Dear Minister, 

On behalf of Triodos Bank and the undersigned, I ask you to support, on behalf of the region or country that you represent, the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, to advocate for it at the COP28 and seek support among other governments, with the aim of reaching broad commitment to further develop a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. 

Fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas – are the main drivers of the climate crisis. Yet they are not mentioned once in the Paris Agreement. And although many countries have adopted net-zero goals and emissions phaseout plans, the fossil fuel industry has continued to plan new coal, oil and gas projects, which are approved by the governments and funded by banks and capital markets. 

There can be no new investments in oil, gas and coal, said the International Energy Agency.  Our window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all is closing rapidly, stated the IPCC. We have only six years left to get to net zero emissions and keep global warming below 1.5C, suggests a new study in Nature. Serious international cooperation is urgently needed now!

The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty initiative is a global effort to foster international cooperation to stop the expansion of fossil fuel exploitation and manage a just transition away from coal, oil and gas to clean, renewable energy. A Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty will complement and help the world meet the goals of the Paris Agreement by providing the frameworks necessary to stop expansion globally and supporting countries to collaborate on an equitable wind down of production and fast track solutions. 

A Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty is the missing legal mechanism to close the gap between net zero ambitions and actually achieving them. It would mitigate the concerns of individual countries about economic repercussions and competitiveness and enable countries to cooperate on phasing out fossil fuels in a just and fair manner. It would incentivize and enforce the finance needed for a just transition away from destructive fossil fuel production. Similar treaties have in the past successfully reduced nuclear weapon arsenals and landmines.

Eight nation-states, over 3,000 scientists and academics, 101 Nobel laureates, the World Health Organisation, hundreds of health professionals, thousands of religious institutions, a growing number of Indigenous organisations and youth activists, almost 100 cities and subnational governments and more than 600 Parliamentarians across the world are calling for an international treaty to phase out fossil fuels and fast track a fair energy transition.

We call on you to do the same on behalf of the region or country that you represent. What we do now will determine the emissions in the future and decide upon the livability of our planet for generations to come. It is time to stop fueling the climate crisis.

Sincerely,

Jeroen Rijpkema, CEO of Triodos Bank

Undersigned by: Alie Rozendal, coordinator Social Tipping Point Coalitie
Amy Clarke, Co-Founder, Tribe Impact Capital LLP   
Ángel Fernández Ramos, ONGAWA,  President
Annelieke Douma en Karin van Boxtel, directeuren Both Ends
Arie Koornneef, directeur ASN Bank
Bank für Kirche und Caritas
Ben Tolhurst, Director, Business Declares 
Bevis Watts, CEO, Triodos Bank UK Ltd
Brendan Costelloe, Directory of Policy and Strategy, Soil Association
Chris Turner, Executive Director, B Lab UK
Dick van Ommeren, Managing Director Triodos Investment Management
Dominique Palmer, Climate Justice Activist
Donald Pols, directeur Milieudefensie
Dr Amy McDonnell, Co-Director, Zero Hour
Femke Sleegers, oprichter Reclame Fossielvrij
Fernando Valladares, scientist from CSIC and Climate Activist
Fiona Egan, People and Impact Lead at Honest Mobile
Franc Cortada, Oxfam Intermon,  Executive Director
Gareth Griffiths, Chief Executive Officer, Ecology Building Society
Gareth Morgan, Head of Farming and Land Use Policy, Soil Association 
George Monbiot
GLS Bank
Hannoversche Kassen
Heleen van den Berg, CEO Cordaid
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
Isabel Losada, Author
Jamie Peters, Fossil Free Campaign Lead, Friends of the Earth (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
Jarvis Smith & Katie Hill, co founders, My Green Pod 
Jessica Kleczka, climate psychologist and campaigner
John Elkington, Founder, Volans 
Kate Norgrove, Executive Director, Advocacy and Campaigns, WWF-UK
Kate Raworth
Lily Cole
Liset Meddens, directeur, Fossielvrij NL
Louise Kjellerup Roper, CEO, Volans
Marjan Minnesma, directeur Urgenda
Marjolein Demmers, directeur Natuur & Milieu
Mark Campanale, Founder, Carbon Tracker Initiative
Matthew Pitcher, Managing Partner, Lucinda Pitcher, Partner, Altor Wealth Management llp
Michiel Servaes, algemeen directeur Oxfam Novib
Mya-Rose Craig, Black2Nature
Oliver Sidorczuk, Co-Director, Zero Hour
Pax-Bank
Scientist Rebellion NL
SozialBank
Steyler Ethik Bank
Tim Jackson, Director, CUSP, University of Surrey
Tim Smit, Co-Founder, Eden Project
Tony Burdon, CEO, Make My Money Matter
Tori Tsui, Climate Justice Activist
Umweltbank
Víctor Viñuales, ECODES, CEO