Today has been a big day for coal at the COP 19 UN climate talks in Poland, and it all coincides with the launch of the People’s Declaration on Coal. Young Friends of the Earth Europe is one of the many organisations from all over the world who have signed onto this declaration, demanding an end to all new coal projects and for the UN to get coal out of the climate talks.
Here at the UN climate negotiations in Poland we are witnessing a huge push for coal, especially the so called ‘clean coal’ technology which is being pushed as yet another false solution to the climate crisis. The World Coal Association, together with the Polish Ministry of Economy have developed ‘The Warsaw Communiqué’ which is their message to the climate negotiators this week.
The coal industry is a major contributor to climate change but this statement claims that it deserves continued and increased public subsidies to pollute our environment and damage our health.
The urgency of the climate crisis requires an immediate and fair transition away from dirty energy such as coal to clean, community owned renewable power.
Our message in signing onto this statement is that the push for Coal is a BETRAYAL of the commitment and obligation of governments under the United Nations to address climate change and shift to sustainable pathways.
Our demands
- Ban all new coal projects.
- End investment incentives and public subsidies to producers that drive the expansion of coal mining and coal energy generation.
- A full stop to all public financing of coal projects, including from international financial institutions, export credit agencies, development finance institutions and bilateral aid agencies.
- Mobilize public finance to make the shift to democratic, renewable and clean energy systems for people and communities as fast as possible.
- Stop excessive energy consumption by corporations and elites.