The Sky's Limit: No New Development

An open letter to world leaders:

One year ago in Paris, the world came together to finalize a new agreement to address the . Together, countries committed to “[h]olding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5˚C above pre-industrial levels, recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of .”1

Now, the has entered into force and the time has come to fulfill the commitments made within it.

Climate impacts are already here today, as seen in the melting of the Arctic, coral bleaching in the Pacific, in Africa, stronger and more frequent hurricanes and typhoons in our oceans, and new challenges day by day the world over. The commitment to pursue efforts to limit global warming to 1.5˚C was an important new goal, especially for vulnerable countries and communities who are already bearing the brunt of these ever-growing impacts of the climate crisis. But with this necessary ambition comes responsibility and challenge.

Analysis has now shown that the carbon embedded in existing fossil fuel production, if allowed to run its course, would take us beyond the globally agreed goals of limiting warming to well below 2˚C and pursuing efforts to limit to 1.5˚C.2

The global carbon budgets associated with either temperature limit will be exhausted with current fossil fuel projects, and in fact some currently-operating fossil fuel projects will need to be retired early in order to have appropriately high chances of staying below even the 2˚C limit, let alone 1.5˚C.

With this new understanding, the challenge has never been clearer. To live up to the goals set forth by the Paris Agreement and to safeguard our climate for this and future generations, fossil fuel production must enter a managed decline immediately, and renewable energy must be advanced to swiftly take its place in the context of a just transition.

Therefore, we, as over 400 civil society organizations from more than 60 countries, representing tens of millions around the world, call on world leaders to put an immediate halt to new fossil fuel development and pursue a just transition to renewable energy with a managed decline of the fossil fuel industry.

1 The Paris Agreement: http://unfccc.int/paris_agreement/items/9485.php ​ 2 See report here: http://priceofoil.org/2016/09/22/the-skys-limit-report/ ​ ​ We can do this. With a managed decline to wind down fossil fuel production that ensures a smooth and just transition to a safer energy economy, we can protect workers, protect communities, bring energy access to the poor, and ramp up renewable energy as quickly as we put an end to fossil fuels.

Since rich countries have a greater historic responsibility to act, they should provide support to poorer countries to help expand non-carbon energy and drive economic development as part of their fair share of global action, with a focus on meeting the urgent priority of providing universal access to energy. The good news is that renewable energy can -- as it must -- fill in the gap and power a clean energy future.

The world can either start now in pursuing a managed decline of the fossil fuel industry and a just transition to renewable energy, or it can delay action and bring about economic upheaval and climate chaos. The choice is clear.

The first step in this effort is a simple one: Stop digging. No additional fossil fuel development, no exploration for new fossil fuels, no expansion of fossil fuel projects. We need to keep fossil fuels in the ground.

