UN warns global heating will exceed 1.5°C within years as Oxfam says UK must "slam brakes on fossil fuels"

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Short URL: https://www.oxfam.org.uk/mc/5dogjd/

Global temperature rises are set to exceed the key 1.5°C threshold “within a few years”, according to a new UN Environment Programme report published today.

Ellie Gomez-Price (Campaigns Officer, Oxfam), Muhammad Qasim (Constituency campaigner) and Natalie Shortall, (UK Government Relations Advisor - Climate Justice, Oxfam) hand in petition at 10 Downing Street, London. Image: Andy Aitchison / Oxfam

Three people walking down the street with signs that say 'climate justice now' and 'together we say polluters must pay'

Even under the most optimistic scenario, temperatures are projected to peak at around 1.8°C, with the report warning that the world is heading for significantly more dangerous us levels of warming unless governments urgently increase their climate action.

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“1.8°C is a climate emergency. Every fraction of a degree matters, especially countries in the Global South who have contributed least to the climate crisis but are hit hardest by its impacts. “"Yet the UK is still considering new oil and gas projects like Rosebank and Jackdaw" . Approving them would put fossil fuel profits ahead of people and the planet, while doing nothing to protect households from volatile energy prices. “We need to slam the brakes on fossil fuels and accelerate a fair transition to clean energy. The Prime Minister Andy Burnham said yesterday (September 1) the UK Government would meet the climate challenge. He cannot possibly do that while opening the door to more North Sea oil and gas.””

Beth John, Climate Justice Advisor at Oxfam GB

Join the fight for climate justice

Join climate activists and demand the biggest polluters – fossil fuel producers and the wealthiest individuals – pay for the destruction their actions are causing.

Oxfam is calling on the UK government to:

  • End new oil and gas licensing in the North Sea - new fossil fuel projects are incompatible with limiting warming to 1.5°C and will not reduce energy bills.
  • Invest in a just transition for workers and communities - ensuring workers and communities benefit from the shift to a greener economy.
  • Invest in renewable energy - accelerating clean energy to improve energy security, create good jobs and reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuel markets.
  • Make polluters pay - ensuring fossil fuel companies contribute fairly to tackling the climate crisis.

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