Featured Stories
Ukraine: Civilian Casualties Surge Amid Intensifying Explosive Weapon Attacks
SILVER SPRING, Maryland, Nov. 11 [Category: Health Care] -- Humanity and Inclusion issued the following news release:
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Ukraine: Civilian Casualties Surge Amid Intensifying Explosive Weapon Attacks
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Now in the fifth year of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, civilians continue to endure the catastrophic impact of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA), facing destruction, displacement, and long-term humanitarian consequences. Between July and September 2026, Ukraine experienced some of the highest recorded civilian casualty levels since the beginning of the war, with 8,330
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SILVER SPRING, Maryland, Nov. 11 [Category: Health Care] -- Humanity and Inclusion issued the following news release:
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Ukraine: Civilian Casualties Surge Amid Intensifying Explosive Weapon Attacks
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Now in the fifth year of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, civilians continue to endure the catastrophic impact of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA), facing destruction, displacement, and long-term humanitarian consequences. Between July and September 2026, Ukraine experienced some of the highest recorded civilian casualty levels since the beginning of the war, with 8,330casualties and a 90% rise compared to the same period last year, driven by intensifying missile strikes, long-range drones, glide bombs, artillery shelling, and short-range FPV drone attacks. During the same period, Ukraine also ramped up its deep strike operations against targets inside Russian territory, which were accompanied by reported civilian casualties.
Recent months have been among the deadliest for civilians, bringing immense loss and suffering.
Between July and September 2026, the UN documented unrelenting civilian harm in Ukraine.
In July alone, 437 civilians were killed and 2,610 injured, making it the deadliest month since May 2022. Overall, during the first eight months of 2026, more civilians were killed and injured across Ukraine than in the entire year of 2025, underscoring the severe deterioration in civilian protection and the mounting human cost of the war.
Ukrainian airstrikes on Russian territory have also caused civilian casualties; from January to July 2026, at least 327 civilians were killed in Russia. These figures come solely from official Russian sources and have not been independently verified by international observers or monitoring missions; therefore, they must be treated with caution.
Inna, an HI finance officer, says,
"Life in Kyiv is constant uncertainty: you don't know if you will wake up alive in the morning or reach work safely when there are no shelters nearby, and the power plant next to the metro station is under repeated attack. It is reading Harry Potter with your child in the evening, only to be interrupted by ballistic explosions outside the window and a rush to the corridor. It is watching a high-rise burn just a kilometer away, consoling yourself only with the thought that the playground beneath did not claim children's lives. It is seeing the tears of fear in your child's eyes every day. Life in Kyiv is no longer life; it is survival."
Russian forces' use of explosive weapons continues to generate a consistent pattern of civilian harm. Ukrainian forces have also conducted strikes using drones and missiles, including on Russian territory, raising concerns about the protection of civilians.
Long-Range Drones (Shahed-136/131; Geran-3, Geran-4, Geran-5; Italmas and Gerbera strike drones)
Russia has sharply escalated its use of jet-powered Geran drones against Ukraine, launching heavy-warhead systems deliberately targeting Ukraine's civilian infrastructure and residential areas. Daily attacks in August and September saw hundreds deployed, with some assaults killing civilians in Kyiv and other cities.
Between July and September 2026, Russian forces launched 16,086 long-range drones across Ukraine, marking one of the most intense periods of drone warfare in the conflict. The sheer scale of these attacks had horrific consequences for civilians, with widespread destruction of homes, infrastructure, and disruption of daily life.
On July 2, Russia launched 496 Shahed, Gerbera, and Italmas strike drones in a combined attack on Kyiv, one of the largest episodes of the month; the strikes killed at least 30 civilians, injured more than 97, and caused severe destruction to residential buildings, a hospital, a humanitarian warehouse, and critical city infrastructure.
Short-Range Drones (FPV, Lancet-type, Hornet)
Russian forces continued to use FPV drones that target evacuation buses, humanitarian workers, and frontline towns. July saw the highest monthly civilian casualty toll from short-range drones since the start of the full-scale war: 111 people killed and 710 injured, nearly one in four of the month's civilian casualties. These systems not only strike people, but they can also hunt them: OHCHR has documented drone operators targeting civilians in cars and buses, people evacuating, and clearly marked ambulances, and in July an FPV drone destroyed a Red Cross emergency-response van moments after its crew arrived to treat casualties in Vilniansk, with deaths recorded among humanitarian workers and persons with disabilities, who remain unable to safely relocate in time without proper support.
Russia's use of glide bombs remained at record levels, devastating residential areas in Kharkiv, Sumy and Donetsk. In July 2026, civilian casualties from aerial bombardments rose 143% compared to June, reaching 105 killed and 753 injured.
