A letter to fossil fuel CEOs

For decades, big oil and gas CEOs have misled the public about the deadly impact of burning fossil fuels that are cooking our planet. Now we’re seeing murderous floods, deadly droughts and rainforests on fire.

This week, top CEOs are meeting at a key business summit in the Swiss mountains, pretending they care for the planet – while digging new oil and gas fields, and making billions in profit.

We will travel to Switzerland in the coming days, bringing a “cease and desist” letter to oil and gas CEOs, demanding they stop any new oil and gas projects. Join us – let’s have millions of us speaking up and showing them that we see through their lies.

It feels extremely difficult to keep hope alive in the face of climate devastation around the world – from millions on the verge of starvation in East Africa, to the rampant destruction of the Amazon rainforest. But our hope lies in people – in the millions of us who are determined to come together and demand corporate and political leaders take action.

It’s time to put these CEOs on notice – showing them that 2023 will be a watershed moment for accountability. Let’s do this, together. – Vanessa from Uganda, Greta from Sweden, Helena from Ecuador, Luisa from Germany

To fossil fuel CEOs:

This Cease and Desist Notice is to demand that you immediately stop opening any new oil, gas, or coal extraction sites, and stop blocking the clean energy transition we all so urgently need.

We know that Big Oil:

KNEW for decades that fossil fuels cause catastrophic climate change.

MISLED the public about climate science and risks.

DECEIVED politicians with disinformation sowing doubt and causing delay.

You must end these activities as they are in direct violation of our human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, your duties of care, as well as the rights of Indigenous people.

If you fail to act immediately, be advised that citizens around the world will consider taking any and all legal action to hold you accountable. And we will keep protesting in the streets in huge numbers.