Yesterday morning climate activists boarded a gas rig in the Dutch North Sea, around 20 kilometres northwest of the German island of Borkum. The Greenpeace activists occupied the rig for over 9 hours, preventing the platform from being fixed and installed, holding banners saying ‘No new gas’ and ‘Gas Zerstört’ (‘Gas destroys’).
‘Rich countries must lead by setting 1.5-aligned fossil fuel phase-out plans in NDCs’ was probably too long for their banners. But it’s the logical continuation, and this clearly is what ECO expects from Parties. Especially from countries like Germany and the Netherlands, who profited for decades from fossil fuel extraction that fueled the climate crisis. ECO hopes we can leave this hypocrisy behind and put the ‘transition away’ words from Dubai into action.
New gas extraction in the North Sea means collision with the North Star. The IEA has said it for years: there’s no room for new oil and gas extraction, if the world is to keep 1.5°C within reach. New research from University College London and the International Institute for Sustainable Development makes this even more evident, concluding that new fossil fuel projects are not needed to meet the world’s energy needs, under scenarios that limit global heating under 1.5°C.
ECO calls on rich countries to take responsibility for preventing further climate breakdown. They should take the lead from the brave climate activists and ban all new fossil fuel projects.
At the same time, the NCQG offers Parties a unique opportunity to hold the ones who profited from causing the climate crisis accountable. For ECO it’s a no-brainer to apply the polluter pays principle and make the fossil fuel industry pay up towards the needed contributions for the NCQG.
Meanwhile on the North Sea, activists paused their protest after over 8 hours, when the Dutch highest general administrative court ruled that the gas extraction cannot proceed until a hearing on June 12th. This comes after a preliminary injunction was requested on Friday by Deutsche Umwelthilfe, Greenpeace Netherlands and others, urgently requesting to suspend the drilling activities. Whether it is occupying a gas rig or fighting in court, people are no longer silent; they are standing up to the fossil fuel industry — unlike their governments.
