New York, NY — Today, The New York Times Magazine released a special issue on climate change titled “Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change.” While it’s significant to see such an outlet devote space to climate change, the feature fails to meaningfully recognize the fossil fuel companies responsible for climate change and underscore the urgency for action in the present.
In light of this piece, Bill McKibben, author and 350.org co-founder, said:
“It is true that acting on climate during the 1980s would have been a good idea — um, some people even suggested it at the time. But the next best moment to act would be right now, so it’s convenient that all over the planet people are gearing up to Rise for Climate.”
May Boeve, 350.org Executive Director, offered:
“This piece falls short in holding the companies and executives responsible for climate destruction accountable in the present day. With the window for action quickly closing, it’s up to all of us to keep fossil fuel billionaires and our elected officials on the hook for meaningful action on climate justice.
“We refuse to give up hope. Where hope lies is in ordinary people rising up where governments are failing. From over $6 trillion in assets committed to divest from fossil fuels and unyielding resistance to dirty projects, to over 1000 climate lawsuits against oil majors, people are already hard at work building necessary solutions for a fast and just transition away from fossil fuels toward 100% renewables for all.
“Around the world, tens of thousands of people are gearing up for September’s Rise for Climate mobilizations to demand elected officials and decision-makers at all levels join us in building the fossil free world that works for all of us.”
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Contact: Lindsay Meiman, [email protected], +1 (347) 460-9082
For more on the Rise For Climate mobilization, visit: riseforclimate.org