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Businesses urge governments to phase out fossil fuels

Over 200 companies representing > $1.5 trillion in global annual revenue urge national governments to address the primary cause of climate change: burning fossil fuels.

About the campaign
This letter was coordinated by We Mean Business Coalition and its partners through the Fossil to Clean campaign. With bold business and political leadership, we can scale clean energy and end our reliance on fossil fuels.

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Dear Heads of State,

We, the undersigned companies representing over $1.5 trillion in global annual revenue, celebrate the exponential growth of solutions that have made clean energy cheaper and more accessible than ever before. However, global emissions continue to rise because we haven’t addressed the primary cause of climate change: the burning of fossil fuels. 

As energy purchasers and users* in the global system, we have an important role to play in sending a clear signal about our future energy use, which is rapidly becoming cleaner through renewables. We are taking action and working toward phasing out our use of fossil fuels. That is why we are setting science-based targets, developing climate transition action plans, investing in net-zero solutions and disclosing our progress. Climate action is good for business now and in the future. 

To decarbonize the global energy system, we need to ramp up clean energy as fast as we phase out the use and production of fossil fuels. This means turbocharging the renewables revolution, electrifying key sectors and massively improving efficiency — thereby creating the conditions for a rapid, well-managed and just transition away from fossil fuels. The transition to net zero could boost global GDP by 4% by 2030**. 

But we cannot make this transition securely or efficiently alone. Financial institutions, fossil fuel producers and governments all have crucial roles to play in setting targets and timelines that are aligned with science, and in accelerating the shift of investment away from fossil fuels and toward clean solutions. 

The UAE Consensus, agreed at COP28, sent a clear signal that governments of the world are united in accelerating a global transition away from fossil fuels this decade, alongside tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling the rate of deployment of energy efficiency by 2030. The direction is clear, and 1.5°C remains within reach. Business is looking for robust policy commitments for how this will be brought into reality, including through multilateral outcomes at the G7, G20 and COP summits and other major international moments, and in national policies and targets to be reflected in the countries’ NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement). Policy certainty will enable businesses to develop affordable and reliable near-term alternatives to fossil fuels for their operations and supply chains. 

In support of the above, we urge all governments to: 

  • Set targets and timelines for the phase-out of unabated*** fossil fuels in line with 1.5°C, supported by national plans and policies to ensure a just transition for affected workers and communities. Wealthier countries have the responsibility to be first movers and support other countries in their efforts.
  • Accelerate the clean energy transition by committing to reach 100% decarbonized power systems by 2035 in advanced economies, and by 2040 for other countries, at the latest
  • Support countries in the Global South in diversifying their energy systems and developing 1.5°C-aligned economic pathways, including through the provision both of finance that does not exacerbate unsustainable sovereign debt, and of capacity-building for just transition planning. This must be part of a broader alignment of public and private financial flows with the objective of an equitable global phase-out of fossil fuels.
  • Ensure clear pricing signals through a meaningful price on carbon that reflects the full costs of climate change — and reform and repurpose fossil fuel subsidies toward energy efficiency, renewable energy and other measures to support a people-centered and equitable clean energy transition. 

Leadership from policymakers, alongside coordinated actions from finance and fossil fuel producers, will enable us, as energy users, to develop and deploy the climate solutions of the net-zero economy. 

We stand ready to support and work with you on the path away from fossil fuels, and toward healthier and more resilient communities, sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity. 

 

*Inclusive of power generators
**IEA
***IPCC AR6 WG3 2022. “Unabated fossil fuels refers to fossil fuels produced and used without interventions that substantially reduce the amount of GHG emitted throughout the life-cycle; for example, capturing 90% or more from power plants, or 50-80% of fugitive methane emissions from energy supply.” Storage must be on a geological timescale. WGIII Summary for Policymakers Headline Statements (ipcc.ch). 

