The old saying is that the truth will come out. The state may lie and try and bury evidence. It may use brute force to cover up its tracks, but eventually, the truth will come out.

Promise Breakers, a report released today by Oil Change International, reveals that the stop funding fossils commitment forged at COP26, is already shifting an estimated USD 5.7 billion per year out of fossil fuels and into clean energy, with the potential of a further 13.7 billion per year if all signatories fulfill their commitments.

In one of his most controversial decisions so far, President Biden yesterday approved the Willow oil and gas mega-project on the Alaskan North Slope.

Last week, OECD countries failed to conclude negotiations on climate friendly incentives to align Export Credit Agencies, the world’s largest international financiers of fossil fuels, with international climate goals.

We have known for decades now that we must end the disastrous dirty oil age and transition to clean, renewable energy. The wording often used by scientists and activists is that we need a “just transition”. There is where society enables an equitable transition from polluting, undemocratic fossil fuel industries to cleaner community-led renewable technologies.

For anyone in the oil and gas industry, there is only one place to be this week. The great and good of the industry has converged on Houston for CERAWeek, which bills itself as the world’s premier energy event.

This week sees two crucial energy meetings in Japan, a country which remains one of the most prominent financiers of fossil fuels.

“CCUS is a dangerous distraction from rapidly and equitably phasing out fossil fuels. Giving more public money to prolong Big Oil’s political power and profits is the wrong approach and a poor use of public funds," said Collin Rees.  

Unless we kick dirty money out of politics and put communities and safety first, there will be more railroad disasters. Until then, the people of East Palestine deserve the dignity of the truth and whether their air is safe to breathe and water safe to drink.

175+ organizations call on the OECD to end oil and gas finance. As a first step towards this objective, an OECD member must table a proposal to prohibit oil and gas support at next week’s OECD meeting.