Ukrainians have called on the world to support their
struggle against Putin’s atrocities by cutting off this huge source of income.
Under immense public pressure, the United States, United Kingdom and European
Union have announced measures to reduce their dependence on Russian fossil
fuels. Some fossil fuel companies and energy traders have sworn off Russian
energy – publicly at least.
Yet still, each day hundreds of millions of dollars are
flowing into Russia, funding war crimes. We estimate that since Crimea was
annexed in 2014, a small group of energy companies paid nearly $100 billion to
Russia.
Every dollar that flows to Russia is another bullet which
can be used indiscriminately against Ukrainian civilians. As a result of this
continuing trade the resulting instability in energy markets, fossil fuel
companies are reporting bumper profits. Many enjoyed record-breaking windfalls
last year.
We’re investigating the ecosystem of companies who have
enabled the trade including insurers, financiers, technology providers and shippers,
and campaigning for the US, EU and UK to place total and complete sanctions on
Russian fossil fuels, to ensure not a single cent, pound or dime makes it into
the Russian war chest through oil, gas and coal. And we are campaigning to ensure that leaders
don’t replace Russian supply with other sources of climate-wrecking fossil
fuels that fund conflict and human rights abuses across the world.
Just as the world made significant progress on equity,
security and prosperity following the tragedy of World War II, this dark moment
must prove a turning point in our fight for a sustainable future. If we are
serious about a world without war, and about respect for human rights and
justice, we need a world without the destructive influence of fossil fuels.
If we cannot end the age of fossil fuels in the face of
civilian slaughter and the destruction of our planet, what will it take
for us to act?