[1]Fossil Free Digest
The September 27, 2019, Climate Strike in Edmonton, Canada. Photo:
@abdulymalik

To close out 2019, we wanted to do something special. It’s not just the
end of the year — it’s the end of an incredible decade of climate activism
and a transition to the next. The challenge ahead is enormous, but if this
year has taught us anything, it’s that more of us than ever before are
ready to rise.

So enjoy the top 10 people-powered moments of 2019 from around the world.
And for highlights from the last ten years, be sure to checkout the
[ [link removed] ]350.org 10-year timeline.

We’ll be back in 2020 with more Fossil Free News updates from around the
world. From everyone at 350.org, we wish you a healthy, happy new decade –
with climate justice for all.

– Nicole

 

Top 10 People-Powered Moments of 2019

1. Brazilian states ban fracking

In a historic victory after years of campaigning, the state of [ [link removed] ]Paraná
in Brazil passed a law in July to permanently ban fracking – and Santa
Catarina state followed weeks later. It means Latin America’s largest
shale reserves will go untapped, with 18 million people safe from the
direct impacts of fracking. The wins energized a national debate to ban
fracking across the whole country; municipal bans have already passed in
hundreds of cities and towns across Brazil. [ [link removed] ]Read more.

2. Divestment milestone

In September, the amount investors committed to divest from oil, coal, and
gas companies reached more than $11 trillion USD, blowing past the goal
set last year of $10 trillion divested by the end of 2020. And since
September, we’ve already hit $12 trillion! Follow the cities, companies,
and institutions divesting with our [ [link removed] ]divestment commitment tracker.

3. Promise to protect

Indigenous leaders and allies held a March-May training tour for 1,160
people in nine U.S. cities. They were answering the call to stop the
Keystone XL pipeline and protect water and ancestral lands. Construction
continues to be debated and delayed – but people across the United States
are prepared for creative resistance in case it resumes. [ [link removed] ]Watch the
wrap-up video from the tour.

Save Lamu activists celebrate a victory against a coal plant in Kenya.
Photo: DeCOALonize

4. Lamu, saved

After years of resistance, in June a Kenya tribunal cancelled a
developer’s license to build a new coal plant at Lamu, a stunning coastal
UNESCO world heritage site. It was a huge victory, made even sweeter by
the fact that the court recognized the lack of public participation and
risks to people and the environment. [ [link removed] ]See the celebration.

5. Williams pipeline moratorium

Activists pushed New York’s Governor to halt the Williams Northeast Supply
Enhancement pipeline, which would bring fracked gas to New York City. The
company has re-applied for construction permits, but people are demanding
a permanent ban and a Green New Deal to make sure it never gets built.
[ [link removed] ]Watch the recap.

6. Afrika Vuka launch

A [ [link removed] ]new platform to unite grassroots campaigns across Africa is bringing
together learnings and resources from groups working to halt fossil fuel
infrastructure and promote a transition to renewable energy. Thanks to
local campaigning, in April [ [link removed] ]South Africa’s Nedbank became the first
African bank to stop project financing for coal, after they decided not to
fund Thabametsi and Khanyisa coal plants. 

People from across Europe sit in at the EIB in Luxembourg in June. Photo:
350 Europe

7. Fossil Free EIB

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the world’s biggest international
public bank and the €555 billion lending arm of the European Union.
Thousands of people pressured the bank to axe fossil fuels from its
lending policy, and last month it permanently ended support for most
fossil fuel projects! [ [link removed] ]Read more.

8. Asian banks dump coal 

The world’s fifth largest bank, Japan’s MUFG, [ [link removed] ]tightened its lending
policy in May, when it announced an end to new project finance for coal
power. Campaigners continue to target the Asian banks financing coal,
especially in Japan. And we’re chipping away: Singapore’s big three banks
also announced ending financing to new coal plants earlier this year.

9. Europe’s gas does not pass

Three iconic fights against gas won big victories in Europe this year. The
MidCat pipeline between Spain and France, and Gothenburg terminal in
Sweden were both cancelled, while fracking was banned in the UK. [ [link removed] ]Read
more.

 
September 20 Climate Strike in Bogotá, Colombia. Photo: Laura Imery

10. Millions strike for the climate

September’s climate strikes were groundbreaking, with 7.6 million people
in 185 countries taking part. Together, we snatched front pages of news
outlets around the globe and put the fossil fuel industry on notice,
setting the tone for what’s to come. [ [link removed] ]Read more. 

A decade of climate action

Back in 2009, at the end of the last decade, the climate movement was
small and scrappy. Together, we’ve grown into a diverse, powerful movement
ready to take on the fossil fuel industry into the 2020s: a
mission-critical decade for averting the worst of climate crisis.

Photo: Members of Cairo Cycling Club on 350.org’s first global day of
action, October 24, 2009.

Take a look at 350.org’s path through [ [link removed] ]the past decade and the
people-powered wins we’ve celebrated along the way.

[ [link removed] ]Visit the Timeline

That’s all for now. See you in the new year!

 
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If you have feedback, write us at [ mailto:[email protected] ][email protected].

[ [link removed] ]Fossil Free is a global campaign led by local groups demanding our
local communities and institutions commit to:

* A fast + just transition to 100% renewable energy for all
* No new fossil fuel projects anywhere.
* Not a penny more for dirty energy

For more updates, follow us on:
[ [link removed] ]Facebook and [ [link removed] ]Twitter, and [ [link removed] ]Instagram. 

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