Fossil fuels have finally been named as the driving cause that must be abandoned in the official COP text.
Hi there! Britt here, freshly back from the UN climate negotiations known as COP28. It was truly historic that COP28 did mention fossil fuelsin the final text and the need to “transition away” from them. That’s huge! No former COP process had ever achieved that kind of clarity about the culprit in the final agreement. But the wording leaves room for dangerous interpretations, and we now need to push even harder to make sure that the call to phase out fossil fuels by mid century is strengthened.
If you’ve been feeling angry about the fact that a climate science shrugging oil boss in a petro state was presiding over the UN climate negotiations, and that the outcome delivered is far weaker than what is needed to align with the science, know that your outrage is productive. It is a sign that your sense of being morally transgressed is alive and kicking, and is itself a renewable resource for taking action in ways that may protect wellbeing.
Licypriya Kangujam holds a banner during the summit session at COP28. Image credit: Joshua A. Bickel/AP Photo & Thomas Mukoya/Reuters. Design by Gen Dread.
Without drastic change, the additional societal costsof mental disorders caused by climate-related hazards, air pollution and lack of access to green spaces is estimated to reach $47 billion by 2030, and a whopping $537 billion by mid century because at the end of the day, climate inaction equates to unbearable levels of stress and trauma. Young people know this. The moral injury and institutional betrayal they feel for being caught up in a system that is not doing what the science says must be done to protect their futures, at a time when there were more fossil fuel lobbyists just sent to COP28 than delegates from almost every country, is why some are refusing normative pressures to be polite and telling fossil fuel executives like Exxon’s Darren Woods to their face that they can eat shit.
The era of climate courage is upon us, and taking part doesn’t only look like disruptive protest, nor does it necessitate quitting what you’re doing to join some imagined puritan movement. Climate courage has its place in every activity because the climate crisis is a threat multiplier that touches everything in society. Everyone is able to engage with it from where they’re already standing. And we need to remind our leaders at every opportunity to take care of the simple actions first. For instance:
“When you’re in a hole, the first thing you have to do is stop digging.”
This is a no nonsense phrase that I picked up at COP28, from Oil Change International campaign manager David Tong. We need to phase out fossil fuels and stop the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure now like our lives depended on it, because they do.
A studyin The British Medical Journal suggests that 5.1 million people a year already die due to the burning of fossil fuels from the air pollution they cause alone. That doesn’t even count climate related deaths from extreme temperatures, disastrous weather events, new viral transmissions, or food and water shortages that the climate crisis is exacerbating.
Plucking this madness out at the root before that statistic balloons in the years ahead is what the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty lays out to achieve: it’s a global effort to stop all new fossil fuel infrastructure expansion in ways that are equitable and fair and in line with the science. You can lend your support as an individual or organization here.
And just in case you need to hear this, yes we’re all climate hypocrites now, and we all benefit from fossil fuels because they uphold the world that we’re living in yet need to transform. Don’t let the lack of a squeaky clean personal emissions track record stop you from taking a strong stand on the right side of history. Own your imperfection. Own that sense of incompleteness. This movement is quite simply about love and life. You are already more than enough.
This week, we’re making space to hear from our readers about how the whole COP28 process has left them feeling. Let us know in the thread below!
We're collaborating with our friends at Climate Youth Resilience who are mapping the uses of contemplative practice in support of climate resilience. If you work in a youth organisation or are a resource provider to emerging adults (ages 16 – 30) working in the climate space, we need your input! By filling out this survey, you will help CYR make the most effective contributions both in relation to resource provision and policy development. We welcome global North, global South, Indigenous and queer voices to ensure that any resource development is context-sensitive.
If the COP became a virtual conference the fossil fuel interest would lose power and a lot of travel related emissions would be prevented. 100,000 attendee is ALOT of travel for next to nothing benefit.
I want to share with my Dreadhead community that I met a tech entrepreneur in a breakout session today who wants to hear more about this “climate mental health initiative (we’re) up to” 😊. I presented your 10-10,000 study in that session Britt! I talked about you and how I am an ambassador for Gen Dread.
We have made tentative plans to meet, and it would be my 68th meeting on sustainability. It is so nice when I get that request, rather than me making it.
Among many questions today, I was asked to “describe a moment I knew to take a different action towards a great life but didn’t”. My answer was not taking action to understand what had happened to me psychologically (4 years ago) when the sustainability crisis was dumped on me in professional terms I couldn’t deny, but initially did. I didn’t have the tools to understand my feelings then. I didn’t have you in my life. I didn’t have this community.
Sultan Al Jaber, the CEO of the United Arab Emirates' national oil company, is also the leader of the COP 28 negotiations. What on earth did anyone expect could be achieved?
There are many essential industries , such as steelmaking, where fossil fuels are nearly impossible to replace. Carbon capture and storage can't be scaled up enough to make a dent in global emissions.
This outlook that "the world is coming to an end because of climate change!" and "I am losing my grip and my mental health because of climate change!" now designates CAPITALISM as the great evil and designates ever-changing dates rolling forward when the world will end if nothing is done to end the burning of fossil fuels. The climate catastrophists keep having to change their end date.
Just because they say "transition away" doesn't mean a dam thing. They have all the power to do what's required but they will NEVER EVER do it PERIOD. We are being sacrificed at the alter of golden parachute. The whole COP is nothing but an spectacle sport for the rich.
If the COP became a virtual conference the fossil fuel interest would lose power and a lot of travel related emissions would be prevented. 100,000 attendee is ALOT of travel for next to nothing benefit.
I want to share with my Dreadhead community that I met a tech entrepreneur in a breakout session today who wants to hear more about this “climate mental health initiative (we’re) up to” 😊. I presented your 10-10,000 study in that session Britt! I talked about you and how I am an ambassador for Gen Dread.
We have made tentative plans to meet, and it would be my 68th meeting on sustainability. It is so nice when I get that request, rather than me making it.
Among many questions today, I was asked to “describe a moment I knew to take a different action towards a great life but didn’t”. My answer was not taking action to understand what had happened to me psychologically (4 years ago) when the sustainability crisis was dumped on me in professional terms I couldn’t deny, but initially did. I didn’t have the tools to understand my feelings then. I didn’t have you in my life. I didn’t have this community.
Thank you for being at COP28.
And thank you all.
Sultan Al Jaber, the CEO of the United Arab Emirates' national oil company, is also the leader of the COP 28 negotiations. What on earth did anyone expect could be achieved?
There are many essential industries , such as steelmaking, where fossil fuels are nearly impossible to replace. Carbon capture and storage can't be scaled up enough to make a dent in global emissions.
This outlook that "the world is coming to an end because of climate change!" and "I am losing my grip and my mental health because of climate change!" now designates CAPITALISM as the great evil and designates ever-changing dates rolling forward when the world will end if nothing is done to end the burning of fossil fuels. The climate catastrophists keep having to change their end date.
That should tell you something.
Just because they say "transition away" doesn't mean a dam thing. They have all the power to do what's required but they will NEVER EVER do it PERIOD. We are being sacrificed at the alter of golden parachute. The whole COP is nothing but an spectacle sport for the rich.