Latest news with #KumiNaidoo
DW
7 days ago
- Business
- DW
Will it take a treaty to phase out fossil fuels? – DW – 06/03/2025
As some countries roll back climate commitments, the head of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Kumi Naidoo is calling for a phase-out of coal, oil and gas production. Environmental justice leader Kumi Naidoo is urging the international community to support what is known as the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative . Speaking in a recent interview with DW, Naidoo, who is president of the initiative and former head of Greenpeace International, says the treaty is key to getting countries to phase out the burning of oil, coal and gas. Naidoo notes that while the Paris Agreement is symbolically important, it is not legally binding and has suffered from widespread non-compliance. He highlights the 28 years it took for the words "fossil fuel" to get a mention in official documents emerging from the UN's annual climate conferences. The problem with burning fossil fuels For more than a century, coal, oil and gas have served as the backbone of the global economy, powering transport and industry, heating homes, providing electricity and serving as the raw material for plastics that have become ubiquitous in our daily lives. But the greenhouse gases released when fossil fuels are burned are making the world hotter and leading to increasing extreme weather events. Scientists say governments urgently need to phase outthese planet-heating energy sources and transition to cleaner alternatives.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Former secretary-general of Amnesty International issues urgent warning about the future: 'This is a moment for brutal honesty'
South African human rights activist Kumi Naidoo began fighting for change at only 15 years old, when his mother's suicide spurred him to begin organizing boycotts against his country's apartheid system, legislatively repealed in the early 1990s. Now, for more than 40 years, Naidoo has been advocating social, economic, and environmental causes and served as Greenpeace International's executive director from 2009 to 2015, according to his official website. Naidoo was also secretary-general of Amnesty International from 2018 to 2020 and secretary-general of Civicus from 1998 to 2008. Speaking at Stanford's annual Payne Distinguished Lecturer Series at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies in January 2024, Naidoo highlighted how creative storytelling combined with scientific evidence can inspire action, tapping into emotions that serve as a catalyst to developing beneficial solutions for communities around the world. How often do you feel hopeful about the future of the planet when you read news stories or watch entertainment content? Often Sometimes Rarely Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. According to the Centre for Economic Policy Research, one analysis estimates that group conflict could increase by 4.9% to 9.8% by 2050 because of the effects of a warming planet, which has contributed to food insecurity and displacement as extreme weather becomes more intense. However, scientific breakthroughs could mean more climate-resilient crops are on the way, while innovative building methods are leading to more weather-resistant structures. "The pessimism that flows from our analysis, our observation, and our lived experiences can — must, and should be — overcome by the optimism of our thought, our action, our creativity, and our courage," Naidoo said, according to FSI News. "This is a moment for brutal honesty." Naidoo, a global ambassador for Africans Rising for Justice, Peace & Dignity since June 2020, also leverages the power of storytelling in his personal and professional memoir, "Letters To My Mother," honored with the National Institute Humanities and Social Sciences nonfiction award in 2023. According to his website, he hopes supporting the growth of advocacy movements and organizations — empowering the next generation to create meaningful change — is a key part of a refocused journey going forward. His podcast, "Power, People & the Planet," serves as a platform for conversations about how to build a better world. "We have to take into account people's feelings and build the kinds of feelings, build the kind of society that you want," Naidoo said in an interview with Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
