350.org is at COP23 to remind governments that people’s lives, livelihoods, homes, and futures are on the line, and to amplify the voices of communities around the world striving for climate justice. This is the first time that a Pacific Island nation holds the presidency of the COP, and a historic moment in the climate justice movement.
We are here with partners from different parts of the world, to share evidence of climate impacts, and of communities’ resilience, whilst also highlighting the interconnectedness in the climate crisis and how it is being addressed.
We are here to:
- Amplify and strengthen the climate leadership coming from Fiji, the Pacific, and the Climate Vulnerable Forum: The Pacific Climate Warriors represent various grassroots, frontline and indigenous communities from across the Pacific, that come together under the banner ‘we are not drowning, we’re fighting’. The Pacific nations are calling for a 1.5°C temperature change limit, a global moratorium on new coal mines and a loss and damage mechanism.
- Define climate leadership as leaving fossil fuels in the ground and moving to 100% renewable energy. Countries will be judged – and their leaders held accountable – for how, and how swiftly, they are transitioning their economies away from fossil fuels and towards renewables. Germany, as host country for this important COP, needs to take the lead and start by phasing out coal, and other fossil fuels, immediately. It is the only way to meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement, and halt the loss and damage being caused by the fossil fuel industry.
- Highlight the action coming from cities, states, and civil society: A sense of hope is growing and gathering momentum, as local movements and frontline communities take action to stop new fossil fuel infrastructure and support renewables instead.
- Challenge the Trump Administration’s position: The US People’s Delegation, made up of a coalition of organizations, showcases the strength of U.S-based communities and everyday U.S. citizens who are pushing for climate action on the city and state level despite the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and recent rollbacks on climate protections.
- Keep up pressure on big polluters, and keep them out of the talks: It is critical that the UNFCCC develop a clear, robust definition of ‘Conflict of Interest’ to ensure that the fossil fuel industry can no longer delay, weaken and block climate policy at every level they can. The fossil fuel industry works directly against the objectives of the UNFCCC: “to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.”
The only way we can honour the commitments made under the Paris Agreement is through concerted action, by politicians and government authorities alike, towards keeping fossil fuels in the ground.
This is a pivotal moment for global efforts to combat climate change. Countries will either succumb to the forces of denial, like the Trump Administration, or move ahead to a clean energy future that works for all.
We know which direction all of us in civil society are going in: forward!