WHY WE NEED A FOSSIL FUEL NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY

The briefing asserts that current climate frameworks, including the Paris Agreement, are insufficient because they focus on emissions (demand) rather than production (supply). It proposes a new legal instrument—a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty—to prevent the proliferation of fossil fuels, manage a fair phase-out where wealthy nations transition fastest, and ensure a global just transition for workers and communities. The document outlines building blocks for this cooperation, such as the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance (BOGA) and a Global Registry of Fossil Fuels, and calls for governments to support the initiative and an ICJ Advisory opinion on climate change.

• The fossil fuel industry is the primary driver of the climate crisis, accounting for more than 75% of all historical carbon dioxide emissions since the Industrial Revolution.
• Current government production plans are inconsistent with the 1.5°C Paris goal; to meet this threshold, global fossil fuel production must decrease by at least 6% annually between 2020 and 2030.
• Existing international frameworks like the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement are insufficient because they do not directly constrain the market forces and financial incentives driving fossil fuel infrastructure expansion, nor do they explicitly mention fossil fuels.
• A successful transition requires a three-pronged approach: ending all new exploration and production (non-proliferation), phasing out existing production equitably (fair phase-out), and providing support for economic diversification and renewable energy access (global just transition).
• The proposed treaty framework draws lessons from previous international agreements on nuclear weapons, landmines, and ozone-depleting substances, suggesting that treaties can be negotiated quickly and succeed without the initial support of all major powers.
• Key mechanisms to build momentum for the treaty include the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance (BOGA), the Global Registry of Fossil Fuels, and the potential creation of a Global Commission on Fossil Fuels.

APA

Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative (2023). WHY WE NEED A FOSSIL FUEL NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY. https://www.fossilfueltreaty.org/s/Why-We-Need-A-Fossil-Fuel-Non-Proliferation-Treaty-EN.pdf

Chicago

Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative. WHY WE NEED A FOSSIL FUEL NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY. 2023. https://www.fossilfueltreaty.org/s/Why-We-Need-A-Fossil-Fuel-Non-Proliferation-Treaty-EN.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative |title=WHY WE NEED A FOSSIL FUEL NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY |date=May 2023 |url=https://www.fossilfueltreaty.org/s/Why-We-Need-A-Fossil-Fuel-Non-Proliferation-Treaty-EN.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{fossilfuelnonproliferationtreatyinitiative2023why, author = {{Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative}}, title = {{WHY WE NEED A FOSSIL FUEL NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY}}, institution = {Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative}, year = {2023}, month = may, url = {https://www.fossilfueltreaty.org/s/Why-We-Need-A-Fossil-Fuel-Non-Proliferation-Treaty-EN.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }