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The COP28 agreement marked the end of the fossil fuel era. Now, will the world’s wealthiest nations step up and pay their fair share to drive this transition?

In a landmark decision, the Federal Court of Australia ruled that Santos Ltd, one of the world’s top 20 largest oil and gas companies, would not be allowed to drill in the Barossa gas fields off the coast of northern Australia, solidifying legal victory for the Tiwi Islander Plaintiffs.

Last week, civil society advocates from across the world convened outside the Washington DC headquarters of the World Bank to protest the Bank’s highly controversial financing of deadly fossil fuel projects.

With only six months left till COP26, the UK host has work to do. Ending public finance for fossil fuel projects overseas shows potential, but the UK’s lack of action on fossil fuels domestically risks undermining its credibility.

Despite the need to rapidly wind-down fossil fuels to avert the worst of the climate crisis, governments worldwide continue to prop up fossil fuel production with huge sums of public money. They may be breaking international law.

Rich countries at this week’s Climate Summit need to take decisive action to stop the expansion of oil and gas production, both at home and abroad, both to protect the global climate and local communities. True climate leadership means breaking away from destructive oil and gas and investing in real solutions and green jobs that will help people and the planet thrive.

To do anything less than stopping all public money to fossil fuels dishonors the memory and sacrifices of Saro-Wiwa, the Ogoni 9, and countless others who have risked and lost their lives to defend their lands and communities.

Export Development Canada (EDC), Canada’s government-backed export credit agency, has long been one of the worst in the world when it comes to backing the fossil fuel industry with public money. Their new climate policy opens the door for meaningful change, but the initial targets are far too weak to get the job done.

As governments begin to unveil trillions of dollars in recovery support and stimulus, now is the time to break old habits – such as the USD 77 Billion in public money that the G20 is still spending annually to finance oil, gas, and coal projects.