Cruise and Ballistic Missiles (Iskander-M, S-400/KN-23, Zircon/Onyx anti-ship missiles; Kh-101, Kalibr).
Russia intensified missile attacks in July, with 429 missiles launched. Civilian casualties from missiles and loitering munitions accounted for 38% of all harm (183 killed; 967 injured).
The combined use of cruise and ballistic missiles, glide bombs, Shahed/Geran loitering munitions, and FPV drones by Russian forces has had a devastating impact on civilians. These weapons disproportionately affect the most vulnerable groups - children, persons with disabilities, women, and the elderly- causing extensive destruction of civilian infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, and medical facilities, and severely restricting access to essential services. The use of explosive weapons in populated areas is likely to result in international humanitarian law violations regarding fundamental principles of distinction, proportionality, and precautions.
Long-Range Drones (UAVs and naval drones)
Between July and September 2026, Ukraine intensified its long-range strike drone campaign against Russian energy infrastructure, striking major refineries including Omsk, TANECO, Saratov, Ryazan, and Perm, and warehouse facilities; these operations caused shutdowns, fires, and widespread fuel shortages across Russia, reducing refining output to its lowest level in two decades.
Cruise and Ballistic Missiles (Neptune, Flamingo cruise missile; FP-7 ballistic missile)
Between July-September 2026, Ukrainian forces escalated long-range strikes on Russia using Neptune cruise missiles, Flamingo cruise missiles, and possibly FP-7 ballistic missiles. Targets included oil refineries (Gazpromneft Moscow, Novoshakhtinsk), UAV factories (Atlant-Aero), electronics plants (Karachev Elektrodetal), ports, and Russian Navy vessels. These attacks disrupted Russia's energy infrastructure, forced refinery shutdowns, and weakened its Black Sea Fleet presence, with civilian casualties reported.
The following chronology highlights the most devastating attacks in Ukraine and Russia or territories under Russian control impacting civilians from July to September, underscoring urgent protection needs and accountability gaps.
The vast majority of casualties reported between July and September 2026 occurred in territory controlled by the Government of Ukraine. Civilians were killed or injured across 14 regions of Ukraine and the city of Kyiv.
Humanity & Inclusion (HI) strongly denounces the devastating harm inflicted on civilians by the bombing and shelling of towns and cities in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. HI calls on all parties to respect IHL and its principles to protect civilians and humanitarian and health workers at all times.
HI calls on all governments to urgently endorse and fully implement the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas, and to uphold their commitments to restrict and refrain from such use when civilian harm is foreseeable.
We further urge the international community to condemn and investigate IHL violations, strengthen accountability mechanisms, and ensure survivor-centered assistance, including mental health support and inclusive rehabilitation services. Protecting civilians and safeguarding essential services must remain a global priority, and states that have already signed the Declaration should lead by example, sharing concrete measures taken to implement its commitments and demonstrating genuine action to reduce civilian harm.
Humanity & Inclusion emphasizes that the use of EWIPA not only causes civilian casualties and the destruction of infrastructure but also leads to long-term contamination of land with explosive remnants of war. This contamination prevents safe returns, blocks access to housing, schools, medical facilities, and livelihoods. HI calls on governments and the international community to prioritize land clearance from ERW as an essential component of civilian protection, recovery, and sustainable development, ensuring compliance with International Mine Action Standards and inclusive principles in program planning and implementation.
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Original text here: https://www.hi-us.org/en/ukraine-civilian-toll-rises-from-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas
Oil Change International Responds to Senate's Vote to Advance Trump-Backed BAAJA
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 [Category: Energy] -- Oil Change International posted the following news release:
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Oil Change International Responds to Senate's Vote to Advance Trump-Backed BAAJA
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BAAJA is not a compromise - it's exactly what the fossil fuel industry wants.
In response to the Senate's vote to advance the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA), Oil Change International Executive Director Elizabeth Bast says:
"The Senate's supporters of BAAJA just cleared an initial hurdle towards offering Big Oil and Big Tech a massive giveaway at the expense of our clean air, clean
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 [Category: Energy] -- Oil Change International posted the following news release:
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Oil Change International Responds to Senate's Vote to Advance Trump-Backed BAAJA
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BAAJA is not a compromise - it's exactly what the fossil fuel industry wants.
In response to the Senate's vote to advance the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA), Oil Change International Executive Director Elizabeth Bast says:
"The Senate's supporters of BAAJA just cleared an initial hurdle towards offering Big Oil and Big Tech a massive giveaway at the expense of our clean air, cleanwater, and communities' right to protect themselves from polluting projects. Just days after voters demanded accountability and relief from soaring costs, 73 senators chose Trump's energy policies over the American people.
