Nobel laureates call for elimination of fossil fuels

More than 100 Nobel laureates have signed a letter calling for President Biden and other world leaders to take action to fully phase out fossil fuel production.

The letter notes that the Paris climate agreement does not include any reference to oil, gas and coal. It also notes United Nations estimates that project that 120 percent more oil, gas and coal will be produced by the end of the decade than is necessary to keep warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The UN report projected fossil fuel production must be cut by about 6 percent per year for the rest of the decade to prevent that level of warming, but projects that production will instead increase 2 percent per year.

“Fossil fuels are the greatest contributor to climate change. Allowing the continued expansion of this industry is unconscionable,” the letter states. “The fossil fuel system is global and requires a global solution – a solution the Leaders’ Climate Summit must work towards. And the first step is to keep fossil fuels in the ground.”

The letter goes on to recommend world leaders halt any expansion of gas, oil and coal production, in addition to a phaseout. It calls on international leaders to provide funds for a full transition to renewable energy that “enable[s] people and communities across the globe to flourish through a global just transition.”

Signers of the letter include the Dalai Lama, 2011 Peace Prize winner Tawakkol Karman, 1997 Peace Prize winner Jody Williams and 1976 Peace Prize winner Mairead Corrigan-Maguire.

His Holiness the @DalaiLama & 100 other Nobel Laureates have written a powerful letter to the 40 world leaders at #LeadersClimateSummit

Their message is clear: keep fossil fuels in the ground.

Read the letter & list of signatories on our website. https://t.co/3NUeujKY0I

— Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty (@fossiltreaty) April 21, 2021

The White House has invited 40 world leaders to a U.S.-hosted climate summit Thursday, with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping among those confirmed to attend. During the meeting, the U.S. is set to announce the new U.S. contribution under the Paris Agreement, which the Biden administration rejoined in January.