Opinion / Columnist
A Global Call to Push out unrepentant Fossil Fuels Industry
18 Sep 2016 at 07:52hrs | Views
Boldness and sound advocacy is highly required for the ban of Fossil Fuels Industry in the implementation processes of averting the effects of Climate Change. The global movements on climate change are seriously challenging UNFCCC and Inter governmental climate change and energy implementation projects to shrug off the influence of Fossil Fuels Industry and their transnational oil conglomerates who are silently and diplomatically undermining sustainable processes executed by global climate advocates and the UNFCCC by using influence of their bulky financial resources as well as their hyper super power political connections.
The UNFCCC should borrow a leaf from the FCTC , WHO FRAME WORK CONVENTION ON TOBACCO CONTROL which is fast achieving its intended goal of putting stringent guidelines of tobacco trade and to a larger extent banning tobacco growing and trade. The PROTOCOL to ELIMININATE ILLICIT TRADE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS with the guidelines , policy options and recommendations for implantation are already awaiting for ratification at the COP7 to be held in New Delhi India from the 7th to 12th of November 2016 and this is a serious global and united challenge against the negative influence and impact of Tobacco industry to global health economy.
Several documents on the illicit of tobacco trade have been developed to support the Implementation of the WHO FCTC on her introduction of the Tobacco Industry and the Illicit Trade of Tobacco Products Dr Stella Bialous argued that , "The illicit tobacco trade is a global problem that threatens the public health gains of tobacco control and the outcomes of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). In addition to the damage caused to health, the illicit trade in tobacco is a form of tax evasion and thus also inflicts significant economic harm. The global nature of illicit tobacco trade, and its widespread reach, demand a global and coordinated effort to eliminate the trade and to promote tobacco control and public health. Article 15 of the WHO FCTC provides a framework for Parties to take action against the illicit tobacco trade. However, the complexity of the issue, and the multiple government and inter-government organizations involved in combating the illicit trade, led Parties to the WHO FCTC to develop the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products1 , hereafter referred to as the Protocol or ITP.
This provides more specific guidance and solutions, as well as new obligations for Parties2 , to tackle the global illicit tobacco trade problem3 . Adopted on 12 November 2012 at the fifth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP5) of the WHO FCTC, the Protocol had 13 parties as of 10 December 2015. It takes effect once 40 Parties ratify, accept, accede or otherwise formally approve the instrument. This document examines the different approaches the tobacco industry is using to portray itself as a key partner in combating the illicit trade and how in reality it is interfering with the entry into force and implementation of the Protocol, and as a consequence, of related provisions of the WHO FCTC. This report aims to inform policy and decision makers, especially those from non-health sectors, who may not yet be familiar with the WHO FCTC and the Protocol. It highlights increasing evidence that the tobacco industry is re-using well established strategies to oppose the WHO FCTC, to counteract the Protocol and to promote itself as a partner in its implementation. This could potentially hinder the Protocol's entry into force and thus confound governments seeking to independently control tobacco product distribution and control" .http://www.who.int/fctc/publications/The_TI_and_the_Illicit_Trade_in_Tobacco_Products.pdf?ua=1
The UNFCCC should also be able to take such bold steps in the implementation of the ban of the unrepentant Fossil Fuels Industry for us to achieve a global climate change , mostly in elimination and adaptations as espoused by the FCTC in the fight for the achievement of Risk Free Global Health Economy. In 2015 the Union of Concerned Scientists{Science for Health Planet and Safer World} revealed the Climate Deception Dossiers revealing the decades of disinformation by Fossil Fuels Industry in a bid to deceive the public on the threat of Fossil fuels and their products to the global climate and the livelihood of the human race. Transnational Oil giants like EXXON and SHELL mentioned as big and influential perpetrators of such deception. " Major fossil fuel companies have known for decades that their products—oil, natural gas, and coal—cause global warming. Their own scientists told them so more than 30 years ago.
In response, they decided to deceive shareholders, politicians, and the public—you!—about the facts and risks of global warming.
They repeatedly fought efforts to move the country away from fossil fuels. They slowed progress on the most important challenge of our time. And some continue to spread disinformation and obstruct climate policies even today. All while being aware of the role their products play in climate impacts.
These companies should immediately stop funding climate deception. They should bear their fair share of responsibility for the damage caused by their products". UCUSUSA revealed. A lot more other investigations on the deception and the threat of Fossil Fuel Industry to the Climate Change Campaign are being done and global movements are fervently calling for the ban and removal of Fossil Fuels Industry . Researches done by Science and Climate scholar Richard Heede of the Climate Accountability Institute seal the whole issue with serious and well researched evidence on the largest producers of pollution and global warming .The statement below is from a research done by scientist Richard Heede
"63 percent, of the industrial carbon pollution released into the atmosphere since 1854 can be directly traced to the carbon extracted from the Earth by just 90 entities — 83 producers of coal, oil, and natural gas, and seven cement manufacturers.
Almost all of these giant multinational corporations, state-held companies, and fully nationalized companies are still operating today.