Signed,

Individuals Food & Water Watch Climate Action Monaro Darren Aronofsky, director Global Catholic Climate Climate and Health Alliance Nnimmo Bassey, Health of Movement Climate Change Action Network Mother Earth Foundation Greenpeace International CORENA - Citizens Own Naomi Klein, author/activist Oil Change International Renewable Energy Network Bill McKibben, author/activist Pachamama Alliance Australia Ed Norton, actor/activist SEE Change Net Long Future Foundation Mark Ruffalo, actor/activist The Lutheran World Federation North Queensland Conservation Susan Sarandon, actor/activist Transport & Environment Council Yeb Sano, Greenpeace SEA The Wilderness Society Shailene Woodley, actor/activist Argentina Climate Change Aclimatando Balmain-Rozelle International 350.org Armenia Austria ACT Alliance NGO EcoTeam "System Change, not Climate Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Change!" Law and Development Australia Finance & Trade Watch (APWLD) Australian Women's Health Change Partnership Network Bangladesh Christian Aid Australian Youth Climate Gender and Water Alliance Climate Action Network (CAN) - Coalition Bangladesh Europe Beyond Zero Emissions Krisoker Sor (Farmers' Voice) CliMates Centre for Climate Safety Coopération Internationale pour Citizens' Climate Lobby - Belgium le Développement et la Australia 11.11.11 Solidarité (CIDSE) Climate Action Hobart Carbon market watch Climate Express Association québécoise de lutte Adéquations Corporate Europe Observatory contre la pollution AITEC FairFin atmosphérique (AQLPA) Alofa Tuvalu Food & Water Europe Canadian Youth Climate Alternatiba Health and Environment Coalition ANV-COP21 Alliance Citizens' Climate Lobby Canada APEL57 Health Care Without Harm Climate Action Network Canada Attac France Europe -Réseau action climat Canada CCFD-Terre Solidaire Inter-Environnement Wallonie Ecology Action Centre Climate Action Network France of the Équiterre Coalition Climat 21 Collectif French-Speaking Community BC Hautes-Pyrénées of Belgium Wilderness Committee Coeur de Forêt Collectif Causse Méjean - Gaz Bolivia Colombia de schiste NON ! Instituto de Capacitación para el Yes to Life No to Mining Latin Collectif citoyen de Pézenas, Desarrollo (INCADE) America Castelnau de Guers et Red nacioanl de organizaciones environs sociales Côte d'Ivoire Collectif du Céressou Reacción Climática SYNPA-MSU (Attac-Côte Collectif IDF Non aux pétroles et TvEducativa para el desarrollo d'Ivoire) gaz de schiste et de couche economico en el norte Collectif non gds Campagnan St amazonico de Bolivia Czechia Pargoire International Young Collectif Stop gaz de schiste Bosnia and Herzegovina Naturefriends Florac Center for Environment Pratele prirody z. S. CRID SEE Change Net Foundation CSIA-Nitassinan Democratic Republic of Congo Enercoop Nord-Pas de Calais - Brasil Action Paysanne Contre la Faim Picardie Abong - Brazilian Association of Conseil Regional des ENERGIES 2050 NGOs Organisations non Fondation Danielle Mitterrand Ação Franciscana de Ecologia e Gouvernementales de France Libertes Solidariedade - AFES Developpement du Kasai Fondation Nicolas Hulot pour la Associação Alternativa Terrazul Oriental nature et l'homme Conferência da Família I4CE - Institute for Climate Franciscana do Brasil Denmark Economics Engajamundo 350 of Immigration Développement FÓRUM MUDANÇAS Denmark Démocratie CLIMÁTICAS E JUSTIÇA Institut Veblen SOCIAL El Salvador La Confédération Paysanne Instituto Paulo Freire - Brasil CESTA Amigos de la Tierra Parti de Gauche Sinfrajupe: Serviço Planet Roller Inter-Franciscano de Justiça, Finland Réseau Euromed France Paz e Ecologia EKOenergy Réseau Foi & Justice Afrique Vida Brasil Kepa - The Finnish NGO Europe antenne France Platform Sciences Citoyennes Canada The Finnish Nature League The Shift Project 350 Ottawa (Luonto-Liitto) TaCa (Agir pour le Climat) Alternatives Terre et Liberté pour Arauco France Union syndicale Solidaires 4D Urgenci International Oilwatch Ghana Mongolia Community Supported 150 Mongolia-Israeli Science Agriculture Network Hungary Agency Virage énergie Nord-Pas de Clean Air Action Group Mongolian National Council of Calais Scientists Iceland Gabon Iceland Nature Conservation Montenegro Attac Gabon Association NGO Green Home