 

Signed By

4YaParty Weddings and Events Familia Torres Planet Mark
600 strategy Flow Hive Porteous Groundworks Ltd
A³&Co.®️ Forster Communications Portt & Co
Abstrakt Creative Ltd Fortescue Poste Italiane
ACCIONA, S.A. Fortum Corporation Posti Group Corporation
Achieve Goal 12 Forward Green Primrose Hill Therapist
Agilino Frog Bikes Pro Adventure Ltd
Alchemi Group Futerra Proximus
Alfa Laval Futureproof Quiip
Anetic Aid Ltd Geelen Counterflow RAB Consultants Ltd
Anne Veck Ltd Gemserv Reaction Engines
Anode Gisgns Flow Red Glead Discovery
AstraZeneca GLOBAL FEED ECOTRANS SL ReNew
Autumn Dahlia Creative Services Glovoapp23 Roche
Avery & Brown Godrej Industries Limited Royal Philips
Avocado Green Mattress Grant Instruments Sai Clinic and Education Council
Baluarte Cultura Green Frog Connect Ltd SAP SE
Banka BioLoo Limited H2 Green Steel Scania Group
Bayer AG HEINEKEN Schüco International KG
Besarte Fibre Natural SL Helen Ltd Segura Cerrajería y Ferretería125.00
Bioregional Hewlett Packard Enterprise Seismic
BPSEC Srl Hive19 Semcon
Brissco (Equipment) Limited Hornsbury Mill Sense-Lab
BT Group plc House of Baukjen Shop Greenr Ltd, t/a Canopey
Buckinghamshire Business First Husstainability AB Siddall and Hilton
Buro Happold Hybrid Hippie Signify
Cabinet ViZé Iberdrola Sirkel Consulting
Cameron Hysom Ltd T/A EcoAudit Icebug SKF
Capgemini IKEA SNF Global LLC
Carrington West INDITEX Somali Social Entrepreneurs Fund
Chaioso S.L. Interface Sony Group Corporation
Change Finance, PBC JLL Sparks & Co (Solar Force) Ltd
Climate Positive Consulting Junxion Sport-Thieme GmbH
ClimateHero L SAHA SRI Services
Climbing Trees Landsec Statkraft AS
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners LanzaTech STS Commercial LTD
Competitive Insight Lassila & Tikanoja Plc Sustainable Wedding Alliance
Corbion Mahindra Group Swisscom AG
Corona College Heights Orange and Lemon Association Maigari global e-commerce Sympatex Technologies GmbH
Crabiz srl sb Mammut Sports Group Talent Nation
Crowberry Consulting Ltd Manchester Pipe and Site Services Limited TalkTalk Group
Curating Tomorrow, UK Materialise Interiors Tchibo GmbH
Currys Plc Melia Hotels International Telia Company
Cyd Connects Melius Homes Tetra Pak
Danone Michelin The Globe Group CIC
Dear Green Coffee Roasters Mossgiel Organic Farm The New Division
Decathlon Mulberry Catering Co Limited The Standing CT Company
Deltaexpress S.A. MyCarbon The Typeface Group Ltd
Deutsche Telekom AG Natura &Co The Umbrella Institute
DHL Group Nestlé The Wellbeing Farm
Diageo New Society Publishers Third Rock Finland Oy
E.ON SE Notpla Thomas Kneale & Co Ltd
eBay Novozymes Thoth London
ECOS OLIPOP Toast Ale
Eden Project Omplim gestió i edificació responsable SL Torchbox
EDP Once Upon Publishing Trane Technologies
EECO Ltd One Care (BNSSG) C.I.C Triple Bottom Line Accounting Ltd
Efeca One Planet Limited Uhhmami
EILEEN FISHER, Inc. One Stone Asia Pacific UK SustainAbility
Electrolux Group Ørsted Unilever
Elekta AB Osborne Clarke Value Match Services Limited
Elements Otto Group VAUDE Sport GmbH & Co. KG
ELEVATE PACKAGING OXO Living VELUX A/S
Empower Agency Oz Green Oasis Pty Ltd Virgin Media O2
ENSO Pangolin Associates Vodafone Group Plc
ePharmIT Limited Par Build Ltd Volvo Cars
Ethical Profit Agency Parnosa Limited We Do Ethical
Evia Private Tours Patagonia WHSmith
Evolve Paulig Group Wunderkind Consulting Nigeria Limited
Expatriate Tax Advisory Service Limited PayCaptain YIT Oyj
Fairware Promotional Products Penta Falcon Zeroverse

