Australian Targets

Thursday, November 4, 2021

Fossil awards to USA, France and IETA at COP26 on Day 3


We hear so much about the new ambition by the USA. They have rejoined the Coalition of High ambition, increased climate finance, initiated the Global Methane Pledge, supported the Glasgow Declaration on Forests and land use but there are undercurrents such as ‘AIM for Climate’ (AIM4C) initiative that support industrial agriculture.

France too seems full of ambition, but the undertow is present there as well with a push for the integration of fossil gas and nuclear as 'sustainable' energies in the EU taxonomy.

International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) received a fossil award for... well being mostly fossils and pushing a fossil fuel agenda including on carbon markets. IETA, which represents fossil fuel companies such as Chevron, Shell and BP has a delegation over 100-strong at COP26 according to the participant list.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Glasgow, Scotland
DATE 03/11/21

So the 4th of November is energy day at COP26 but is that positive or negative - you decide..

The First Fossil of the Day Award goes to the United States of America (USA).

United States President Joe Biden, supported by the UK Government and others, launched the new ‘AIM for Climate’ (AIM4C) initiative at the World Leaders Summit innovation event. Did Joe think we’d be stuck in the line too long to notice that this is a sneaky scheme to reframe industrial agriculture and disruptive technologies as climate action? Come on Joe, we’re not confused by lines, just frustrated. So it’s crystal clear that it’s the opposite and goes against any principles of justice, sustainable development and food security. Biden’s ‘gift’ is really part of a cunning ploy to exclude farmers from agriculture - they don’t even get a mention on AIM4C’s website - and replace them with robots, gene-edited seeds and boost technology profits for the buddies in Silicon Valley.

AIM4C could also be a poisoned chalice for food policy, increasing energy use, pollution and strengthening the very industrial food chain that is harming the climate as the agri-giants redefine themselves as ag-tech and newcomers like Microsoft and Amazon begin to shuffle into the digital agriculture arena.

The Second Fossil of the Day Award goes to France.

According to President Macron, La France is one of the world climate leaders.

They’re walking the walk and talking the talk - are part of the High Ambition Coalition and the French Development Agency even announced they were officially phasing out all fossil fuels, including gas, from their activities to get their finance flows aligned with the Paris alignment. So far so good.

But hold on - zut alors! - word has reached us from AFP that all may not be as it seems. Apparently, they’re pushing for the integration of fossil gas and nuclear as 'sustainable' energies in the EU taxonomy. With partners in crime such as Poland, they’re trying to destroy the classification system for sustainable investments inside the EU.

If their devious plan works, billions of euros, supposedly dedicated to the green transition, could flow to almost half of existing fossil gas power plants in Europe as they will be classed as “green” investment. This is madness and threatens the very implementation of the Green Deal in Europe and globally.

The Third Fossil Award goes to the International Emissions Trading Association

And third in today’s line up of shame is …the IETA 

Their digital hamsters have boldly tweeted that they “represent fossil fuel companies such as Chevron, Shell and BP and have a delegation over 100-strong.”

These dinosaurs have been a thorn in the UNFCCC’s side from the get go. The UNFCCC’s failure and the human misery and environmental destruction this leads to, is a ticked box for them. It should be a mark of shame, not pride, that IETA gives cover to these planetary destroyers in their delegation.

And it hasn’t gone unnoticed that the big fossils are eyeing up carbon markets to give a thorough greenwash to their polluting activities with an endless supply of cheap offsets. A big fat Fossil Award for you too.

==END==

About the fossils: The Fossil of the Day awards were first presented at the climate talks in 1999, in Bonn, initiated by the German NGO Forum. During United Nations climate change negotiations (www.unfccc.int), members of the Climate Action Network (CAN), vote for countries judged to have done their 'best' to block progress in the negotiations in the last days of talks.

About CAN: The Climate Action Network (CAN) is a global network of over 1,500 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in more than 120 countries working to promote government and individual action to limit human0induced climate change to ecologically sustainable levels.

Climate Action Network (CAN) is a global network of more than 1,500 civil society organisations in over 130 countries driving collective and sustainable action to fight the climate crisis and to achieve social and racial justice. CAN convenes and coordinates civil society at the UN climate talks and other international events.

www.climatenetwork.org


No comments:

Post a Comment