Whether pinned on notice boards or stuck on bathroom stall walls, you have likely seen posters calling for the signage of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. Although we might brush across many petitions calling for action on a daily basis, shrugging them off knowing that “someone else will sign it”, the petition is yet to reach 200 signatures. Considering that 22,000 students call Trinity their second home, one would expect and hope the number to increase in accordance.
Sitting down with Dr Martin Sokol, an economics and geography professor at Trinity College, we discussed fossil fuel compliance on the campus and at a global level. A previous study by The University Times identified that Trinity was investing in eighty-five companies (out of 1757) that were directly involved in or funding fossil fuel activities, with these investments amounting to a total of €8 million.
Seeing the utter importance of taking action now, a group of four students from Trinity have started a petition urging Trinity to endorse the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. On the petition page they say that “now is the time for Trinity to solidify its commitment to sustainability and show global leadership by signing the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty”. If the university were to sign the treaty, “Trinity’s commitment will send a clear signal to the government, industry leaders, and its alumni that the time for decisive and transformative action is now”.
The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty is a global movement calling for governments to end fossil fuel projects and proliferations, phase out existing production and manage a just transition for everyone in terms of renewable energy and economic diversification. As a member of the Climate Justice Universities Union, Dr Sokol emphasised that along with any climate action, climate justice is just as important.
Seeing as our planet is at a crossroads, it is essential to implement such a treaty in order to protect future generations from pollution, climate disasters, and climate inequalities. After decades of ignorance, fossil fuels have taken centre stage in climate change negotiations as the main driver for the climate crisis. Fossil fuel production threatens to surpass the 1.5°C limit warning, and yet is left out of climate agreements, while many governments still continue to endorse new coal, oil and gas projects.
Now is the time to implement a strategy to end the expansion of fossil fuel projects and manage a global transition away from their use. This global initiative proposal would complement the Paris Agreement by mapping out the directions needed to “halt the expansion of fossil fuel, manage an equitable phase-out of coal, oil, and gas, and lay the foundations for a true just energy transition in which no worker, community or country is left behind” says the Fossil Fuel Treaty Organisation. History teaches us that in times of crisis, global treaties can be highly successful, such as with the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Why should this be any different?
At the time of writing, eighteen nations are negotiating on a Fossil Fuel Treaty, 145 cities and subnational governments have endorsed the Treaty, and 4211 organisations, institutions and business have called for the Treaty. At home in Ireland, University College Cork and Atlantic Technological University have signed the treaty, and the Union of Students Ireland and the Ryan Institute of the University of Galway support it. Will Trinity College Dublin be next to join?
