The scientific consensus is clear that human activities are primarily responsible for global climate change, and that the climate crisis now represents one of the gravest threats to human civilization and nature.

Changes to the world´s climate are already being felt. These changes have led to devastating consequences and pose grave risk to people’s lives, homes, livelihoods and many of our cultural traditions. Climate impacts exacerbate the spread of disease, threaten our existing patterns of food production, endanger key infrastructure, and will push millions more people into poverty, hunger, and displacement.

The burning of fossil fuels – coal, oil, and gas – is the source of 80% of carbon dioxide emissions since the industrial revolution. In addition to being the leading source of emissions, fossil fuel systems have left billions of people without sufficient energy to lead lives of dignity due to the high cost of electricity and fuel and prioritization of profit over delivery of service.

And yet there are local pollution, environmental, and health costs of extracting, refining, transporting and burning these fuels that are often carried by communities with little power and influence in our societies, and these processes frequently violate the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

Meeting the temperature stabilization goals set out in the Paris Climate Agreement, which our governments have ratified, will require significantly more commitment and transformation at all levels of our society, starting with those who have contributed most to fueling the climate crisis.