"These senators voted to advance BAAJA in the face of rising opposition from Tribal Nations, climate leaders, communities on the frontlines of fossil fuel projects, and members of Congress. Just today, Tribal leaders and members of Congress rallied against the bill in Washington D.C.
"We thank the 25 senators who listened to the American people's clear demands for corporate accountability and policies that meaningfully address economic justice and the climate crisis.
"Trump's policies unleashing gas expansion for energy-hungry data centers and LNG exports, as well as his attacks on affordable renewable energy, have made households' electricity bills soar. BAAJA will only accelerate the buildout of gas projects that drive up families' energy costs.[1]
"Through its project certainty provisions, rollbacks to State and Tribal authority over clean water, and the gutting of key environmental protections, this bill accelerates this unprecedented gas buildout already underway. BAAJA would make it virtually impossible for communities to challenge fossil fuel projects that threaten their lands, waters, air, and our climate.[2]
"BAAJA is not a compromise - it's exactly what the fossil fuel industry wants. We urge senators to wait until the incoming Congress is sworn in to consider policies that truly support renewable energy.
Notes to the editor:
[1] A massive gas buildout is already underway: 370 GW of gas power capacity is in development, with over 180 GW directly linked to data centers, while over 10,000 miles of gas pipeline is also planned or already under construction.
[2] The bill's proponents' own modeling shows that BAAJA's transmission provisions would have no discernible benefit to our climate, while unlocking unprecedented fossil fuel development. At best, BAAJA leaves U.S. emissions over 2.1 billion tons short in 2040 of even a modest climate goal.
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Original text here: https://oilchange.org/news/oil-change-international-responds-to-senates-vote-to-advance-trump-backed-baaja/
National Safety Council Expands Tools to Help Employers Make the Business Case for Life-Saving Technology
ITASCA, Illinois, Nov. 10 [Category: Transportation] -- The National Safety Council posted the following news:
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National Safety Council Expands Tools to Help Employers Make the Business Case for Life-Saving Technology
Work to Zero calculators help employers quantify the costs, savings and potential return on investments to prevent serious incidents and fatalities
November 09, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. - As employers look to technology to prevent serious workplace incidents and fatalities, one question can stand in the way of adoption: How do you demonstrate the value of the investment? The
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ITASCA, Illinois, Nov. 10 [Category: Transportation] -- The National Safety Council posted the following news:
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National Safety Council Expands Tools to Help Employers Make the Business Case for Life-Saving Technology
Work to Zero calculators help employers quantify the costs, savings and potential return on investments to prevent serious incidents and fatalities
November 09, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. - As employers look to technology to prevent serious workplace incidents and fatalities, one question can stand in the way of adoption: How do you demonstrate the value of the investment? TheNational Safety Council is helping employers answer that question with an expanded suite of free Employer Investment Calculators that allow businesses to estimate the financial impact and return on investment of safety technologies using their own operational data.
Developed through the NSC Work to Zero program in partnership with McElhattan Foundation, the enhanced calculator suite has expanded from eight to 13 technologies, including EHS software, heat stress monitoring and ergonomics video analytics. Approximately 8,500 users annually already use the calculators to evaluate potential safety investments.
The need for better investment decisions is particularly urgent when it comes to preventing the most serious workplace incidents. Although the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recordable injury rate has declined significantly over the past 25 years, workplace fatalities have not fallen at the same pace. More than 4,500 workers died on the job in 2023. Beyond the human toll, workplace injuries carry significant financial costs. The average medically consulted injury costs an estimated $43,000 and the average workplace fatality costs $1.46 million.
"Too often, employers know a safety technology could save lives but struggle to demonstrate its business value," said Dr. Matt Law, director of Work to Zero at NSC. "These expanded investment calculators help organizations quantify the financial impact of preventing serious incidents and fatalities. By making it easier to build a strong business case, we can accelerate the adoption of technologies that protect workers and ultimately save lives."
Employers can use the calculators to compare technology costs with potential savings, test different scenarios and estimate a five-year return on investment. The expanded suite of calculators reflects the growing range of solutions employers are adopting to reduce workplace risks.
The accompanying report, Making the Business Case for Safety Innovation, outlines a five-step framework for evaluating safety technology investments - from assessing organizational readiness and identifying appropriate solutions to calculating ROI and securing leadership buy-in. It also explains how the calculators compare the costs of maintaining current risk levels against the potential savings from reducing serious injuries and fatalities.
