A coalition of four NGOs (Corporate Europe Observatory, Food & Water Europe, Friends of the Earth Europe and Greenpeace EU) launched a campaign on Thursday 24 October entitled ‘Free fossil politics’ calling on the European Union to move away from fossil fuels.
In a press release issued the same day, these NGOs point out that the fossil fuel industry is responsible for more than two thirds of the greenhouse gases produced by man. Therefore, they believe that, “to avoid a collapse of the global climate”, it is imperative that the vast majority of the industry's gas, oil and coal reserves remain in the ground, while switching to 100% renewable energy.
As part of this campaign, the four NGOs also published a report denouncing the power of influence of oil and gas companies over the EU (in particular BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell and Total), as well as a letter signed by nearly 200 organisations around the world demanding that political decision-makers “stop ceding so much power to the fossil industry”.
‘Free fossil politics’ thus asks for: (1) end the fossil fuel industry's access to political decision-making; (2) resolve conflicts of interest of decision-makers; (3) end the preferential treatment of the fossil fuel industry; (4) reject partnerships with the fossil fuel industry such as donations to parties or candidates.
Contacted by EUROPE, Eurogas, an association representing the European gas sector which includes Shell and Total among its members, said it was its “responsibility to work with all stakeholders to make sure that the energy transition happens in a most economically viable way, while securing jobs and providing energy technology leadership opportunities for the EU”. The organisation also ensured support for the EU's carbon neutrality objectives.
See the report of the four NGOs: https://bit.ly/2BGbFNO (Original version in French written by Damien Genicot)