Skip to main content
Climate activists call on First Minister to back ‘fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty’
Climate activists from Greenpeace and Uplift during a demonstration outside the Scottish Court of Session, Edinburgh, on the first day of the Rosebank and Jackdaw judicial review hearing, November 12, 2024

ALMOST 3,000 people and groups from across Scotland have called for SNP First Minister John Swinney to back a “fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty” to help deliver a “fast and fair” transition.

The call, in the form of an open letter to Mr Swinney, was delivered as protesters and climate groups descended on Holyrood today ahead of First Minister’s Questions.

Signatories ranged from Makar Kathleen Jamie and writers AL Kennedy and Sara Sheridan to organisations such as Global Justice Now and Stop Climate Chaos Scotland.

It calls for: “International co-operation and an agreement to stop new fossil fuel extraction, phase out current production and manage a global transition away from oil, gas and coal in a manner that is both fast and fair, particularly to the global south.

“A fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty could do that.”

Global Justice Now’s Liz Murray said: “The world urgently needs a fair and fast transition away from fossil fuels and to renewable energy.

“Countries most impacted by the climate crisis, yet least responsible for it, are leading the call for a fossil fuel treaty to make this happen, and Scotland must back their proposal.

“The treaty would give a global road map for an energy transition that is fair and leaves no community, country or worker behind.”

Outside Holyrood, the Paperboats writers collective launched paper boats into the ponds with messages urging climate action, while the North Sea Knitters group laid out a 20-metre red scarf representing the red line not to be crossed if a global warming spiral is to be avoided. 

Jan Stacey, of Paperboats, said: “The Scottish writers, poets and storytellers of Paperboats are proud to add our voices to call for the First Minister to back the fossil fuel treaty.

“In this climate emergency, Scotland’s story must be one of being on the side of a liveable planet — and the fossil fuel treaty offers a fair, just and practical way for global communities to come together to do that.”

Fresh from ushering-in legislation to drop her government’s climate target to cut carbon emissions by 75 per cent by 2030 last week, SNP acting net-zero and energy secretary Gillian Martin said: “We are clear that any further extraction and use of fossil fuels must be consistent with Scotland’s climate obligations and just transition commitments.”

Morning Star Conference - Race, Sex & Class
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
Walkers take an evening stroll near Gretna, Dumfries and Gal
Scotland / 30 May 2025
30 May 2025
NUM Scottish President Mick McGahey (right) with NUM President Arthur Scargill in London, where they met with coal board chairman Ian MacGregor at the NCB's headquarters, March 6, 1984
Scotland / 29 May 2025
29 May 2025
School girls walking to school
Education / 28 May 2025
28 May 2025
Similar stories
Campaigners protest at the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Ass
Britain / 12 March 2025
12 March 2025
Oil platforms standing in the Cromarty Firth near Invergordo
Britain / 13 September 2024
13 September 2024
North Sea oil and gas licences may be ruled unlawful after High Court bans new coalmine