Big Energy on notice as communities act to reclaim Power
9th October 2015,
Ahead of the climate change summit in France in December, a civil society alliance is highlighting the need to transform energy and economic systems and stop climate change.
As countries announce their climate plans and prepare for the last round of negotiations before the Paris climate talks, a global civil society alliance is highlighting the need to transform our energy and economic systems and stop climate change through Reclaim Power this October 9 and 10.
Reclaim Power is a convergence of worldwide efforts by social movements, international networks, non-governmental organizations and grassroots groups alike to not only fight against dirty and harmful energy but also to fight for the people's rights to energy, as well as public- and community-controlled renewable energy.
The initiative organized 580 actions in 60 countries throughout October 2013, and carried out 630 actions last year just across one week of global actions also last October. This weekend, even more groups are poised to join Reclaim Power all over the world and fight for climate justice and the transformation of energy systems.
These groups are calling for:
· A ban on new dirty energy projects
· An end to government subsidies and public handouts to dirty energy
· Divestment from fossil fuel corporations
· Universal access to energy
· An end to excessive energy consumption by corporations and global elites
·
A swift and just transition to public and community renewable energy systems
According to a recent study by Climate Interactive, the national climate pledges submitted so far are not enough to stave off dangerous global warming.
But there are encouraging signs elsewhere. The global movement for divestment grew 50-fold in just the past year, with the divestment pledges topping $2.6 trillion. According to an Arabella Advisors report released just last September 22, the divestment pledges span 430 institutions and 2,040 individuals across 43 countries.
KEY POINTS
1. Dirty energy is harmful to both the people and planet
The energy sector is the largest, fastest-growing contributor to climate change. About 35% of all human greenhouse gas emissions come from burning fossil fuels -- such as coal, oil and gas -- for energy.
Climate change is harming our food systems, our access to water, our oceans and causing more frequent and stronger extreme weather events that destroy homes, livelihoods and communities. But even as global consumption of energy today is huge and rapidly rising, more than 1.3 billion people are without access to electricity, and many more have barely enough.
Dirty energy is also not only fossil fuel energy. It includes the aggressive production and promotion of large-scale agro-fuels at the expense of food and livelihoods, mega-dams and hydro projects that devastate ecosystems and communities, nuclear power, and toxic burning of waste and garbage for energy.
2. Momentum for renewables continues to build
According to a recent study by Climate Interactive, the national climate pledges submitted so far are not enough to stave off dangerous global warming.
But there are encouraging signs elsewhere. The global movement for divestment grew 50-fold in just the past year, with the divestment pledges topping $2.6 trillion. According to an Arabella Advisors report released just last September 22, the divestment pledges span 430 institutions and 2,040 individuals across 43 countries.
The installation of renewable energy is also increasing. In the United States, solar energy is the fastest-growing source of power. From Costa Rica, to Uruguay, to Bangladesh, many countries are already leading the way in forging a path towards 100% clean energy.
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