Santa Marta Conference Tackles the Exit from Oil, Coal, and Gas

David Knecht, Head of Climate Justice Program at Fastenaktion, on the results:

“It is very pleasing that the elephant in the room was finally addressed in Santa Marta, as fossil fuels are the largest driver of climate change. The exit is an indispensable necessity for climate protection. This has been clearly recognized by the approximately 1500 participants, who discussed concrete solutions such as a moratorium on granting new extraction licenses for fossil energies or the reform of financial flows. Among other things, it was decided to jointly tackle existing problems such as debt or misdirected financial incentives and subsidies.

It is now essential for countries to implement these resolutions into concrete measures. Industrialized countries need to take a leading role here. Switzerland too must recognize its responsibility as a wealthy country. This specifically means an ambitious Swiss climate policy. Equally important is for Switzerland to contribute to removing international obstacles to the energy transition. This includes a decisive shift away from investments in fossil energy through the Swiss financial sector and the reform of debt regulations.”

Laura Mateus, Coordinator of Fastenaktion in Colombia:

“For the energy transition to be truly just, the consequences of fossil fuel extraction must be considered and the most vulnerable and affected communities must be placed at the center of solutions. Their low-carbon economic systems and climate resilience need to be strengthened to ensure their access to healthy food and renewable energy.”

Additional information:

David Knecht, Climate Justice Program, knecht@fastenaktion.ch; +41 76 436 59 86

Anselma Künzle, Campaigning, kuenzle@hotmail.com; +41 79 563 26 78

Fastenaktion and its commitment to climate justice:

The vision of Fastenaktion is a fairer world where hunger and poverty are overcome. The climate crisis is a major challenge in this regard. The poorest, who have contributed the least to the climate crisis, suffer the most from its impacts. Climate justice means minimizing the negative effects on the poorest while simultaneously combating global warming. When the poorest in the world are thriving, it benefits us all—including Switzerland. For years, Fastenaktion has been involved on the international stage, for instance at the World Climate Conference (COP). We advocate for ambitious, socially just climate protection measures in climate policy to create better conditions to fulfill the right to food.

Fastenaktion
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