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Accelerating the shift from fossil fuels to clean energy

Together we have made great progress to scale up climate solutions, yet emissions are still rising globally. This is because we have not done enough to scale-down the primary cause of climate change: burning fossil fuels. 

But momentum is building, and clean energy gets cheaper and cheaper each year.

Leading businesses came to COP28 with a call for the phase out of fossil fuels, the tripling of renewable capacity and doubling of energy efficiency. Their voices were heard loud and clear.

COP28 marked the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era and the first time in history that we have a global agreement to transition away from all fossil fuels in line with science.

With bold business and political leadership, we can scale clean energy and end our reliance on fossil fuels.

About the campaign Sign up Read our COP28 Statement

Accelerating the shift from fossil fuels to clean energy

The Principles

We Mean Business Coalition has developed a set of principles, with advice from leading experts including SBTi and ETC, that establish a North Star for fossil fuel phase-out.

They include clear guidance and timelines for:

  • Oil and gas producers
  • Companies consuming fossil fuels
  • Government 
  • Finance
Follow the principles

Business letter

Ahead of COP28, we coordinated an open letter:

  • Signed by 200+ companies large and small
  • Representing over $1.5trillion in global annual revenue

Urging national governments to ramp up clean energy and phase out fossil fuels.

See the full list of signatories whose voices were heard by global policymakers at COP28.

View the letter

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What business says about the campaign

Philips

Philips

Robert Metzke, SVP and Global Head of Sustainability at Philips supported the Fossil to Clean campaign during COP28 in Dubai, Climate change has become a global health emergency. Regulation, concrete plans to phase out fossil fuels and green public procurement guidance from governments can help the healthcare industry decarbonize faster.

Volvo Cars

Volvo Cars

We spoke to Anders Kärrberg, Chief Sustainability Officer, Volvo Cars about how going from fossil fuels to clean energy is essential, and how businesses cannot do it alone.

Volvo Cars is one of 200+ businesses that have signed the Fossil to Clean open letter urging governments to address the primary cause of climate change: burning fossil fuels.

Business and government must take decisive action to transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. By working together, we can create equitable solutions for communities everywhere.

Renée Morin, Chief Sustainability Officer, eBay

EDP

EDP

We spoke to Miguel Stilwell d’Andrade, CEO of EDP about about how the transition away from fossil fuels is imperative if we are to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C.

EDP is one of 200+ businesses that have signed the Fossil to Clean open letter urging governments to address the primary cause of climate change: burning fossil fuels.

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.

Mads Nipper, CEO, Ørsted

ReNew

ReNew

We spoke to Sumant Sinha, Chairman and CEO of ReNew about how going from fossil fuels to clean energy is essential for the company to reach its 2030 goals and net zero targets.

ReNew is one of 200+ businesses that have signed the Fossil to Clean open letter urging governments to address the primary cause of climate change: burning fossil fuels.

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.

Joe Franses, VP Sustainability, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners

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.

Jonas Samuelson, CEO, Electrolux Group

Ingka Group / IKEA

Ingka Group / IKEA

We spoke to Jesper Brodin, CEO of Ingka Group / IKEA about the big steps that we must take in a hurry to go from fossil to clean.

With renewables already producing cheaper electricity than fossil fuels, turning to clean energy is just good economics for businesses and governments alike.

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.

Keyvan Macedo, Sustainability Director, Natura &Co

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.

Ester Baiget, President & CEO, Novozymes

Mahindra Group

Mahindra Group

We spoke to Deepak Thakur, Managing Director and CEO of Mahindra Susten about how the company will play a pivotal role in India’s clean energy transition.

Mahindra Group is one of 200+ businesses that have signed the Fossil to Clean open letter urging governments to address the primary cause of climate change: burning fossil fuels.

Campaign partners

About the campaign

The Fossil to Clean campaign is a global movement of businesses going from fossil fuels to clean solutions. Those that take action to phase out fossil fuels will help send a clear market signal that will lead energy suppliers, capital providers and governments to accelerate the provision of affordable, reliable and safe alternatives.

At COP28, conditions aligned for a historic shift. Leading businesses came to COP28 with a call for the phase out of fossil fuels, the tripling of renewable capacity and doubling of energy efficiency. Their voices were heard loud and clear.

COP28 marked the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era and the first time in history that we have a global agreement to transition away from all fossil fuels in line with science.

The vast majority of countries have been supportive of ambitious language on the phase out of fossil fuels, and even without explicit agreement to phase out at COP28, we count on these countries to take that language into their NDCs to help guide domestic investment decisions.

Decisive action by business can help embolden policymakers to enact policies for phasing in clean solutions and phasing out fossil fuels on a science-based timeline.

To find out more about the campaign and how you can support it, contact us: [email protected]

The Green Industrial Race: US Versus China

Investing in green industrialism will help countries thrive and fuel the growth of clean energy technologies.
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Principles for Global Fossil Fuel Phase-out

Guidance for fossil fuel suppliers, users, investors and national governments to keep 1.5°C within reach.
Download PDF

Fossil to Clean campaign FAQ

About the campaign, the principles, how to get involved, and more.
Download PDF

Business urges government: go fossil to clean

We Mean Business Coalition has convened companies large and small in signing an open letter to governments ahead of COP28.
Read more

With bold leadership from business and government, we can move from fossil to clean

At Climate Week 2023 in New York, we unveil a bold new campaign from We Mean Business Coalition: Fossil to Clean.
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Business must step up and be the catalyst for change to drive fossil fuel phase out

In Edie's Countdown to COP28 series, María Mendiluce calls on businesses to play their role in accelerating the phase-out of fossil fuels.
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Fossil fuel phase out: from the policy fringe to centre stage

Fossil fuels have stayed close to 80% of the energy mix for decades. Aiming policy and financial support towards clean energy is not enough.
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Companies stand ready to help policymakers phase out fossil fuels

We need a clearer signal from both government and business leaders that they are ready to turn climate ambition into action.
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