Joint Call from Coal Regions to the COP31 Presidencies: Make Concrete Commitments to Phase Out Coal

In a joint letter to the COP31 Presidencies, 50 frontline organisations from coal regions across Türkiye, Australia and around the world called on Türkiye and Australia to take concrete and binding steps to phase out coal.

In the letter addressed to Murat Kurum, COP31 President and Türkiye’s Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, and Chris Bowen, President of Negotiations for COP31 and Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, the organisations called on both countries to set a strong example for other coal dependant countries.

“A just transition must be at the heart of phasing out coal”

The joint letter emphasised that coal phase-out policies must go beyond simply closing power plants and mines. They must be accompanied by just transition plans that safeguard livelihoods, workers and local economies in coal regions.

The frontline organisations called on Türkiye and Australia to take three key steps towards a rapid and just phase-out of coal under their COP31 Presidencies:

• Rejecting permits for new coal-fired power plants and capacity expansions, and systematically phasing out coal-fired electricity generation;
• Halting the opening of new coal mines and the expansion of existing ones;
• Accelerating international cooperation towards a coal-free future through concrete national and international commitments under the COP31 Presidencies.

The organisations stressed that these steps would not only help keep the 1.5°C goal within reach, but also pave the way for a clean, just and resilient future for communities living in coal regions.

Mehmet Dalkanat from the Afşin-Elbistan Platform for the Protection of Life and Nature said:

“People in Afşin-Elbistan have lived with coal for 40 years and have already paid a heavy price in pollution and the impacts of coal. The cancellation of the new coal-fired power plant project is a major victory for local communities who have been fighting for years, and a powerful source of hope for a coal-free future. The region now wants to free itself from the burden of coal and secure a clean, healthy and just future. This is not just the voice of Afşin-Elbistan, but of coal regions around the world. The COP31 Presidencies must build on this local victory to accelerate the phase-out of coal and deliver a just transition.”

Süheyla Doğan from the Kazdagi Association for The Protection of Natural and Cultural Assets said:

“The proposal to build a new power plant in Çanakkale is in clear contradiction with Türkiye’s COP31 Presidency. People living in coal regions no longer want more pollution or more coal; they want a clean, healthy and just future. If Türkiye and Australia want to lead the world in phasing out coal, they must demonstrate that leadership in their own countries first. COP31 must be a summit where concrete commitments are made to leave the coal era behind, not one that paves the way for new coal projects.”

People for the Plains, who are opposing coal mine expansions in New South Wales said:

“We want to see a moratorium on new coal expansions and extensions. Our region only has a fighting chance if we create a planned phase out process starting now based on the current end dates that the mines have. Our region is highly exposed to the impacts of climate change with a big reliance on agriculture. We call on the Australian Government to stop allowing coal expansions and extensions, effective immediately and help our regions transition to a cleaner future.”

Representatives from Sydney Knitting Nanas and Friends said:

"Sydney Knitting Nannas and Friends want state and federal governments to rule out approvals for new coal mines and for extensions and expansions of existing mines now. The extreme weather events over the last year and predictions for our summer mean it is too late for an orderly transition. COP31 must establish a binding process to end fossil fuels"

Editor’s note:

Click to read the full letter, explore statements from some of the signatories, and view the visuals.

Organisations that signed the joint letter (Alphabetical Order):

Alberta Wilderness Association,Canada

Adana Ekoloji Platformu, Türkiye

Afşin-Elbistan Hayatı ve Doğayı Koruma Platformu, Türkiye

Agrida Tarım ve Turizm Derneği, Türkiye

Akhisar Çevre Derneği, Türkiye

Antalya Beşkonaklılar Derneği, Türkiye

Antalya Ekoloji Ağı, Türkiye

Avdan Platformu, Türkiye

Bathurst Community Climate Action Network (BCCAN), Australia

Bursa Su Kollektifi, Türkiye

Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action, Australia

Calgary Climate Hub Association, Canada

Çan Çevre Derneği, Türkiye

Çevre ve Tüketiciyi Koruma Derneği, Türkiye

Climate Action Burwood/Canada Bay, Australia

Climate Action Monaro, Australia

Climate Cymru, UK

Climate Justice Charter Movement (KwaZulu Natal branch), South Africa

Common Threads Indigenous Peoples Organisation, Australia

Coal Action Network, UK

Denman Aberdeen Muswellbrook Scone Healthy Environment Group, Australia

Ege Çevre ve Kültür Platformu, Türkiye

Ekolojik Yaşam Hareketi Derneği, Türkiye

Eskişehir Çevre Koruma ve Geliştirme Derneği, Türkiye

Free Bruno, Colombia

Friends of Sirhowy Valley Country Park, UK

Güney Marmara Adaları Dernekler Platformu, Türkiye

Heartwood, USA

Hunter Renewal, Australia

Idaho Conservation League, USA

İda Dayanışma Derneği, Türkiye

Kanopi Hijau Indonesia, Indonesia

Karadam Karacahisar Mahalleleri Doğayı Doğal Hayatı Koruma Güzelleştirme ve Dayanışma Derneği, Türkiye

Karaman Ekoloji Derneği, Türkiye

Kazdağı Doğal ve Kültürel Varlıkları Koruma Derneği, Türkiye

Kazdağları Ekoloji Platformu, Türkiye

Montana Environmental Information Center, USA

Mudgee District Environment Group, Australia

Muğla Çevre Platformu, Türkiye

Pacific Climate Warriors, Pacific

Parents For Climate, Australia

People for the Plains Inc, Australia

RWE und Co. enteignen, Germany

Şarköy Ekolojik Yaşam ve Kültür derneği, Türkiye

Southcoast Health and Sustainability Alliance (SHASA), Australia

SWC, South Africa

Sydney Knitting Nannas and Friends, Australia

Trakya Toprağıma Dokunma Platformu, Türkiye

United Valleys Action Group (UVAG), UK

Wildsight, Canada

Contacts:

Efe Baysal, 350.org Turkiye Country Manager, [email protected]

Anthony Collins, Coal Action Network Policy Lead, [email protected] +447983899796

Nilay Vardar, Beyond Fossil Fuels, Communications Manager, [email protected]