We need a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty – and we need it now

The publication of the IPCC special report on global warming of 1.5 degrees concluded that only “rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society” can deliver the globally agreed target. This suggests the need for a new line in the sand, especially in the already industrialised countries where any growth of fossil fuel dependent infrastructure will be clearly incompatible with meeting the 1.5 degree target.

⇑ Andrew explains why the fossil fuel sector needs to do more to tackle climate change on BBC World News

Therefore, to underpin the existing climate agreement, and to exert influence over the immediate choices of policymakers, at the very least, the new findings of the IPCC mandate a moratorium in rich countries on any further expansion of fossil fuel industries, or any infrastructure dependent on it. This moratorium could be realised as a Fossil Fuel Non Proliferation Treaty.

We made our case for a Fossil Fuel Non Proliferation Treaty in a submission to the United Nations Talanoa Dialogue, which you can view below.

Find out more:

• ‘We need a non-proliferation treaty for fossil fuels’ – Hugh Richards
  Guardian letters, published 12.12.18
  • Hugh Richards supports the call for a “non-proliferation treaty” for fossil fuels.

• ‘We need a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty – and we need it now’
  Guardian opinion, published 23.10.18
  • Climate breakdown is an imminent threat to humanity. But an international treaty could avert calamity.

• ‘To save the planet we need a treaty – and to consider rationing’      Guardian letters, published 29.10.18 
  • Bill McKibben, Naomi Klein, Caroline Lucas, John Sauven, Craig Bennett, Ann Pettifor and Leo Murray add their voices to calls for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty.