Nobel laureates urge world leaders to invest in a plan that could allow economies to diversify away from oil, coal and gas.
More than 100 Nobel laureates, including the Dalai Lama, signed a letter calling on world leaders to act and tackle the climate crisis while calling to “stop the expansion of fossil fuels”.
In the open letter published on Wednesday, on the eve of Earth Day and before Earth Day Summit, the laureates of peace, literature, medicine, physics, chemistry and economics urged leaders to take concrete steps to phase out current production of fossil fuels and invest in renewable energy .
“Climate change threatens hundreds of millions of lives, livelihoods on all continents and puts thousands of species at risk,” the letter said. “The burning of fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas – is by far the biggest contributor to climate change.
“Allowing the continued expansion of this industry is unacceptable,” he added.
The 101 laureates also called on leaders to invest in a “transformation plan” that could help dependent economies diversify from oil, gas and coal, while allowing communities around the world to “thrive. through a global just transition ”.
The letter said continued support for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement is needed.
In the Paris Agreement, countries agreed in 2015 to Keep going up global temperatures below 1.5 ° C (2.7 ° F).
The letter points out that the Paris agreement makes no mention of oil, gas or coal, as the industry continues to grow.
According to the latest report from the United Nations Environment Program, 120 percent more coal, oil and gas will be produced by 2030.
Today, 101 Nobel Laureates called for a phase-out of coal, oil and gas.
Next up: this powerful letter from scientists, academics and researchers calling for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty. Find out more and add your name to https://t.co/GrWPnwSzMe ✍️ #EnergyTwitter
– Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty (@fossiltreaty) April 22, 2021
On Thursday, the virtual Earth Day summit, hosted by US President Joe Biden, begins. During the two-day event, the United States is expected to announce an aggressive new goal of reducing carbon emissions by 2030.
World leaders should also keep pushing Brazil to fight against deforestation in the Amazon region.
Bilateral talks – if successful – could force Japan, China, South Korea or Canada to announce new aspirations to achieve goals consistent with the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Countries are also gearing up for the next UN climate summit to be held in Scotland in November.