Kaela Bamberger, Friends of the Earth US, kbamberger@foe.org
Cindy Carr, Sierra Club, cindy.carr@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Today, the inaugural Global Grassroots Leaders Climate Summit came to a close after three days of grassroots leaders, representing 30 organizations from 17 countries, convening to discuss the climate issues in their communities and elevate their demands for the US Government and its institutions. During the summit, leaders had a chance to meet with the Senior Advisor to the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, the Development Finance Corporation, the US Treasury Department, and the US Export-Import Bank. Grassroots Leaders also participated in public facing webinars elevating asks to immediately halt US overseas fossil fuel finance, shut down coal, and encourage renewable energy finance and just transition.
The US government provides billions of dollars annually to fossil fuel projects overseas. In 2020, the US Export-Import Bank provided over $5 billion and the US International Development Finance Cooperation provided close to $2 billion for fossil fuel projects in Argentina, Mexico, and Mozambique, among other places. These institutions continue to consider supporting fossil fuel projects that will have few benefits for local communities and create few US jobs -- projects such as gas development in Bahrain and LNG terminals in Vietnam. In response to President Biden’s executive order requiring these agencies to end their support for “carbon-intensive” energy, nearly 450 groups from around the world sent a letter to the administration providing recommendations on the scope and timing of these agencies ending these investments.
Recently, the International Energy Association (IEA) issued a major report confirming that in order to limit global warming to 1.5°C and achieve net zero emissions by 2050, “there is no need for investment in new fossil fuel supply” — a landmark statement given the fact that companies, financial institutions, investors, and governments around the world have long relied on IEA projections to justify continued investments in fossil fuel expansion. The report demonstrates that in order to reach net zero by midcentury or sooner — a goal shared by President Biden and many of the largest U.S. financial institutions — financing of fossil fuel expansion must end immediately.
Next Wednesday, June 9, the Summit’s organizers from the Sierra Club and Friends of the Earth US will host a Zoom telepresser with some of the grassroots leaders and release a whitepaper highlighting demands coming out of the summit. Further details on the telepresser will be released early next week.
A list of quotes from summit participants follows. A full list of participating organizations and all of the webinars can be found online here.
Participant quotes:
Edwin Mumbare, Centre for Citizens Conserving (CECIC) - Uganda
“Our planet is headed for disaster. We need to learn how to work with nature rather than against nature." #STOPEACOP
Asim Nawaz Khan, Ngo forum on ADB - Pakistan
"Love the Nature, Save the Future."
Mathias Paul Lyamunda, Foundation for Environmental Management and Campaign Against Poverty - Tanzania
"Grassroots Leaders are front liners in the fight against Climate Change."
Prince Papa, Global Catholic Climate Movement - Africa
"With the right tools, systems and policies, grassroots movements have the potential to positively impact the lives and economies of the communities and that of the countries."
Anabela Lemos, Justiça Ambiental/ Friends of the Earth Mozambique - Mozambique
"It is unacceptable that such high investments in the gas industry in Mozambique, which will provide billions of profits for foreign companies like Total, ExxonMobil and Eni, are contributing to the impoverishment and oppression of already vulnerable local communities. Peasant and fishing families have lost their livelihoods for a lifetime; the discovery of gas has stolen their identity and failed to provide them with the conditions stipulated in the forged community consultation processes."
Melinda Janki, A Fair Deal for Guyana - A Fair Deal for the Planet - Guyana
"Guyana is a carbon sink that is taking out greenhouse gases emitted by other countries. A fair deal for Guyana means paying every citizen in Guyana for the tons of carbon taken out by our forests. We are literally saving the earth!"
Vhon Michael Tobes, Zero Hour / Zero Hour Asia - Philippines
“We always get ‘this is good for the economy’ from governments and the fossil fuel industry. As far as I can remember, economy means balance of everything including people’s welfare. What economy are we talking about when people are being affected and displaced? How is it good when people’s lands are taken from them? Is it really good for everyone or just good for the wealthy people?”
Nbani Friday Barilule, Lekeh Development Foundation (LEDEF) - Nigeria
"Anything that destroys the environment destroyed lives, and I will not dance with you if climate change means business to you and death to me."
Omar Elmawi, DeCOALonize - Kenya
"Omar Elmawi is the Coordinator of the deCOALonize movement in Kenya. The aim of the movement is to spur Kenya into a green and sustainable energy future."
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.