COP23: The World Is Moving Beyond Coal

BONN, GERMANY -- Today, following weeks of momentum signaling the end of the coal era, the COP23 climate negotiations are coming to a close. Over the past few months, the European Beyond Coal Campaign launched, the largest-ever climate march in Germany kicked off the beginning of the climate negotiations, and we delivered more than 1.1 million signatures from Americans declaring that they are #StillIn the Paris Agreement.

Perhaps the most visible setbacks for coal have been the U.S. passing the halfway mark of retiring its coal plants back in October, and just yesterday, 27 governments joining the Powering Past Coal Alliance to call for an end to coal worldwide.

In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:

“Even in the face of the climate-denying Trump administration, it is the unstoppable power of the people across the United States and the world that has continued to drive progress beyond coal -- from retiring half of the U.S. coal fleet to pushing governments to form the new Powering Past Coal Alliance. Coal and other fossil fuels have no place in our future, and the world will continue to move toward a clean and just energy economy. The Sierra Club is committed to doing our part to drive that progress and ensure this transition to clean energy leaves no one behind until the goal is met.

“The Sierra Club applauds the government of Fiji for their leadership during these negotiations, and we challenge all governments to continue to step up to meet the ever-growing challenge of tackling the climate crisis. Following a year of devastating hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and storms, it’s never been more evident that the world needs to make serious and swift strides to curb carbon emissions for the sake of families, communities, and the planet. Now is the time to act.”