A098 Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation
Resolved, the House of ________________ concurring,
That the 81st General Convention authorize Provinces, Dioceses, Congregations, and all other institutions of The Episcopal Church to recognize the efforts of the COP 28 [Conference of the Parties (COP)] regarding fossil fuel non-proliferation and to begin the process of planning in support of this work as reiterated by The Executive Council of the Episcopal Church in October 2023; and be it further
Resolved, That this General Convention reiterate its engagement in the work of The Episcopal Church, and international organizations to which it is connected, to turn back the effects of climate change and environmental degradation, recognizing the urgent, concentrated action in this present moment that is needed to prevent the suffering of life on this planet, in the near term and the future; and be it further
Resolved, That this General Convention acknowledge the work of the nations of Vanuatu and Tuvalu, along with other Pacific Island nations, to forge the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, which has been endorsed by the World Health Organization and the European Parliament, along with thousands of civil society organizations and individuals committed to the mitigation of climate change and the factors that contribute to it; and be it further
Resolved, That this General Convention recognize that the Treaty is calling the people of the world not just to make technical adjustments to negative impacts on the planet, but to transform lives by phasing out fossil fuel production and the reliance on fossil fuels by the parties to the Paris Accords; and be it further
Resolved, That this General Convention endorse the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty as it is set before the United Nations Climate Summit, held in Dubai in December, 2023; and be it further
Resolved, That Provinces, Dioceses, Congregations, and all other institutions of The Episcopal Church be strongly encouraged to create a plan for phasing out fossil fuels over the next 10 years, post the plan on its websites, present an annual update report at the annual meeting of the diocese and/or ministry, and provide plan and annual updates to the Office of Creation Care; and be it further
Resolved, That the General Convention requests the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget, and Finance to consider a budget allocation (excluding meeting expense already in GCO budget) of $40,000 to primarily address the development of website updates, forms development, and identify staff support the implementation of this resolution.
Explanation
The Episcopal Church has consistently, through past General Convention resolutions, stayed abreast, even taken leadership positions, with respect to advocacy in climate change and environment. The Episcopal Church, in keeping with our following a living Christ, rather than calling to mind a Jesus who visited us once in the past, is a learning, evolving body. Thus, as the latest climate change science and the results of the 2023 Global Stock take have demonstrated, it is no longer sufficient to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we must phase out the use of fossil fuels.
The call to phase out fossil fuels originated in 2023 with seven Pacific island nations, nations who are already experiencing the leading edge of climate change. The call took the form of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. The Executive Council of the Episcopal Church passed a resolution in November of 2023 that endorsed the aims of the treaty, allowing the Presiding Bishop’s delegation to COP 28 [Conference of the Parties (COP)] to use the treaty in its policy platform.
By way of background, the meeting purpose of COP is authorized through the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The United Nations Climate Change Conferences serve as the formal meeting of the UNFCCC parties – the Conference of the Parties (COP) – to assess progress in dealing with climate change, and beginning in the mid-1990s, to negotiate the Kyoto Protocol to establish legally binding obligations for developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. These annual meetings serve to further negotiations and obligations of the various treaties and protocols which create a general path towards climate action. Any final text of a COP must be agreed by consensus. (1)
The embrace of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and its core goal - the phase out of fossil fuels - by the 81st General Convention will provide an even stronger basis for our Church’s advocacy around this essential goal.
(1) Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Climate_Change_conference