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There are two reasons why I am excited about this month’s newsletter.
One – our actions over the last few weeks have directly resulted in major wins for climate solutions. In fact, the loss and damage fund petition you supported last month? Well, now rich countries have just appointed a board for the Fund, a much awaited step in the right direction.
And the second reason is a more celebratory one!
March is a special month dedicated to women. It gives us the well-awaited opportunity to underscore how women are at the forefront of the climate crises.
Head over to our Instagram page where we celebrate Women’s History Month in a 3-part video series. Photo Credit: 350.org
We know that women and marginalized communities face the brunt of climate impacts. Incredibly, it is these very women who are driving systemic change in climate action. From grassroots movements to boardrooms, they are pioneering innovative solutions and amplifying vulnerable voices. Across the globe, women are deeply connected to communities and environments. This connection fuels their determination to protect our planet for future generations. Women’s leadership isn’t just crucial, it is the essence of our climate action.
In that spirit, we dedicate this edition of Fossil Free News to our foremothers and female activists. Their legacy and brave work propels us forward in the fight against climate change.
Why don’t you join our Fossil Free mailing list for all the latest stories on climate organizing from around the world? Stories that matter. Campaigns that inspire. All delivered directly to you every month!
In Case You Missed It
Ensuring our Future
Since 2016, we’ve fiercely opposed the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) due to its threats to communities and the environment. This month, we teamed up with global civil society and climate justice partners for a Global Week of Action, called Insure Our Future.
Together, we called on insurance giants like SINOSURE and China Re to stop funding this destructive fossil fuel pipeline. We organized demonstrations, workshops, and protests across Uganda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo in EACOP-affected areas. In solidarity, our activists in the US, the UK, and Japan also targeted major insurers such as Tokio Marine, AIG, and Probitas.
And the best news? Our efforts didn’t go unnoticed. Probitas 1492, a major insurance company, has now pledged not to insure EACOP and the West Cumbria Coal Mine (another fossil fuel project in the UK). Our collective efforts during the Global Week of Action made this victory possible. Onward to the next!
Navigating the Nuclear Hype
Nowadays, nuclear power is being marketed as a ‘miracle’ substitute for fossil fuels. At COP28, over 20 countries announced plans to triple nuclear energy output by 2050. We strongly oppose this.
The science is crystal clear: nuclear energy is a dangerous distraction. Building nuclear plants is expensive and time-consuming, and they create long-lasting environmental damage due to toxic waste.
Ironically, as climate change worsens, nuclear waste that was once buried will also resurface, causing significant harm to the environment, food supplies, and people’s lives in those regions.
11 March is the anniversary of the Fukushima Nuclear disaster in Japan which was set in motion by a tsunami and earthquake. This disaster, forcing the evacuation of over 25,000 people, is a tragic reminder of the devastating human cost of nuclear power.
We need to prioritize safe, democratic, and real renewable energy sources like solar and wind.
350 Pacific partner, Jo Jikum hosts Nuclear Victims Remembrance Day Art Exhibition on 29 Feb – 2 March in the Marshall Islands, showcasing the deep impact of nuclear disasters on communities and ecosystems. Photo Credit: Jo Jikum
Celebrating Our True Climate Leaders
At 350, we’re all about honoring the inspiring leadership of women in the climate movement. We’re not just celebrating their contributions, we’re downright awestruck by them.
From blazing trails to safeguarding ancient wisdom, these women are the heart and soul of our planet’s protection. We thank our Indigenous sisters whose legacies are like roots grounding us in this fight. A shout out to our grassroots warriors too, who are silently but powerfully pushing for climate justice. Their voices? Absolutely indispensable.
In our quest for climate justice, women’s rights aren’t just a side issue – they’re woven into the fabric of our struggle. As our colleague Tamara Amalia wisely says, “We cannot extinguish the flames consuming our planet while silencing the voices of those who could help us douse them.”
Ready to see the true breadth of our climate movement? Look through the lens of these phenomenal women who are driving it globally:
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Bangladesh
Fahida Sultana, a 21-year-old climate activist & founder of the Service For Human Being Organization (SHBO). She has dedicated her efforts to stopping the illegal brick kilns in her community. Photo credit: 350
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Japan
Miki Hiramatsu, local activist. She teaches climate crises 101 classes and engages in community initiatives aimed at mitigating climate change. Photo credit: Miki Hiramatsu
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The United States
Mariel Nanasi, Head of New Energy Economy. She fiercely challenges utility giants, advocating for energy democracy and justice in New Mexico, USA. Photo credit: Searchlightnm.org
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Colombia
Esneda Saavedra, leader and first female governor of the Yukpa indigenous people from the territory of Cesar and Megdelana, Colombia. She fights against the devastating effects of coal mines on her people. Photo credit: ONIC |
Ghana
Portia Adu-Mensah, National Coordinator of 350 G-ROC. Through community empowerment in the RE4C campaign, she works for a sustainable and equitable energy future in Ghana through grassroots engagement and policy advocacy. Photo credit: 350 G-ROC |
The Pacific
Arianne Kassman, CEO of Transparency International PG & Melanesian Council Elder for Pacific Climate Warriors. Arianne brings indigenous wisdom and political acumen to the forefront of Papua New Guinea’s environmental and social justice movements. Photo credit: Jeff Tan |
One to Watch
Women are also emerging as pivotal leaders amid Africa’s climate struggles. From rural to urban areas, they are pioneering positive change in the energy sector.
Our documentary ‘The Renewable Charge’ traces 350 G-ROC’s evolution from anti-coal activism to a community-driven push for renewables. See how renewables can transform lives across communities and regions. Experience the resilience along with the victories of women and youth in shaping just and inclusive energy sources in Ghana.
So grab some popcorn, kick back and turn on this documentary. May this film inspire you to spread word that renewables = a future that leaves no one behind…
Use Your Power
Our dear friend and climate activist, Hoang Thi Minh Hong, has been unjustly detained by the Vietnamese authorities since May 2023, facing false tax evasion charges. This is a tactic often used to silence critics of the country’s environmental policies.
Hoang Thi Minh Hong is a veteran activist whose work has had a huge impact on environmental outcomes in her home country of Vietnam and the global climate movement.
Vietnam owes its bold climate goals, like net zero emissions by 2050, to the relentless work of activists like Hong. But the crackdown on dissent must stop. Stand with us to #FreeHong and defend climate justice:
Skill Up Your Activism
Climate change has deep and far-reaching consequences. It impacts different populations differently. This is especially true for those who already face inequalities – women, the elderly, people with disabilities, and minority groups.
For inclusive climate solutions, we must understand how the climate crisis affects everyone, especially vulnerable communities.
This free online course is a wonderful resource to get started. You can take your climate activism one step further by exploring the links between gender, human rights, and climate change. Plus you will also learn practical tools to shape truly people-centered climate solutions!
Quote of the month
“Empowering women is the single most important way to ensure effective climate action”
– Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.