The Gambia India Morocco Worldview Bhoomi Network Ass - Chabab El Borj Human Rights Forum Association Bab marrakech Germany Paryavaran Mitra Association Chabab El Borj Abgefrackt Bündnis Weidener The POP Movement Association du Gharb pour la Becken gegen Fracking Protection de l'Environnement Action Group "Haende weg von Ireland Association Eau et Energie pour Schwedeneck", Northern Cork Climate Action Tous Germany Ennis Transition Towns Association Femmes Pour AK Fracking BS Environmental Pillar L'égalité et la Démocratie Andy Gheorghiu Consulting FIS NUA Association L'avenir Pour le BI lebenswertes Korbach e.V. Fracking Free Clare Développement-Commune BI WAA NAA BI gegen atomare Keep Ireland Fracking Free OULED SELMANE-PR SAFI Anlagen People's Climate Ireland Association Mayadine Pour le Weiden-Neustadt/WN ShamrockSpring Dévoloppement et Brot für die Welt/ Bread for the Trocaire l'Environnement World Association of Rupestral Divest Aachen Italy Heritage of Southern Morocco Divest Uni Kassel Focsiv Association Oualidia New Green Energiewende ER(H)langen Legambiente Wave (ONGW) e.V. Association Youth Ennahda for Energy Watch Group Kenya Development & Fossil Free Cologne TLC4Environment Communication in Boujdour Fossil Free Deutschland Association Amal pour Fossil Free Essen Latvia devellopement;culture et sport Fossil Free Freiburg Friends of the Earth Latvia Touissit Fossil Free Goettingen Club Marocain pour Fossil Free München Malaysia l'environnement et le Fossil Free Oldenburg Malaysian Youth Delegation développement (Ahfir) Fossil Free Stuttgart Forum des Alternatives Maroc Germanwatch Marshall Islands Moroccan Association of GenderCC – Women for Climate Jo-Jikun Character Education Justice Réseau associatif khnifiss Urgewald Mexico Union des associations rurales WissenLeben e.V. Climate Strike de la commune d'OULED Fossil Free Berlin ECOMUNIDADES, Red SELMANE-SAFI Ecologista Autónoma de la Youth Society Renaissance Ghana Cuenca de México Neighborhood Development Abibiman Foundation Freshwater Action Network and Communication in Religious Bodies Network on Mexico Boujdour ﺷﺒﻜﺔ ﺧﻠﯿﺞ اﻟﺪاﺧﻠﺔ ﻟﻠﻌﻤﻞ اﻟﺠﻤﻌﻮي واﻟﺘﻨﻤﯿﺔ Climate Change Association Mars Social Umeedenoo citizen community South Africa Association éveil de la jeunesse board WoMin Alliance Jubilee South Africa Nepal Peru Campaign for Movimiento Ciudadano frente al Spain Nepal Cambio Climático - MOCICC Amigos de la Tierra (FoE Spain) Digo Bikas Institute TierrActiva Peru Asociación de Cultura Popular "Alborada" Netherlands Philippines Bizi! (Basque region) Amsterdam Fossielvrij Amianan Salakniban (Defend DIAGONAL Newspaper BankTrack the North) Ecologistas en Acción Both ENDS Center for Energy, Ecology, and Guadalajara Concerned Citizens Against Development (CEED) Ecologistas en Acción Climate Change IBON International Ecologistas en Acción de Den Haag Fossielvrij Institute for Climate and Asturias Fossielvrij NL Sustainable Cities Ecologistas en Acción Palencia Growing Air Foundation Philippine Movement for Climate ELA (Basque Region) Utrecht Climate Neutral Justice InspirAction WECF International Poland Swaziland New Zealand ClientEarth Prawnicy dla Ziemi Foundation for Socio-Economic 350 Aotearoa Fundacja "Rozwój TAK - Justice New Zealand Public Service Odkrywki NIE" Association (NZPSA) Koalicja Klimatyczna (The Sweden P3 Foundation Climate Coalition) Fossil Free Uppsala University Fossil Free Sweden Niger Portugal l’Association Nigérienne des Plataforma Algarve Livre de Switzerland Scouts de l’Environnement Petróleo Alliance Sud Preservar Aljezur IntLawyers Nigeria StoPetroleo Vila do Bispo Klimaatelier Centre for Human Rights and Tavira em Transição Noé21 Climate Change