A recent report titled “Uncommon Wealth: Fossil Fuel Expansion in the Commonwealth Dominated by Three Wealthy Countries” has brought to light the stark disparity in fossil fuel extraction across Commonwealth nations, revealing that Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom—three of the wealthiest members—account for the majority of emissions generated by the bloc.
Prepared by the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative with data from the Global Registry of Fossil Fuels, the report highlights that despite representing just 6% of the Commonwealth’s population, these three nations are responsible for over 60% of emissions from fossil fuel extraction since 1990. This concentration of emissions has been flagged as a significant factor in hindering global climate efforts.
Key Findings:
- The “Big Three” Commonwealth nations—the UK, Australia, and Canada—account for over half of the emissions from ongoing fossil fuel extraction and are the primary drivers of new oil and gas projects within the Commonwealth.
- Despite dominating fossil fuel extraction, these wealthy nations rely far less on fossil fuel rents for their economies compared to lower-income Commonwealth nations, which face greater economic instability and debt burdens.
- Commonwealth countries’ Business as Usual (BAU) extraction plans would lead to 84 billion tons of CO2 emissions by 2050, far exceeding the targets for a Net Zero scenario.
- Despite rhetoric on climate leadership and Pacific solidarity, Australia’s fossil fuel exports are second only to Russia, with significant plans to approve including 3 recent coal mine approvals and the largest pipeline of coal export projects in the world awaiting approval
This report comes just as leaders from 56 nations are gathering in Apia, Samoa, for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The treaty initiative asserts that the timing is ripe for “The Big Three” to be held accountable, urging them to lead the way in aligning their fossil fuel policies with a 1.5°C pathway.
“To display a true commitment to the goals of the Paris Agreement and seek a safe and livable future for the nations within the Commonwealth that are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, in particular the Commonwealth’s Small States, these three nations must urgently align their fossil fuel production with a 1.5C pathway, including ending the expansion of new coal, oil, and gas extraction,” the report concluded.
Find full report here:
Canada:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/fossil-fuels-canada-subsidies-1.7156152
Australia:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjq5gky4e5no
United Kingdom:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/plans-unveiled-to-decarbonise-uk-power-system-by-2035