ENVIRONMENTAL groups in the Philippines on Friday, September 15, 2023, joined the historic marches against fossil fuel projects that are planned across the world.

Ian Rivera, coordinator of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), said the success of a fast and fair fossil fuel phase-out “primarily lies with the leaders of developed countries with huge historical responsibility for the climate crisis.”

“Wealthy countries must deliver their full fair share of climate actions, including meeting their climate finance obligations so that developing countries, the least responsible but suffering the brunt of the climate crisis, can rapidly shift to efficient, safe, renewable energy,” said Rivera.

“Climate advocates around the world are ramping up efforts to get world leaders to undertake a rapid, equitable and just fossil fuel phase-out to protect people and the planet. We are escalating this fight in the face of the swiftly intensifying climate crisis and consequent impacts while governments continue to have low ambition and in fact are backtracking from their already weak commitments,” added Lidy Nacpil, coordinator of Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD).

Nacpil’s group, along with more than 3,800 organizations around the globe, kicked off the Asia-wide protests that are expected to draw millions between September 15 and 17.

They are targeting 650 mobilizations and protest actions in 60 countries.

On September 15 alone, more than 20,000 people trooped to the streets in 10 Asian countries, including the Philippines, “to demand a rapid, just and equitable end to fossil fuels.”

On September 17th, climate activities will stage the “March to End Fossil Fuels” in New York to demand President Joe Biden “take bold climate action by rejecting new fossil fuel projects, phasing out fossil fuel production, and declaring a climate emergency.”

On September 18, a 10,000-strong climate march will take place in Tokyo, Japan organized by trade unions, environmental groups, and anti-nukes campaigners.

“With so many deceptive excuses, governments are expanding rather than phasing out gas and oil. Unproven unreliable solutions like carbon capture and removal technologies, hydrogen and ammonia co-firing are being promoted to extend the life of coal energy,” said Nacpil.

“We are not just fighting for the communities living around fossil fuel infrastructures. The health and well-being of humanity and the planet is at stake. We are saying end fossil fuels fast, fair, forever because the fight against the fossil fuel industry needs to have equity and justice at the heart of it or it won't succeed,” she added.

Environmental groups around the world demand that countries will rebuild their economies as post-carbon economies by 2050. (SunStar Philippines)