This is what climate action looks like

November 21, 2024

By WeMove Europe

A historic step made possible thanks to the strength of our community.

Greedy fossil fuel companies have been kicked off the climate negotiation table by the European Union. The EU Climate Commissioner, Hoekstra, did not invite Big Oil and Gas lobbyists to join his delegation to the global climate talks taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan right now. [1]

For too long, the fossil fuel lobby has dominated conversations on how to solve the climate crisis. All to maintain their business model of drilling and burning ever more planet-killing oil and gas for profits and stop any action that could save our earth.

But now, thanks to this community, the EU has made a historic step and finally said “No more!”

While our leaders were discussing urgent climate action, torrential rains in Valencia, Spain, claimed hundreds of lives and left thousands homeless. [2] Floods, droughts, deaths - we need decisions that end our addiction to fossil fuels and this will not happen with the fossil fuel industry whispering in our leaders' ears. Together, we’ve worked hard for this victory.

• Last year we raised our voices during Hoekstra’s appointment as the EU climate Commissioner. Making clear we would be monitoring whether he breaks with his past of working for the fossil fuel industry. [3]
• With 112 other organisations, we sent a letter to Hoekstra, urging him to treat fossil fuel lobbyists the same way as tobacco lobbyists, who are prohibited from participating in health conferences. [4]
• We took advantage of the crucial job interview that would determine if Hoekstra could stay for another 5 years. 2100 of you across Europe flooded him with emails, asking him to kick the fossil lobbyists out.
• The pressure was so strong that, at the height of the storm, Hoekstra even watched an Instagram story addressing him from WeMove!

The result? Not only did he listen to us and not take fossil fuel lobbyists to the climate talks. We also put enough pressure on him that during his job interview, he publicly backed stricter rules against conflicts of interest with the fossil fuel lobby in all EU climate decisions. [5]

But, the battle isn’t over. 113 fossil fuel lobbyists infiltrated this year’s climate talks through national delegations from countries like Italy, Greece, and Belgium. [6] With all deciding climate talks in just one year, and time to tackle the climate crisis running out, there’s no room for error. [7]

We must pressure national leaders as we did with Hoekstra, but we need more support to succeed. Sign this campaign and invite others to join; together, we can win the next stage of this fight.

SIGN FOR A FOSSIL-FREE FUTURE

• Community update