Today, on October 16, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an international authority working in nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, at its World Conservation Congress adopted a motion to explicitly address fossil fuel production as a threat to nature.
The decision, coming at the wake of recent International Court of Justice decision holding countries responsible for climate crises, has encouraged the climate activists who expressed hope that the recent developments would have positive fallout on COP 30 deliberation at Belem, Brazil.
IUCN, in its release; a copy of which is with The Plurals, mentioned that, “ … Members made history with the adoption of Motion 042—the first motion across the entire global multilateral system”.
While vulnerable countries and environmental platforms hailed the declaration as “historical”, so far, the developed countries as well developmental economies like India, China and others are mum on the resolution.
Though COP 28 in Dubai took a unanimous decision to do away with all forms of fossil fuel from 2050; the activists termed it too late and too generalised as the decision was linked to a host of conditions. It was also pointed out that till now the track record of developed countries to honour their commitment, has been abysmally poor.
A game-changing motion
“The motion calls on governments and civil society to confront one of the root causes of the combined climate and biodiversity crises through supply-side measures. This represents the strongest language ever adopted in a multilateral forum on the supply of oil, gas and coal”, the resolution further reads.
Motion 042 acknowledges the urgent gap in international governance on fossil fuel production and pushes states to explore a variety of instruments, including explicitly naming a potential Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, to phase out coal, oil, and gas, stop new extraction, and ensure a just transition for workers and communities.
The motion also reaffirmed the IUCN’s role in conservation by calling for the protection of ecosystems at the source of extraction, stopping new fossil fuel expansion, and promoting real conservation measures.
Building on ICJ’s climate decision
This historic development comes in the wake of the recent International Court of Justice (ICJ) advisory opinion, which was earlier welcomed by IUCN Motion 141. The ICJ ruling affirmed States’ obligations to prevent climate harm and protect the rights of present and future generations.
Recently COP 30 president Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, in an exclusive interview with The Plurals, admitted that the ICJ ruling would play an important role in the negotiation during the ensuing COP to be held close to Amazon forest.
One of the senior IUCN members pointed out that the latest decision was expected as members also adopted IUCN Motion 038, calling for the promotion of the implementation of the goals agreed upon under the Paris Agreement including transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner.
Fossil fuel treaty demanded
“Today is a historic moment for global conservation. For the first time, the IUCN has recognised what science has been telling us for decades: we cannot protect nature while expanding fossil fuels … This is the long-overdue leadership and courage the world needs,” opined Hon. Ralph Regenvanu, Minister for Climate Change Adaptation, Energy, Environment, Meteorology, Geo-Hazards and Disaster Management of Vanuatu.
Harjeet Singh, Strategic Advisor of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, says: “The IUCN has finally named a root cause of the climate and biodiversity crises: fossil fuels. By adopting motions that call for a serious analysis of the gaps in current international agreements, the IUCN has acknowledged what many governments still refuse to confront—there is no existing global plan to phase out coal, oil, and gas”.
Singh argued “ … That governance gap is exactly why the Fossil Fuel Treaty is what we need to provide a coherent international framework for an equitable phaseout and a just transition”.
Jayanta Basu is a senior environment journalist and Editor, The Plurals