FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2015

Contact:
Alex Doukas, alex [at] priceofoil [dot] org
David Turnbull, david [at] priceofoil [dot] org

Oil Change International response to new draft Paris outcome text
(Version released Dec. 9, 15h00)

In response to the draft Paris outcome text released on December 9th at 15h00 CET, Alex Doukas, Senior Campaigner at Oil Change International, released the following statement:

“Big fossil fuel interests have infiltrated the new text in a number of ways – in one case with an attack on a small but important paragraph that would scale back international public financial support for high-carbon fossil fuels. Before the text was taken behind closed doors yesterday, this section aimed to ensure international public finance was not used to fuel the very problem this entire agreement is trying to solve: the climate crisis. In the new text just released, it is clear this paragraph took a beating from countries pandering to the interests of big oil, coal, and gas. While a glimpse of the original purpose is still there, countries that are serious about making sure international public money goes to solving the problem, and not fueling it, will have to push back to make sure that big polluters don’t leave their dirty fingerprints all over this deal.

Regardless of the ultimate outcome, the writing is already on the wall. Concerned communities around the world are demanding and building a clean, safe, and renewable energy future. The end of the fossil fuel era is inevitable. World leaders have a chance to catch up to a growing movement here in Paris, but they will have to spend the next two days working on behalf of people, not polluters.

It is time to Stop Funding Fossils and get behind the zero carbon future the world needs.”

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Note to editors:

The paragraph referred to above was previously Article 6, paragraph 7 in the text published December 5th at 15h00. The new and weakened iteration can be found in Article 6, paragraph 4, option 3 in the new text released December 9th at 15h00.

Oil Change International experts are available for additional comment in Le Bourget conference center at the Paris negotiations. Contact David Turnbull to arrange interviews: david [at] priceofoil [dot] org