Topping the list of private and state-held companies are Chevron, ExxonMobil, Saudi Aramco, British Petroleum, Gazprom, Shell and the National Iranian Oil Company. These seven companies alone have produced almost one-fifth (18.7 percent) of all industrial carbon released into the atmosphere since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution".
Cooperate Accountability International has this to say with its campaign codenamed Kickbigpollutersout "Corporate Accountability International and other organizations are calling on the Parties to the UNFCCC to protect the U.N. climate talks and climate policymaking around the world from the influence of big polluters. And we don't have any time to waste.
Even as Parties came together to adopt the Paris Agreement at COP21 in December, corporations with ties to coal and gas were sponsoring the negotiations. Corporations were promoting false solutions in a giant expo in Paris. And corporations like Exxon, BP, and Shell were gaining legitimacy for their voluntary commitments on climate through the UNFCCC. As governments came together around new commitments on climate, big polluters time and time again tried to exert their influence over the process.
There's a growing global movement to slow down climate change. And we need governments to fulfil and exceed the commitments they made in Paris to seize this momentum. But only when our policymaking space is free from the influence of big polluters can our leaders take the bold action we need them to take".
350.ORG a serious Fossil fuel ban advocacy organisations is calling for more serious action and implementation of the ban by the UNFCCC following a bold move by the World Health Organisation in the banning of Tobacco Lobbyists. The 350.ORG organisation has so far collected 53 000 signatures and more in struggle for ban of this evasive industry. Advocates and Partners of the communication have a strong argument on this fact. Hoda Baraka , the Global Communication manager of 350.org says that the process requires to hear the voices of the people not looters and she adds very thought provoking statements which in turn encompasses the need for the ban ,"The fossil fuel industry is actively lobbying against climate action and standing in the way of progress. When you're trying to burn the table down, you don't deserve a seat at it." Hoda Baraka boldly argued.
"Here in Lima, we're seeing how the interests of rich countries and their dirty energy corporations are put before the needs of vulnerable people and the planet," said Pascoe Sabido, Researcher and Campaigner at Corporate Europe Observatory. "It's just common sense that those who are causing the crisis should be kept as far away from solving it as possible. If the UN talks are going to deliver fair and ambitious actions on climate change, we need to see both national and international actions to end the cosy relationship between polluters and our governments." Pascoe Sabido added.
To achieve this greatest milestone UNFCCC should be bold to gain trust from scientists , climate change advocates , global climate movements, social change activists and economists as well as the global populace in its quest to bring the global solution in averting and implementing process that defend the global community from the impact of climate change. The boldest policy option is to ban Fossil Fuels Industry from the Global Campaign , Strategy and Implementation processes and put guidelines and protocols that dictates the operations of such.
Feedback to girlchildcreativity@gmail.com
The UNFCCC should borrow a leaf from the FCTC , WHO FRAME WORK CONVENTION ON TOBACCO CONTROL which is fast achieving its intended goal of putting stringent guidelines of tobacco trade and to a larger extent banning tobacco growing and trade. The PROTOCOL to ELIMININATE ILLICIT TRADE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS with the guidelines , policy options and recommendations for implantation are already awaiting for ratification at the COP7 to be held in New Delhi India from the 7th to 12th of November 2016 and this is a serious global and united challenge against the negative influence and impact of Tobacco industry to global health economy.
Several documents on the illicit of tobacco trade have been developed to support the Implementation of the WHO FCTC on her introduction of the Tobacco Industry and the Illicit Trade of Tobacco Products Dr Stella Bialous argued that , "The illicit tobacco trade is a global problem that threatens the public health gains of tobacco control and the outcomes of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). In addition to the damage caused to health, the illicit trade in tobacco is a form of tax evasion and thus also inflicts significant economic harm. The global nature of illicit tobacco trade, and its widespread reach, demand a global and coordinated effort to eliminate the trade and to promote tobacco control and public health. Article 15 of the WHO FCTC provides a framework for Parties to take action against the illicit tobacco trade. However, the complexity of the issue, and the multiple government and inter-government organizations involved in combating the illicit trade, led Parties to the WHO FCTC to develop the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products1 , hereafter referred to as the Protocol or ITP.
