Dear Friend,
This month kicked off an exciting and intense programme of national and regional diplomatic engagements in the lead up to April’s First International Conference on the Transition from Fossil Fuels in Santa Marta, Colombia.
Between now and April, the Political and Regional teams will be focused on country visits and regional convenings to prepare and support participating and target countries to set their national and regional priorities going into the landmark Conference.
And if January is anything to go by, we are off to a great start! In the last two weeks of January, the team has been to Dili, Timor Leste and then to Accra, Ghana.
In Timor Leste, we met with over 20 people and organisations from civil society and government. After our 3-day visit, we left with a clearer picture of the country’s energy transition needs and barriers and could sense the excitement and interest for Timor Leste’s participation in the April conference.
In Accra, the Treaty Initiative was hosted by Ghana’s Ministry of Climate Change and Sustainability. After several meetings with Hon. Min. Seidu Issifu and his team, and a co-convened national dialogue, it was clear how committed and ready Ghana’s leaders - across all major sectors – are to find and implement solutions for their energy transition.
Our co-convened High-Level Dialogue on the Global Just Transition and the Fossil Fuel Treaty was attended by over 70 people from academia, transport, finance, banking, foreign affairs and more. In his opening remarks, Hon. Min. Issifu stated ‘… it is time for African countries to join the bloc so that the terms of any future agreement prioritises Africa’s development needs …’
As I reflect on a busy start to the year, it was an honour to meet so many committed and dedicated colleagues. This always energises me. The Future of the Treaty Initiative depends on building strong relationships with such fantastic people from participating and target countries.
Ahead of us, from February to April, our in-person engagements will span the globe. The Europe team will visit Ireland in early Feb to meet with Senior Officials in several Ministries, Iceland in mid Feb and hold a national convening in Madrid, Spain at the end of the month. March begins in Saint Lucia with a regional convening of civil society and governments, followed by a country visit to Malawi and ends with a gathering in Sri Lanka for our Asian participating and target governments.
Right before Santa Marta, in April, the Pacific team will co-convene a regional Ministerial Meeting with the Government of Vanuatu – fittingly hosted in Vanuatu, the ‘home’ of the ICJ advisory opinion and where the first Port Vila call took place - to set the region’s agenda for the Colombia conference.
The team and I were privileged to be able to visit the Kwame Nkrumah museum while we were in Ghana. Nkrumah’s words in his May 1963 speech feel especially relevant to our mission: ‘We face the stark reality that unless we unite and forge ahead in a common purpose, we shall fall victim to those who would keep us in a state of dependency and underdevelopment. As I reflect on this historic moment and opportunity ahead of us to shape the future transition from fossil fuels - these words, I hope, will keep us all motivated on the road to Santa Marta!
GILLIAN COOPER
Political Director, The Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative
