Greta
Thunberg tells world leaders to end fossil fuel ‘madness’, sadly
few of the institutions or world leaders are listening and even fewer
acting to change things.
We
demand that at this year’s forum, participants from all companies,
banks, institutions and governments immediately halt all investments
in fossil fuel exploration and extraction, immediately end all fossil
fuel subsidies and immediately and completely divest from fossil
fuels.
We
don’t want these things done by 2050, 2030 or even 2021, we want
this done now – as in right now.
We
understand and know very well that the world is complicated and that
what we are asking for may not be easy. But the climate crisis is
also extremely complicated, and this is an emergency. In an emergency
you step out of your comfort zone and make decisions that may not be
very comfortable or pleasant. And let’s be clear – there is
nothing easy, comfortable or pleasant about the climate and
environmental emergency.
Young
people are being let down by older generations and those in power. To
some it may seem like we are asking for a lot. But this is just the
very minimum of effort needed to start the rapid sustainable
transition. The fact that this still – in 2020 – hasn’t been
done already is, quite frankly, a disgrace.
Yet,
since the 2015 Paris agreement, 33 major global banks have
collectively poured $1.9tn (£1.5tn) into fossil fuels, according to
Rainforest Action’s report. The IMF concluded that in 2017 alone,
the world spent $5.2tn subsidising fossil fuels. This has to stop.
The
world of finance has a responsibility to the planet, the people and
all other species living on it. In fact, it ought to be in every
company and stakeholder’s interest to make sure the planet they
live on will thrive. But history has not shown the corporate world’s
willingness to hold themselves accountable. So it falls on us, the
children, to do that. We call upon the world’s leaders to stop
investing in the fossil fuel economy that is at the very heart of
this planetary crisis. Instead, they should invest their money in
existing sustainable technologies, research and in restoring nature.
Short-term profit should not
The
theme of this year’s gathering in Davos is “stakeholders for a
cohesive and sustainable world”. According to the forum’s
website, leaders will meet to discuss ideas and improve our global
progress on climate change. Our request to them is perhaps not so
far-fetched considering that they say they understand and prioritise
this emergency. Anything less than immediately ceasing these
investments in the fossil fuel industry would be a betrayal of life
itself. Today’s business as usual is turning into a crime against
humanity. We demand that leaders play their part in putting an end to
this madness. Our future is at stake, let that be their investment.
• Greta
Thunberg is a 17-year-old environmental campaigner from Stockholm,
Sweden. This article was co-written with youth climate activists Jean
Hinchliffe, Australia; Danielle Ferreira de Assis, Brazil; Joel
Enrique Peña Panichine, Chile; Robin Jullian, France; Luisa
Neubauer, Germany; Licipriya Kangujam, India; David Wicker, Italy;
Julia Haddad, Lebanon; Oladosu Adenike, Nigeria; Iqbal Badruddin,
Pakistan; Arshak Makichyan, Russia; Holly Gillibrand, Scotland;
Alejandro Martínez, Spain; Isabelle Axelsson, Sweden; Sophia
Axelsson, Sweden; Ell Jarl, Sweden; Mina Pohankova, Sweden; Linus
Dolder, Switzerland; Vanessa Nakate, Uganda; Tokata Iron Eyes, USA
1 comment:
Let's hope the world is listening to its children, Rural. They are our last hope.
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