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COP31 urged to deliver concrete action on fossil fuel phase-out – EnviroNews
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Climate campaign organisation, 350.org, has called on world leaders attending the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, to agree on concrete measures to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.
The organisation warned that the world could not afford another decade of delays in addressing fossil fuel dependence, urging governments to prioritise renewable energy, climate finance and accountability for companies responsible for greenhouse gas emissions.
In a statement ahead of COP31, 350.org said the conference was taking place amid an unprecedented fossil fuel crisis, worsening climate impacts and continued profits for major oil and gas companies.
It cited deadly heatwaves across Europe and North America, catastrophic flooding in Nepal, wildfires in Indonesia and the Amazon, as well as forecasts of a strong El Niño event, as evidence of the growing consequences of climate change.
The organisation also warned that continued dependence on coal, oil and gas was exposing households and economies to volatile energy prices, geopolitical instability and energy insecurity.
According to 350.org, five major oil and gas companies, BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell and TotalEnergies, recorded combined profits of $56 billion by the end of the third quarter of 2026.
It said the situation highlighted the disparity between the mounting costs of climate change borne by communities and the financial gains of fossil fuel companies.
The organisation noted that momentum from COP30 in Brazil and the Santa Marta conference in Colombia, where about 80 countries supported efforts to advance the transition away from fossil fuels, had created an opportunity to move from political commitments to practical implementation.
It also welcomed the roadmaps presented by the COP30 Presidency to help countries translate their commitments into concrete action.
350.org called on the Turkish and Australian COP31 presidencies to build on the momentum by delivering a credible pathway for phasing out fossil fuels, supported by time-bound milestones, accountability mechanisms and adequate financing.
It urged governments to agree on practical measures for a just and equitable energy transition, accelerate renewable energy development, provide developing countries with urgently needed climate finance and ensure that polluters contribute their fair share towards addressing the crisis.
Efe Baysal, Türkiye Manager at 350.org, said hosting COP31 presented Türkiye with an opportunity to demonstrate climate leadership by helping the world move beyond fossil fuel dependence.
Baysal said communities in Türkiye and neighbouring regions were already experiencing climate impacts, including extreme heat, water stress and wildfires.
He stressed that COP31 must deliver meaningful progress towards a just energy transition, with renewable energy, climate resilience and people’s livelihoods at its centre.
Similarly, Fenton Lutunatabua, Pacific and Caribbean Programme Manager at 350.org, said the climate crisis posed an immediate threat to Pacific communities, affecting their homes, cultures, livelihoods and survival.
He noted that island communities were among those most exposed to climate impacts despite contributing relatively little to the causes of global warming.
Lutunatabua urged governments to listen to affected communities and ensure that COP31 delivered a rapid transition away from fossil fuels, meaningful climate finance and protection for vulnerable populations.
On the situation in East Africa, Rukiya Khamis, the organisation’s East Africa Programme Manager, said prolonged droughts and destructive floods were destroying homes and livelihoods while undermining access to food and water.
She described the situation as unjust, noting that countries and communities least responsible for climate change were bearing some of its greatest consequences.
Khamis called for increased climate finance and measures to make fossil fuel companies contribute towards the cost of climate impacts.
She also urged governments not to postpone decisive action until COP32, scheduled to take place in Ethiopia in 2027.
By the time countries meet in Addis Ababa, she said, negotiations should focus on deadlines and binding targets rather than vague commitments.
Fanny Petitbon, a Policy Analyst at 350.org, said households were bearing the burden of the global energy crisis through rising energy bills and growing insecurity, while major oil companies continued to record substantial profits.
She called for accelerated development of wind and solar energy, renewable-powered electrification, an end to fossil fuel expansion and financial accountability for companies responsible for environmental damage.
Petitbon stressed that, 10 years after the adoption of the Paris Agreement, governments needed to move beyond promises and deliver measurable climate action.
She said COP31 should mark a turning point in international efforts to address fossil fuel dependence, warning that communities could not afford another decade of inaction.
