climate Justice Coalition – United States
Stamp Out Poverty – United Kingdom
Stand.earth – Canada / United States
Statlu Environmental Consulting – Canada
Strategic Youth Network for Development – Ghana
Studies & Economic Media Center – Yemen
SumOfUs – International
Sustainabiliteens Vancouver – Canada
Sydney Knitting Nannas Against Gas & Greed – Australia
System Change Not Climate Change – Austria
Teach the Future – United Kingdom
Texas Campaign for the Environment – United States
The Australia Institute – Australia
The Borneo Project – Malaysia
The Climate Mobilization – United States
The Earth Bill Network – United States
The Freedom BLOC – United States
The Park Church – United States
Third World Network – Malaysia
Tools For Solidarity – Northern Ireland
Toronto 350 – Canada
Uganda Coalition for Sustainable Development – Uganda
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee – United States
Unite North Metro Denver – United States
United Kingdom Student Climate Network Wales – Wales
United Methodist Women – United States
United Native Americans – International
Uplift – United Kingdom
Upper Valley Affinity Group – United States
urgewald – Germany
Valuing Voices – United States
VedvarendeEnergi / Just Finance – Denmark
VIVAT International – United States
Vote Climate – United States
Wall of Women – United States
War on Want – United Kingdom
Warrior Moms – India
Water Is Life Walks – United States
Waterspirit – United States
West Shore Faith Communities Together for a Sustainable Future – United States
West Sound Climate Action – United States
WildEarth Guardians – United States
Win Without War – United States
WomanHealth Philippines – Philippines
Women’s & Children’s Affairs Organization – Iraq
Women’s Earth & Climate Action Network – United States
Women’s Environment & Development Organization – United States
WoMin African Alliance – Africa
World Future Council – International
Yemeni Observatory for Human Rights – Yemen
Yemeni Organization for the Promotion of Integrity – Yemen
Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines – Philippines
Youth Emergency Auxiliary Service Sierra Leone – Sierra Leone
Yuzhno-Primorsky – Russia
Zero Hour – United States
198 methods – United States
2degrees Northampton – United States
350 Brooklyn – United States
350 Butte County – United States
350 Central Mass – United States
350 Charlotte – United States
350 Colorado – United States
350 Conejo / San Fernando Valley – United States
350 Eugene – United States
350 Fairfax – United States
350 Hawaii – United States
350 Kishwaukee – United States
350 Montgomery County – United States
350 New Orleans – United States
350 PDX – United States
350 Seattle – United States
350 Silicon Valley – United States
350 Tacoma – United States
350 Triangle – United States
350 Vermont – United States
350.org – International
350.org Africa – Africa
350.org Japan – Japan
350.org Latin America – Latin America