This provides more specific guidance and solutions, as well as new obligations for Parties2 , to tackle the global illicit tobacco trade problem3 . Adopted on 12 November 2012 at the fifth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP5) of the WHO FCTC, the Protocol had 13 parties as of 10 December 2015. It takes effect once 40 Parties ratify, accept, accede or otherwise formally approve the instrument. This document examines the different approaches the tobacco industry is using to portray itself as a key partner in combating the illicit trade and how in reality it is interfering with the entry into force and implementation of the Protocol, and as a consequence, of related provisions of the WHO FCTC. This report aims to inform policy and decision makers, especially those from non-health sectors, who may not yet be familiar with the WHO FCTC and the Protocol. It highlights increasing evidence that the tobacco industry is re-using well established strategies to oppose the WHO FCTC, to counteract the Protocol and to promote itself as a partner in its implementation. This could potentially hinder the Protocol's entry into force and thus confound governments seeking to independently control tobacco product distribution and control" .http://www.who.int/fctc/publications/The_TI_and_the_Illicit_Trade_in_Tobacco_Products.pdf?ua=1
The UNFCCC should also be able to take such bold steps in the implementation of the ban of the unrepentant Fossil Fuels Industry for us to achieve a global climate change , mostly in elimination and adaptations as espoused by the FCTC in the fight for the achievement of Risk Free Global Health Economy. In 2015 the Union of Concerned Scientists{Science for Health Planet and Safer World} revealed the Climate Deception Dossiers revealing the decades of disinformation by Fossil Fuels Industry in a bid to deceive the public on the threat of Fossil fuels and their products to the global climate and the livelihood of the human race. Transnational Oil giants like EXXON and SHELL mentioned as big and influential perpetrators of such deception. " Major fossil fuel companies have known for decades that their products—oil, natural gas, and coal—cause global warming. Their own scientists told them so more than 30 years ago.
In response, they decided to deceive shareholders, politicians, and the public—you!—about the facts and risks of global warming.
They repeatedly fought efforts to move the country away from fossil fuels. They slowed progress on the most important challenge of our time. And some continue to spread disinformation and obstruct climate policies even today. All while being aware of the role their products play in climate impacts.
These companies should immediately stop funding climate deception. They should bear their fair share of responsibility for the damage caused by their products". UCUSUSA revealed. A lot more other investigations on the deception and the threat of Fossil Fuel Industry to the Climate Change Campaign are being done and global movements are fervently calling for the ban and removal of Fossil Fuels Industry . Researches done by Science and Climate scholar Richard Heede of the Climate Accountability Institute seal the whole issue with serious and well researched evidence on the largest producers of pollution and global warming .The statement below is from a research done by scientist Richard Heede
"63 percent, of the industrial carbon pollution released into the atmosphere since 1854 can be directly traced to the carbon extracted from the Earth by just 90 entities — 83 producers of coal, oil, and natural gas, and seven cement manufacturers.
Almost all of these giant multinational corporations, state-held companies, and fully nationalized companies are still operating today.
Topping the list of private and state-held companies are Chevron, ExxonMobil, Saudi Aramco, British Petroleum, Gazprom, Shell and the National Iranian Oil Company. These seven companies alone have produced almost one-fifth (18.7 percent) of all industrial carbon released into the atmosphere since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution".
Cooperate Accountability International has this to say with its campaign codenamed Kickbigpollutersout "Corporate Accountability International and other organizations are calling on the Parties to the UNFCCC to protect the U.N. climate talks and climate policymaking around the world from the influence of big polluters. And we don't have any time to waste.
Even as Parties came together to adopt the Paris Agreement at COP21 in December, corporations with ties to coal and gas were sponsoring the negotiations. Corporations were promoting false solutions in a giant expo in Paris. And corporations like Exxon, BP, and Shell were gaining legitimacy for their voluntary commitments on climate through the UNFCCC. As governments came together around new commitments on climate, big polluters time and time again tried to exert their influence over the process.
There's a growing global movement to slow down climate change. And we need governments to fulfil and exceed the commitments they made in Paris to seize this momentum. But only when our policymaking space is free from the influence of big polluters can our leaders take the bold action we need them to take".
350.ORG a serious Fossil fuel ban advocacy organisations is calling for more serious action and implementation of the ban by the UNFCCC following a bold move by the World Health Organisation in the banning of Tobacco Lobbyists. The 350.ORG organisation has so far collected 53 000 signatures and more in struggle for ban of this evasive industry. Advocates and Partners of the communication have a strong argument on this fact. Hoda Baraka , the Global Communication manager of 350.org says that the process requires to hear the voices of the people not looters and she adds very thought provoking statements which in turn encompasses the need for the ban ,"The fossil fuel industry is actively lobbying against climate action and standing in the way of progress. When you're trying to burn the table down, you don't deserve a seat at it." Hoda Baraka boldly argued.
"Here in Lima, we're seeing how the interests of rich countries and their dirty energy corporations are put before the needs of vulnerable people and the planet," said Pascoe Sabido, Researcher and Campaigner at Corporate Europe Observatory. "It's just common sense that those who are causing the crisis should be kept as far away from solving it as possible. If the UN talks are going to deliver fair and ambitious actions on climate change, we need to see both national and international actions to end the cosy relationship between polluters and our governments." Pascoe Sabido added.
To achieve this greatest milestone UNFCCC should be bold to gain trust from scientists , climate change advocates , global climate movements, social change activists and economists as well as the global populace in its quest to bring the global solution in averting and implementing process that defend the global community from the impact of climate change. The boldest policy option is to ban Fossil Fuels Industry from the Global Campaign , Strategy and Implementation processes and put guidelines and protocols that dictates the operations of such.
Feedback to girlchildcreativity@gmail.com
Source - Mbizo Chirasha
All articles and letters published on Bulawayo24 have been independently written by members of Bulawayo24's community. The views of users published on Bulawayo24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Bulawayo24. Bulawayo24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.
