Climate Activists Call on President Obama to Cancel Fossil Fuel Auction Coinciding with Paris Climate Talks

Groups Build on Worldwide Call to “Keep Fossil Fuels in the Ground”

WASHINGTON — Climate organizations are calling on President Obama to cancel a fossil fuel auction slated for the final days of the Paris climate talks. Groups argue that selling oil and gas to the highest bidder is inconsistent with President Obama’s recent climate leadership. So during the UN summit it sends an especially hypocritical message. Especially to the international community.

So let’s keep the fossil fuels in the ground

Calling on the President to “Keep Fossil Fuels In the Ground,” activists will be planning an action outside the fossil fuel auction site in downtown Washington, DC. Similar protests have been organized outside auction sites in Colorado, Wyoming, Alaska, and Utah over the last month. In anticipation of protests, the Obama Administration delayed the fossil fuel auction in Utah scheduled for November.

Supporting organizations include: 350.org, CREDO, The Indigenous Environmental Network, Food & Water Watch, Greenpeace USA, Rainforest Action Network, Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Earth U.S., WildEarth Guardians, and U.S. Climate Plan.

Groups organizing the actions:

First of all, it’s clearly wrong to wreck the climate. For it is wrong for the US government to be in the business of selling coal, oil and gas to the fossil fuel industry. Cancelling this fossil fuel auction during Paris would send the a clear signal to the international community. Especially that the U.S. is serious about keeping fossil fuels in the ground.  Those comments came from May Boeve, Executive Director, 350.org.

So again, we’re finally going to tackle the climate crisis. But the president’s domestic policies need to match his international aspirations. So it should start by ending new federal fossil fuel leases. Moreover keeping up to 450 billion tons of carbon pollution in the ground. That was said Randi Spivak of the Center for Biological Diversity.

Studies show Federal fossil fuels contain half of the potential greenhouse gas pollution of all fossil fuels in the US.

“We have to end corporate rule of our climate and our democracy. Exxon lied, Peabody denied. President Obama can begin to break the stronghold of energy companies and transition to a just and clean energy future by taking a small step that would send a clear signal–cancel the public fossil fuel sale on December 10. No more selling, drilling and fracking of our shared resources for $2 an acre. People powered opposition will be out in Paris, DC, and around the country to ensure that we are doing all that we can to keep fossil fuels in the ground.” Ruth Breech, Senior Campaigner, Rainforest Action Network

“It is hypocritical for President Obama to claim climate leadership in Paris while continuing to open up our lands and waters to Fossil Fuel Empires. With more fossil fuels leased to private industry than can be safely burned, any new lease sale is a shameful step in the wrong direction. To avoid climate catastrophe, we need President Obama to be bold and leave publicly owned fossil fuels in the ground.” Marissa Knodel, Climate Campaigner, Friends of the Earth U.S.

So it’s clear that President Obama’s energy policy promotes the mining of coal and fracking for oil and gas. That’s just about anywhere on public land that dirty energy companies want. This President is trying to wrap his dirty 20th century energy policy up in 21st century climate policy packaging. I mean it’s hoping no one notices. Especially what’s really under the tree. President Obama has mastered the climate talk. Yet now he has one year left to walk the climate walk. That’s to stop selling dirty fuels from our public lands. Especially to companies that deny climate change is even happening.  That was said by Tim Ream. Tim is Climate and Energy Campaign Director at WildEarth Guardians.

Conclusion

In conclusion, carbon pollution standards and promoting the growth of renewable energy. For there are two extremely important pieces to solving the climate puzzle. The third piece is ending the extraction of fossil fuels at the source. If President Obama truly believes what he said in his speech in Paris. All that ‘there is such a thing as being too late. And when it comes to climate change, that hour is almost upon us’.  So then he should be doing everything in his executive authority to keep the fossil fuels that cause climate change in the ground.

In addition, the President has a clear opportunity here to do more than just say the right things. For this is an opportunity to truly lead by stopping the sale of federally owned fossil fuels.  That was said by Evan Weber. Evan is the Executive Director, U.S. Climate Plan.