Partners

We Mean Business Coalition Founding Partners

Supporting Partners

DISCLAIMER: Although the data on this page has been produced and processed from sources believed to be reliable, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made regarding accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, or reliability of any information.

Business quotes

eBay – Renée Morin, Chief Sustainability Officer:
“Business and government must take decisive action to transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. By working together, we can create solutions for communities everywhere.”

Volvo Cars – Anders Kärrberg, Global Head of Sustainability:
“We know that phasing out fossil fuels is the only way forward if we are to limit global warming and keep people safe from climate catastrophe. But businesses cannot do this alone. Together with We Mean Business Coalition, Volvo Cars calls on all Parties attending COP28 to seek outcomes that will lay the groundwork to transform the global energy system towards a full phase-out of unabated fossil fuels.”

Ørsted – Mads Nipper, CEO:
“In order to stay below the 1.5°C threshold and avoid catastrophic and irreversible damage, it is time to give up business as usual. Green energy is the most impactful solution for fighting global heating, and in our race against time, we need to build it now. We know that to lift this agenda, bold decisions and unprecedented collaborative action are required at all levels of society – within and between industries, businesses, and countries.”

EDP – Miguel Stilwell d’Andrade, CEO:
“The transition from a fossil fuel era to a clean energy future is not just a choice, it is an imperative. It demands action from Governments, policy makers, companies and communities alike. Together, we must secure a safe and sustainable future for all.”

ReNew – Sumant Sinha, Founder Chairman & CEO:
“The massive scale-up of investments in clean energy is not possible without a commitment to scale down all fossil fuels. The transition needs to happen quickly and happen now. The Fossil to Clean campaign is a bold call-to-action for our collective efforts to align for the urgent need for action.”

Ingka Group/IKEA – Jesper Brodin, CEO:
“We live in an urgent time when it comes to climate change. Together with hundreds of companies we have signed the Fossil to Clean letter asking our world leaders to take the political responsibility and reach an agreement on phasing out fossil fuels at COP28. This is the most important decade to take big steps, with speed, toward achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.”

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Joe Franses, VP Sustainability: 
“The world is not decarbonizing fast enough. That’s why we’re calling for ambitious action to rapidly scale clean energy solutions, to help businesses transition from fossil fuels and meet net-zero targets.

Electrolux Group Jonas Samuelson, CEO:
“As a manufacturer of domestic appliances mainly powered by electricity in millions of homes around the world, we need society to shift from fossil to clean sources of power to be able to meet our climate targets. But more importantly, the phase out of fossil fuels globally must happen as quickly as possible to avoid the most severe impacts of climate change – for both current and future generations. Ensuring domestic appliances are powered by clean energy would be a significant step in the right direction.”

Natura &Co Keyvan Macedo, Sustainability Director:
“We must see an urgent and rapid transition from fossil fuels. Natura &Co is taking action both in our own business and through our power to advocate for system-level change to policy and culture. We know this is a moment that matters. We know the science is telling us we need to act now. And we know that taking action to transition from fossil to clean is being on the right side of history.”

Novozymes Ester Baiget, President & CEO:
“Business and governments have shown that it is possible to make progress for the health of our planet.  Still, there is a huge gap between climate ambitions and actions. It is essential that world leaders not only raise ambitions but also deliver on those ambitions so we can accelerate the transition to net-zero.” 

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