GreenLatinos calls for immediate, aggressive climate action and phase out of fossil fuels following the latest report from IPCC, the UN Panel of Global Climate Scientists

WASHINGTON - Today, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change  (IPCC) released their Sixth Assessment Synthesis Report. The report compiles the findings from all the reports this 6th cycle, highlighting the dangerous vulnerabilities of communities who have contributed the least to the climate crisis. This is an unabating siren calling for major polluters and governments to take bold action now by phasing out fossil fuels and ramping up clean energy alternatives rapidly.

The report presents a final road map to limit global warming to 1.5°C. It illustrates that while there still is a clear path forward to a resilient future, the window of opportunity is closing quickly. The decisions made in the next five to seven years will have ripple effects for decades and centuries to come. In response to the release of the report, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ announced a list of conditions to accelerate climate action through an Acceleration Agenda, which includes a complete halt on the expansion of oil and gas development and no new licensing. These calls to action are strongly aligned with what our Latino/a/e communities have been calling for through the Latino Climate Justice Framework.

Irene Burga, Climate Justice & Clean Air Program Director released the following statement:

“The latest installment of the UN IPCC report is another reminder that there is no room for a future with fossil fuel extraction if we are to limit warming to 1.5°C and avert the worst of the climate crisis. Nuestras comunidades, particularly those in low-income communities and developing nations in the global south are the most vulnerable to the devastating impacts of this crisis, including pollution choking the lungs of our children, flooding in our streets, and fires torching our hillsides. Our communities have done the least to cause the problem and yet are suffering the worst impacts. We refute this reality as the status quo. We must and will continue to transform our energy infrastructure, advance clean transportation, and conserve pristine lands and ocean that provide irreplaceable climate benefits. This is not the time to give up. This is our time to move full speed ahead as we call on President Biden to stop approving expansion of fossil fuel extraction now.”

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GreenLatinos is an active comunidad of Latino/a/x leaders, emboldened by the power and wisdom of our culture, united to demand equity and dismantle racism, resourced to win our environmental, conservation, and climate justice battles, and driven to secure our political, economic, cultural, and environmental liberation.