There is No Climate Justice Without Human Rights, Fossil of the Day is Awarded to Israel
8 December
Dubai, UAE
About the fossils: The Fossil of the Day awards were first presented at the climate talks in 1999, in Bonn, initiated by the German NGO Forum. During United Nations climate change negotiations (www.unfccc.int), members of the Climate Action Network (CAN), vote for countries judged to have done their ‘best’ to block progress in the negotiations in the last days of talks.
Every day at 18:00 local time you can watch the Fossil ceremony at Action Zone 9 (near the entrance)
There is No Climate Justice Without Human Rights, Fossil of the Day is Awarded to Israel
Runner Up – Russia
Russia seems to be lost… or at least confused about why we’re all in the UAE, as they keep striking fossil fuel deals instead of making meaningful climate pledges. Whilst the world focuses on climate negotiations, Putin showed his face in Dubai for all the wrong reasons; to discuss new oil agreements with UAE and Saudi Arabia. Conveniently for him, we are not in one of the 100 countries which recognise the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.
Russian is renowned for its skilled chess players, but, let’s face it, Putin is no Anatoly Karpov. In a country where nearly half the federal budget comes from revenues generated by fossil fuels, with 40% allocated to finance the war in Ukraine and other armed conflicts worldwide, he’s using fossil fuels as a key piece in the geopolitical match, militarising their supply with dire consequences for the climate. Russia’s opposition to phase-out language at COP28 is driven by a selfish drive for profit at the expense of people and climate. Their scrutiny of the Tripling Renewable Energy target further undermines the negotiations. This is not how you execute a Queen’s Gambit.
Therefore, Russia has been awarded Fossil of the Day for putting more effort into exporting fossil fuels than supporting climate solutions. It’s time to End Fossil Fuels, Fast, Fair, Funded, Feminist, Forever and make the just and equitable transition to 100% renewable energy.
Runner Up – Australia
Australia has been letting its friends and neighbours down. The neighbourhood watch committee needs to call an emergency meeting to discuss the state of their garden. To be good neighbours and meet their responsibilities as part of ‘the Pacific Family’, our friends down under must take action now to phase out fossil fuels and pay for their historical and ongoing contributions to the crisis by contributing to the Loss and Damage Fund.
Announcing meagre contributions to their own Pacific Resilience Fund and the Green Climate Fund while subsidising the coal and gas industry to the tune of BILLIONS every year is not what a good neighbour does. The A$150m contained within their Pacific Climate Finance Package is like forgetting to bring some beers to the neighbourhood barbeque. Australia’s order of value is evident. As the third largest fossil fuel exporter it must be held responsible for its actions. The climate crisis is having devastating consequences on the Pacific community.
Fossil of the Day loves to bring levity and humour to the UNFCCC spaces, however, we can’t find any humour in the next award.
Israel
Let us be clear, there is no climate justice without human rights. There can be no peace without justice. Just 2,500 kilometres from the COP28 venue, hostilities in Gaza and Israel have created appalling human suffering, physical and environmental destruction and collective trauma across Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territory.
The international community has a responsibility to use all its influence to prevent further escalation and support an end to this crisis. Over the years, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has resulted in numerous human rights violations and has profoundly impacted the lives of thousands of people over generations. According to various human rights organizations and United Nations reports, these violations have been truly devastating and are ongoing.
All nations have the responsibility to ensure that international laws are upheld and to stop the unfolding humanitarian disaster in Gaza. Today, as we focus on youth and children, the contrast between military spending and the urgent need for climate finance becomes even more stark. This COP, happening amid such a backdrop, is a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of climate justice, human rights, and the need for a global commitment to peace and sustainability.
We award the Fossil of the Day to Israel in acknowledgment of the numerous impacts this conflict is having. We stand with those who grieve and fear for their loved ones, and join the call for peace and safety, where the rights of all are respected without distinction.
Ceasefire now.
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Contact: Dara Snead, dsnead@climatenetwork.org/+447917583349
About CAN: The Climate Action Network (CAN) is a global network of over 2000 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in more than 150 countries working to promote government and individual action to limit human-induced climate change to ecologically sustainable levels. www.climatenetwork.org