High level officials from Pacific Islands have called for a reining in of fossil fuel production in order to stay within the climate limits agreed to in Paris. They were joined in their call by civil society, indigenous, and academic voices. Potential carbon emissions from the oil, gas, and coal present in the world’s currently operating fields and mines would take us beyond 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius of warming.
The Paris goals
For the world to stay within the Paris climate limits, new fossil fuel production must be halted. This requires stopping exploration for, and expansion of, new reserves and a managed decline and just transition away from fossil fuel production. These calls echo the asks of the Lofoten Declaration, which affirms that it is the urgent responsibility and moral obligation of wealthy fossil fuel producers to lead in these efforts.
