MUTUALLY REINFORCING: HOW A FOSSIL FUEL NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY COMPLEMENTS THE PARIS AGREEMENT AND UNFCCC

The document proposes a new binding legal instrument, the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, to accelerate the phase-out of coal, oil, and gas. It argues that while the Paris Agreement and UNFCCC provide a general framework for climate action, they lack specific mechanisms to regulate the supply side of fossil fuels. The proposed treaty would focus on three pillars: ending new fossil fuel projects, phasing out existing infrastructure aligned with a 1.5 °C limit, and ensuring a just transition for dependent communities. Unlike the consensus-based decision-making of the UNFCCC, the treaty would employ a 'Coalition of the Willing' approach and majority voting to prevent a small number of states from blocking ambitious action.

• There is a significant policy and legal gap regarding fossil fuel supply, as the Paris Agreement and UNFCCC do not impose restrictions on production or use, and the term 'fossil fuels' does not appear in the text of the Paris Agreement.
• The proposed Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty is based on three primary pillars: halting the expansion of new fossil fuel projects, implementing an equitable phase-out of existing projects and infrastructure consistent with a 1.5 °C temperature limit, and supporting a just transition for workers and economies dependent on these fuels.
• The treaty would utilize a 'Coalition of the Willing' approach, allowing ambitious states to establish new international norms and exert political pressure on non-parties, rather than relying on the universal consensus model which often limits ambition.
• To avoid the blocking power of individual states common in UNFCCC processes, the proposed treaty intends to use majority voting for decision-making during negotiation and implementation.
• The treaty is designed to be complementary to the Paris Agreement by providing a systematic framework for fossil fuel supply obligations that countries can then reflect in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
• The scope of the proposed treaty extends beyond climate change to address impacts on health, sustainable development, human rights, and peace and security, noting that fossil fuel extraction undermines all 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

APA

Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative (2025). MUTUALLY REINFORCING: HOW A FOSSIL FUEL NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY COMPLEMENTS THE PARIS AGREEMENT AND UNFCCC. https://www.fossilfueltreaty.org/s/Mutually-Reinforcing-How-a-Fossil-Fuel-Non-Proliferation-Treaty-complements-the-Paris-Agreement-and-r2jh.pdf

Chicago

Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative. MUTUALLY REINFORCING: HOW A FOSSIL FUEL NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY COMPLEMENTS THE PARIS AGREEMENT AND UNFCCC. 2025. https://www.fossilfueltreaty.org/s/Mutually-Reinforcing-How-a-Fossil-Fuel-Non-Proliferation-Treaty-complements-the-Paris-Agreement-and-r2jh.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative |title=MUTUALLY REINFORCING: HOW A FOSSIL FUEL NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY COMPLEMENTS THE PARIS AGREEMENT AND UNFCCC |date=March 2025 |url=https://www.fossilfueltreaty.org/s/Mutually-Reinforcing-How-a-Fossil-Fuel-Non-Proliferation-Treaty-complements-the-Paris-Agreement-and-r2jh.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{fossilfuelnonproliferationtreatyinitiative2025mutually, author = {{Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative}}, title = {{MUTUALLY REINFORCING: HOW A FOSSIL FUEL NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY COMPLEMENTS THE PARIS AGREEMENT AND UNFCCC}}, institution = {Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative}, year = {2025}, month = mar, url = {https://www.fossilfueltreaty.org/s/Mutually-Reinforcing-How-a-Fossil-Fuel-Non-Proliferation-Treaty-complements-the-Paris-Agreement-and-r2jh.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }