We received word recently of a petition. The petition sponsors are outraged that fossil fuel corporations are suing governments for billions to stop the progress toward renewable sources of energy. They are asking for signatures that will show support for governments to pull out of an obscure treaty called the Energy Charter Treaty. (See the text of their message below).

Their outrage is legit. We should be outraged.

But we can wield more power than a petition.

“An obscure international treaty”?

Perhaps! But only because so many single-issue advocacy groups continue to ignore the structural cause of the ongoing harm to people and nature – corporations exercising their so-called constitutional “rights” at every level of governance, from international treaty to municipal laws.

It is an outrage, and until we can see what is hidden in plain sight, “obscure” will inevitably be the norm.

Want to change this business-as-usual insanity?

That’s the work we do at Community Rights US – we help communities and counties to pass locally enforceable laws that push back on corporations claiming Constitutional rights.

 

The text of their message:

This is outrageous — just as many countries are finally acting to stop climate change and protect the planet, fossil fuel giants are suing governments for billions.

It’s all because of a powerful international treaty that almost no one has heard of: the Energy Charter Treaty.

It was designed to encourage energy companies to invest in developing economies, but now it’s being weaponised to sue countries when they try to shut down toxic coal plants and oil rigs — wrecking our transition to 100% clean energy. Companies have already won over $50 Billion from taxpayer funds — and more and more countries are still getting caught in the trap.

But finally there’s a plan to scrap it. Italy has already withdrawn, and now France, Spain and others are calling for the treaty to go. If we champion their call with a 1-million strong petition, it could fuel a major revolt at a critical negotiation this week. This is our chance to make sure no one is sued for acting on climate change.

This joint petition is supported by a coalition of over 20 organizations, coordinated by CAN Europe.

See their message HERE.