Lois Barber
In 1999, 81% of the world’s energy came from burning oil, gas and coal. In 2019, 81% of the world’s energy came from burning oil, gas and coal. The status quo is not progress.
Despite the Earth growing hotter, with all the devastating consequences, we humans continue to add fuel to this fire. Governments, including ours, continue to financially support our fossil fuel corporations. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently reported that worldwide in 2020 governments contributed $5.9 trillion to the fossil fuel companies; this includes direct subsidies of more than $500 billion and letting them—and us consumers—get away with not paying for the enormous climate-caused damages. On the positive side, more than 600 global companies in the ‘We Mean Business’ coalition, including Unilever, Ikea, Aviva, Siemens and Volvo Cars, recently urged G20 leaders to end fossil fuel subsidies by 2025. We need to press for more of this kind of corporate responsibility.
In addition, banks and lending institutions continue to loan money to corporations for fossil fuel development.
Our government is also failing to meet the commitment it made 12 years ago with other wealthy countries to give $100 billion per year to poorer countries who are ravaged by the climate crisis they did little to create.
An opportunity for change is here. The world’s governments will meet Oct. 31—Nov. 12 in Glasgow, Scotland at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP-26). Nations will discuss policies and make commitments to reduce their national greenhouse gas emissions and to seriously help meet the needs of poorer nations. President Biden will attend the opening of the meeting Nov. 1 and 2.
TAKE ACTION: Urge President Biden to press all countries to commit to: 1. eliminate national subsidies and supports for fossil fuel corporations, 2. regulate banks and lending agencies to not loan money for fossil fuel development, and 3. increase and meet commitments to support poorer countries as they struggle with the impacts of climate change.
CONTACT: President Biden (no time for written letters)
- Website where you can type a message: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
- White House telephone: 1-202-456-1111 Leave a message
Please write a letter-to-the-editor on this important issue.
It is a good way to educate others and build support for needed policies.