Tuvalu, a small, independent island nation in the South Pacific has called for a treaty to end fossil fuel use.

The nation made the call at COP27, to ask those involved to consider establishing a Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Fossil Fuels. Tuvalu is the first country to put this idea forward and they hope that other countries will get behind this idea.

Tuvalu is currently facing high impact risks due to climate change, this is due to sea levels rising and that the country, along with Vanuatu, are in danger of sinking. Out of the nine islands that make up Tuvalu two of them are already sinking.

Tuvalu’s Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty website outlines the potential treaty’s three pillars, and each one of them is in line with the agreements made in the Paris Agreement.

The pillars are:

  1. Non-Proliferation – Prevent the proliferation of coal, oil and gas by ending all new exploration and production
  2. A fair phase out – Phase-out existing production of fossil fuels in line with the 1.5C global climate goal
  3. Just transition – Fast-track real solutions and a just transition for every worker, community and country

Tuvalu’s Prime Minister, Kausea Natano has stated that:

“We all know that the leading cause of climate crisis is fossil fuels. Tuvalu has joined Vanuatu and other nations in calling for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty to steer our development model to pursue renewables and a just transition away from fossil fuels.”