Autumn 2023, to the Swedish government:
People everywhere are suffering from the climate crisis, while policies are failing to regulate the biggest emitters, who can continue their emissions while getting even richer. It is only fair to hold those who do the most damage to the climate accountable.
People in the world's poorest countries have done the least to cause the climate crisis, but they are paying the highest price. This is why Sweden and other rich countries must support the communities most affected by floods, storms, sea level rise and other climate impacts - so that together we can build a more equitable future.
We call on Sweden to keep its promise to contribute to the Climate Fund for Loss and Damage, which remains empty.
Campaign closed.
This is how many people signed our open letter to the Swedish government:
Signatures
10000
Objectives
It is not too late!
The consequences of high emissions by Sweden and other rich countries are enormous. Climate change causes natural disasters, extreme weather and droughts, and leads to irreversible damage to people and the planet. And those who pay the highest price are the people in the world's poorest and most vulnerable countries.
Last year's climate summit made a historic decision to create a fund for losses and damages caused by climate change. This was thanks to protests from people all over the world.
Now we need to join together again to raise our voices so that the world's governments ensure that the new fund can make a real difference. And it's only fair that the wealthy individuals, countries and companies that caused the climate crisis help to compensate for the huge losses and damage that have occurred and will occur in the future.
Sign the petition and together we can put pressure on the government to help fill the climate fund - and send the bill to the worst climate saboteurs.
Image based on photo by Emmanuel Museruka/Oxfam, Fadrach Niere/Fridays For Future Uganda.
Questions & answers
The richest emitters are some of the largest companies, some of the richest individuals and the richest countries.
Fossil fuel companies account for 70% of global emissions and have made record profits over the past year. Meanwhile, dollar billionaires generate a million times more emissions than the average person. Rich countries account for much more of the emissions than poor countries do.
It is therefore the richest fossil fuel companies, the richest individuals (the richest 1%) and the richest countries that are the emitters we believe should pay for the consequences of climate change.
'Loss and damage' is the term used for climate impacts that cannot or have not been addressed. "Loss" refers to things that are irreversibly lost such as life, a way of life or a historical site, while "damage" refers to things that can be repaired or recovered, such as roads or buildings.
The Loss and Damage Fund was established at last year's climate summit, COP 27, to help communities most affected by the climate crisis. It aims to give people access to the support they need to recover from extreme weather and climate disasters - like clean water during a drought, or funds to help rebuild homes destroyed by floods.
It is the responsibility of governments to collect the money for the loss and damage fund from the biggest emitters in their countries. This should be done by reallocating resources and taxing those who made money from destroying the climate.
As well as helping communities recover from extreme weather events and continue to find solutions to the challenges they face, it sends a signal to major emitters that they must take responsibility for their actions. It brings us closer to an equitable climate transition, for everyone.
Climate change particularly affects people in countries that have done the least to cause the crisis. According to climate scientists, over 3.3 billion people live in places that are highly vulnerable to climate change, and people in low- and middle-income countries are five times more likely to be displaced by climate change than people in high-income countries. Inequality and discrimination mean that this injustice is often deepened by ethnicity, gender, sexuality, disability, income or other grounds of discrimination.
- We put pressure on Sweden and other rich countries to take responsibility for the climate crisis - by reducing their emissions and financing the fund for loss and damage.
- We research the share of emissions coming from different income groups and countries - this is the basis for the recommendations we then make.
- We respond to climate-related disasters and provide emergency assistance in the form of cash grants, food parcels and support to rebuild communities.
- We train farmers and communities in climate-smart farming practices and sustainable business.
Governments should tax wealth to drastically reduce the emissions of the richest, while raising billions to help vulnerable countries deal with the impacts of climate change, and the losses and damage caused.
For example, an annual wealth tax of up to 5% on the world's dollar millionaires and dollar billionaires would raise $1.7 trillion each year.
In addition, a special tax should be introduced for profits generated from fossil fuel industries. Such a tax has been proposed by economists Thomas Piketty and Lucas Chancel who have calculated that a 10% tax on fossil fuel assets owned by dollar billionaires could have raised $100 billion each year. It would also discourage investors from investing in fossil fuel industries.
Tax or ban the luxury consumption of the super-rich:
Governments should tax, or in some cases ban, the emissions-heavy consumption of the super-rich, such as large luxury yachts, private jets and space tourism.
Tax fossil fuel companies:
Governments should establish a permanent tax of up to 90% on excessive profits of fossil fuel companies. The tax should apply when profits are more than 10% above normal, and also cooperate with the removal of subsidies for fossil fuel production.
