Montana parents and caregivers and kids to COP26 and state leaders: Stop fossil fuel development now
Last week, our partners at Parents for Future Global and Our Kids’ Climate, along with several Climate Parent Fellows, delivered a plea to COP 26 President Alok Sharma and world leaders assembled for COP26 from parent and caregiver led organizations around the world, asking them to end financing of new fossil fuel projects now. Here is a key excerpt:
Mothers handing over the letter, from left to right: Amuche Nnabueze (Parents for Future Nigeria, Climate Parent Fellow), Mariana Menezes (Familias Pelo Clima, Climate Parent Fellow), Xoli Fuyani (Our Kids’ Climate, Climate Parent Fellow), Alok Sharma (President COP26), Rosamund Kissi Debrah, Rowan Ryrie (Parents For Future Global)
If the decisions your governments make at COP26 and beyond do not prioritise immediate and rapid emissions cuts from all fossil fuels – coal, oil, and gas – the damage to our children’s health and our climate will get far worse with terrifying speed. The IPCC has made this very clear. The pathway to a more stable and healthy future is also clear.
One of the crucial steps is to stop funding the search for new fossil fuel reserves. You can enact this immediately. There are already more than enough fossil fuels discovered to dangerously heat our planet beyond 1.5ºC and keep poisoning our children’s air. Wasting taxpayers’ money to look for even more is madness.
Experts, including the IPCC, the IEA, economists, investors, and others have explained that it’s necessary – and possible – to stop all new fossil fuel development now. Perhaps you didn’t hear them. We are going to make sure you hear us.
Read the full letter. Read reporting about the letter handoff from The Guardian.
Montanans rally
Here in Montana, Families for a Livable Climate hosted a solidarity rally at the Missoula County Courthouse on Saturday, November 6, with parents and caregivers and kids speaking up to share their personal messages for world and state leaders, asking that they urgently work to address the climate crisis. Video below!
Montana has world-class potential for solar and wind energy. But right now, our dominant energy provider, NorthWestern Energy, is planning to fuel our children’s futures by building NEW methane gas plants (aka “natural” gas) to run for the next 30-40 years. What are the dangers? Many! Download a methane gas (aka “natural” gas" fact sheet from our friends at MEIC, and their fact sheet about the proposed plant.
Families unite for a fossil-free future on Saturday, November 6.
Given the extreme summer we’ve just experienced with excessive heat and wildfire and smoke and dead trout and crop failure, this is absolutely unconscionable.
We stand united in asking Montana’s political leaders, NorthWestern Energy’s management, and world leaders at COP 26 to get serious about climate, and make a concrete exit plan from fossil fuels, now.
All Montana kids share the same climate future.
We want a just, beautiful, rich, safe, happy, and thriving future for every child in Montana, and the world.
This presentation was recorded by Missoula Community Access Television as part of a Media Assistance Grant donated to Families for a Livable Climate by MCAT.