Research ZERO – Association for the Swiss Youth for Climate Health of Mother Earth Sustainability of the Earth Foundation (HOMEF) System Tanzania Kebetkache Women CAN Tanzania Development & Resource Puerto Rico Mazingira Network - Tanzania Centre Earth Day Puerto Rico (MANET) Labour,Health and Human Rights Development Centre Scotland Togo Peace Point Action (PPA) Radical Independence Women Environmental Women Initiative on Climate Campaign East Kilbride Programme Togo Change Serbia Tunisie Norway One Degree Serbia Forum Tunisien pour les Droits Naturvernforbundet, Friends of Economqiues et Sociaux the Earth Norway Slovenia UGTT (Union Générale Focus Association for Tunisienne du Travail) Pakistan Sustainable Development Turkey 350Ankara.org 350VT Justice and Witness Ministries Earth Association Alaska Wilderness League of the United Church of Christ Ecology Collective Association Amazon Watch Kent on Climate TEMA Foundation Appalachian Voices Labor Network For Sustainability Bronx Climate Justice North Lansing 350 Uganda Center for Biological Diversity Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation Climate Action Network Uganda Center for Environmental Health Liology Institute Ecological Christian Center for International Living Rivers Organisation (ECO). Environmental Law Montana Environmental NAPE Oil Watch Uganda Center for Radical Honesty Information Center National Association for Chesapeake Climate Action Movement Rights Women's Action in Network NEOGAP Network for Oil and Development Climate Action Now (Western Gas Accountability and Massachusetts) Protection Climate Compassion North Country Veterans for United Kingdom The Climate Justice Project Peace Coal Action Network Climate Law & Policy Project Northeast Organic Farming Fossil Free Islington ClimateMama Association Interstate Council Frack Free Wales Colorado Rising Northern Alaska Environmental Friends of the Earth (England, Columbus Community Bill of Center Wales & Northern Ireland) Rights Oil Change USA Healthy Planet UK Columbus Community Bill of Operation HomeCare LDC News Service Rights Organic Consumers Association No Fracking NB Cooperation Jackson Oxy 350 for Climate Action REAF Earth Action Popular Resistance Roseacre Awareness Group Earth Care Network Track 0 Earthworks Radical Arts and Healing UK Youth Climate Coalition EcoEquity Collective Environment America Rainforest Action Network United States Fairbanks Climate Action Renewable Communities 350 Bellingham Coalition Alliance 350 Brooklyn Forest City 350 and Evangelical ReThink Energy Florida 350 Central Virginia Lutheran Church in America Rootskeeper 350 Conejo / San Fernando Forest City 350 Safe Climate Campaign Valley Fort Valley Voices for Action San Antonio 350 350 Corvallis (FVVA) Science & Environmental Health 350 CT Fossil Free California Network 350 DC Grassroots Global Justice Seeds for the Sol 350 Idaho Alliance Solar Farm Education 350 Kishwaukee Great Old Broads for Wilderness Steps Coalition 350 Louisiana - New Orleans Greenbelt Climate Action Students for a Just and Stable 350 Maine Network Future 350 MoCo Greenpeace USA SustainUS 350 NYC Health Care Without Harm US The Canary Coalition 350 PDX HUMAN NATURE Theater Unitarian Universalist Fellowship 350 Pittsburgh Company of Corvallis 350 Salem OR Idle No More SF Bay U.S. Climate Plan 350 Sandpoint Institute for Policy Studies Up To Us 350 South Florida (Climate Policy Program) Waterkeeper Alliance 350 Triangle Iowa 350 WildEarth Guardians Women's Earth and Climate Action Network, International (WECAN) Young Voices for the Planet

Vietnam CHANGE

Zimbabwe Centre for Natural Resource Governance Zimbabwe Human Rights Association