Governments must stop climate-destroying energy companies – finance funds for climate-related damages and losses in line with the polluter principle
Vienna/Dubai (OTS) – At the start of the UN climate summit (COP28) in Dubai, Greenpeace calls on the Austrian government to defend a fair and rapid exit from coal, oil and gas in negotiations – no back doors to technological fairy tales such as carbon storage. In addition to a clear commitment to phasing out fossil energy globally, Austria’s federal government must also put a clear end to fossil energy financing. The environmental protection organization also demands that major climate polluters, such as fossil fuel companies, pay for the damage and losses they cause.
“Fossil energy is the main driver of the climate crisis, its end is non-negotiable. The global community must no longer turn a blind eye to the oil and gas giants’ greed for fossil fuels, but must put a clear end to climate-damaging activities,” said Jasmin Duregger, climate and energy expert at Greenpeace Austria and observer at the climate conference in Dubai. “In Dubai, governments must decide once and for all to abandon dirty energy and stop subsidizing coal, oil and gas,” said Duregger.
Climate finance will also play a central role in Dubai. At the last climate conference in Sharm El-Sheik, a financial fund for climate-related damages and losses was decided. Negotiations will now have to take place in Dubai on how this pot will be filled. One possibility is financial commitments from individual states. Greenpeace also suggests proceeding according to the “polluter principle”, i.e. asking those who pollute the climate and cause climate-related damage to pay (especially fossil energy companies). This would be conceivable through a tax on kerosene or a higher tax on the windfall profits of energy companies. However, as a first step, this requires a global commitment to hold fossil fuel companies accountable and introduce new fossil fuel taxes accordingly. “Fossil companies pollute and destroy our climate. It’s time they paid for it,” said Duregger.
It is important to declare war on fossil energy not only at the global negotiating table, but also in Austria. However, reality shows a different picture: the national OMV is investing billions in new gas sources in the Black Sea. Meanwhile, Australian energy supplier ADX plans to soon drill for climate-damaging gas at Molln in Upper Austria. Greenpeace is calling on the Minister of Climate Protection, Leonore Gewessler, and the Minister of Mines, Magnus Brunner, to pass a law that will prevent the production of fossil energy in the future and end existing production by 2035. “Austria has committed to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees in the Paris Climate Agreement. So that this promise does not remain an empty phrase, the government must now make the phase-out of fossil energy a reality in Austria too,” said Duregger.
A fact sheet about the UN climate conference in Dubai can be found at:
https://act.gp/46uznsp
Photos of the Greenpeace protest in front of the OMV headquarters building to stop oil and gas projects: https://act.gp/3R0S80z
Photos are freely available for editorial use with credits © Mitja Kobal / Greenpeace.
Questions and contact:
Jasmin Duregger
On location in Dubai: November 28 to December 14, 2023
Climate and energy specialist
Greenpeace in Austria
Tel: +43 (0) 664 840 3803
Email: [email protected]
Annette Stolz
Press spokesperson
Greenpeace in Austria
Tel.: + 43 (0)664 61 26 725
Email: [email protected]