As Kenya celebrates striking liquid gold in several prospecting areas, the joy may not last if a global movement to end fossil fuel use gets traction.
Starting today, a global wave of peaceful direct actions lasting 12 days will take place across six continents targeting the world’s most dangerous fossil fuel projects, under the banner of Break Free.
Last year was the hottest year ever recorded and the impacts of climate change are already hitting communities around the world from rising sea levels to extreme storms.
Added to that, the fossil fuel industry faces an unprecedented crisis — from collapsing prices, massive divestments, a new global climate deal, and an ever-growing movement calling for change.
To harness the moment, activists and concerned citizens committed to addressing climate change will unite to ensure that strong pressure is maintained to force energy providers, as well as local and national governments, to implement policies and additional investments needed to completely break free from fossil fuels.
“By backing campaigns and mass actions aimed at stopping the world’s most dangerous fossil-fuel projects – from coal plants in Turkey and the Philippines, to mines in Germany and Australia, to fracking in Brazil and oil wells in Nigeria – Break Free hopes to eliminate the power and pollution of the fossil-fuel industry, and propel the world toward a sustainable future,” said May Boeve, Executive Director 350.org.
The activists say that to address the current climate crisis and keep global warming below 1.5C, fossil fuel projects need to be shelved and existing infrastructure needs replaced with renewable energy.
The Break Free events are scheduled to take place in South Africa, Nigeria, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, Germany, Philippines.
Greenpeace International Executive Director Jennifer Morgan said: “Communities on the front lines of climate change aren’t waiting for governments to act. They are taking bold action, and the world needs to listen. The Paris agreement was only possible because millions of people spent years fighting for climate justice. Now that governments have committed to action, we must make sure they follow the science and deliver on their words. The only way to survive climate change is through a rapid just transition to 100% renewable energy, keeping oil, coal and gas in the ground.”
Across the US activists will target six key areas of fossil fuel development including the new tar sands pipelines in the Midwest, fracking in the Mountain West and ‘bomb trains’ carrying fracked oil and gas to a port in Albany among other key areas.