Fossil free future Take action to end UK government support for fossil fuels

Why campaign to stop fossil fuels?

Across the world we are seeing the devastating impacts of climate breakdown because of our reliance on coal, gas and oil. Extraction and burning of fossil fuels is heating the planet and destroying communities. More than two-thirds of man-made greenhouse gas emissions come from the fossil fuel industry. This must end.

We need to drastically and urgently reduce emissions by rapidly phasing out our toxic relationship with fossil fuels. This means putting an end to proposals for new fossil fuels here in the UK and scrapping support for dirty energy projects overseas and investment in the companies who operate them.

Who’s most at risk?

From more frequent extreme weather events and rising sea levels, to reduced food security, this destructive industry is making the planet increasingly uninhabitable. People in the Global South, Indigenous Peoples, people of colour, women, young people, and those on low incomes are bearing the brunt of these impacts.

It’s time to for our governments to stop fuelling the climate crisis and start investing in renewable energy and people’s lives and livelihoods. Starting with those most impacted who have done the least to cause this crisis, and workers reliant on polluting industries.

Image: Milamba community, Cabo Delgado province © Mozambique Milieudefensie/Friends of the Earth Netherlands

How we’ll win

Across the country, and the world, communities have been standing up to the fossil fuel giants and our government’s support of them. We can all play our part in ending support for fossil fuels at home and abroad.

We've already had some brilliant successes...

Whitehaven coal mine
In a big win for the climate, the High Court has ruled that planning permission for the Whitehaven coal mine in Cumbria was granted unlawfully. In a dramatic twist, the government already conceded planning permission was unlawful and withdrew its defence shortly before the case was heard. And what's more, the company behind the mine won't be appealing the decision.
Horse Hill oil drilling
In the Horse Hill legal challenge, brought by Sarah Finch on behalf of Weald Action Group, the Supreme Court has ruled that Surrey County Council acted unlawfully by granting planning permission for oil production at Horse Hill without considering the climate impact from when the oil is inevitably burned. This is a groundbreaking win and shows the power of communities to stand up for action on the climate crisis.
No Gas Caverns under Larne Lough
7 huge underground caverns for storing gas were set to be excavated under Larne Lough. Together with the No Gas Caverns campaign group, we stopped huge gas storage caves being solution mined under Larne Lough and all the damage that would have wrought in a stunning marine protected area.
Ffos y Fran
Ffos y Fran, the UK’s largest opencast coal mine, is set to close after councillors unanimously rejected the operator’s application to continue mining until March 2024. This is a strong message that coal mining goes against Wales’ climate, planning and coal policies. Local communities, who’ve been tirelessly campaigning against Ffos y Fran for decades, will continue to make sure that the mining stops and the site is restored.
Glan Lash coal mine
Carmarthenshire councillors put nature and climate first, by saying no to further opencast coal mining at Glan Lash opencast mine in Carmarthenshire. The decision to stop further coal extraction at Glan Lash is another clear signal that the era of opencast mining in Wales is coming to an end.
Fracking
In 2022 local communities defeated fracking for a second time by coming together and showing that we don’t want fossil fuel extraction here, or anywhere. We can, and will, continue to win and beat this dirty industry once and for all.

See what we're campaigning on

Mega Gas Project in Mozambique
The UK government supporting a project that's ruining lives, fuelling violence and driving climate breakdown even further. In December 2021, we took the UK government to court, challenging UK Export Finance’s decision to fund a mega gas project in Mozambique. After a lengthy legal battle, the Court of Appeal ruled against our legal challenge, and permission to appeal was denied by the Supreme Court in June 2023, bringing an end to our case. While very disappointing, it doesn’t change our belief that the UK government shouldn’t be supporting this, or any other fossil fuel projects, so we'll continue to support Friends of the Earth Mozambique’s demands and call for UK support to be withdrawn.
Divestment
Local action groups and other community groups have been convincing their councils, and other institutions, to divest from fossil fuels. Across the UK, local authorities continue to invest billions of pounds in fossil fuels through their pension funds - despite the vast majority of councils having declared a climate emergency. Local activists have won commitments from their councils to fully divest local pensions in Waltham Forest, Islington, Lambeth, Southwark, and Cardiff. Read on to find out how you can do the same.

How can I take action?

Convince your council to divest from fossil fuels

Councils need to follow their words with action by moving money out of fossil fuels and into ethical, greener investments. Put simply, divestment means moving money out of unethical companies by getting rid of stocks, shares, bonds or investment funds that are harming people and our planet.

By convincing your council to divest, your group can help weaken the influence and power of fossil fuel companies. There are already more than 50 groups working for divestment locally, can your group be one of them?

Show your support for communities on the frontline

Sign a petition
Sign the petition to ask the government to stop plans for the coal mine in Cumbria and end the era of coal in the UK.
Use planning policies
If your council is in the process of developing their mineral plan this could be a key opportunity for you to prevent new fossil fuel projects in your area.