Together, the report and calculators give safety leaders a practical pathway from identifying a workplace risk to evaluating a technology solution, demonstrating its value and building the case for adoption.
Work to Zero is part of the Council's ongoing effort to eliminate workplace fatalities through the advancement and adoption of technology-based safety solutions. To access the calculators, report and additional resources to create safer workplaces, visit nsc.org/worktozero. To register for the Building the Business Case for Safety Technology webinar, visit here.
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About the National Safety Council
The National Safety Council is America's leading nonprofit safety advocate - and has been for 110 years. As a mission-based organization, we work to eliminate the leading causes of preventable death and injury, focusing our efforts on the workplace and roadways. We create a culture of safety to not only keep people safer at work, but also beyond the workplace so they can live their fullest lives.
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Original text here: https://www.nsc.org/newsroom/nsc-expands-tools-to-adopt-life-saving-technology
International Justice Mission: Project Boost by the Numbers - 242 Justice System Officials Trained Across Seven Countries
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (TNSrep) -- International Justice Mission issued the following news:
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Project Boost by the Numbers: 242 Justice System Officials Trained Across Seven Countries
November 9, 2026
Summary: Through global partnership and capacity building, Project Boost helped strengthen efforts to protect children online.
Ghana Day5 202602 GHA Global Story Trip Full Use
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International Justice Mission (IJM) is deeply grateful for the opportunity to partner with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and Meta Platforms, Inc. through Project Boost over the past five
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (TNSrep) -- International Justice Mission issued the following news:
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Project Boost by the Numbers: 242 Justice System Officials Trained Across Seven Countries
November 9, 2026
Summary: Through global partnership and capacity building, Project Boost helped strengthen efforts to protect children online.
Ghana Day5 202602 GHA Global Story Trip Full Use
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International Justice Mission (IJM) is deeply grateful for the opportunity to partner with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and Meta Platforms, Inc. through Project Boost over the past fiveyears. Project Boost is a global capacity-building initiative led by IJM's Center to End Online Sexual Exploitation of Children, NCMEC and Meta. Since its launch, the program has worked alongside law enforcement agencies around the world to strengthen responses to CyberTipline reports, a critical mechanism managed by NCMEC through which electronic service providers and members of the public report suspected child sexual exploitation.
Project Boost began as an IJM pilot initiative in 2021 before expanding into a formal partnership among IJM, NCMEC and Meta in 2022. Between 2022 and 2025, Project Boost delivered capacity-building support across seven countries and trained 242 justice system officials, helping strengthen national responses to reports of online child sexual exploitation, as highlighted in the attached publication. In 2026, Project Boost continued to evolve, with additional engagements and events held in Japan and Romania. Throughout the initiative, numerous government agencies, law enforcement bodies, nongovernmental organizations and private-sector partners contributed to its success. The attached report recognizes key contributors including INTERPOL, the FBI, the RCMP, the French National Police, Google, Snap, TikTok and others.
As 2026 comes to a close, IJM will conclude its involvement in Project Boost as part of a strategic alignment of organizational priorities. We are proud of what has been accomplished through this partnership and grateful to NCMEC, Meta and the many organizations that contributed to its success. We wish our partners continued success as Project Boost evolves and continues strengthening law enforcement capacity around the world to protect children from online sexual exploitation.
Read the full impact report (https://assets-na.ijm.org/documents/2026_Project-Boost-Impact-Report_DIGITAL.pdf).
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Original text here: https://www.ijm.org/news/project-boost-impact-report
[Category: Sociological]
Douglas Hallward-Driemeier, Jon Lukomnik, & Jennifer Powers Join AU Board
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- Americans United for Separation of Church and State issued the following news:
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Douglas Hallward-Driemeier, Jon Lukomnik, & Jennifer Powers join AU Board
November 9, 2026
Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the nearly 80-year-old organization dedicated solely to protecting church-state separation as the only way to ensure religious freedom for all, welcomes Douglas Hallward-Driemeier, Jon Lukomnik, and Jennifer Powers to its Board of Trustees.
"I am thrilled that incredible talents like Doug, Jennifer, and Jon are joining Americans United's Board
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 -- Americans United for Separation of Church and State issued the following news:
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Douglas Hallward-Driemeier, Jon Lukomnik, & Jennifer Powers join AU Board
November 9, 2026
Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the nearly 80-year-old organization dedicated solely to protecting church-state separation as the only way to ensure religious freedom for all, welcomes Douglas Hallward-Driemeier, Jon Lukomnik, and Jennifer Powers to its Board of Trustees.
"I am thrilled that incredible talents like Doug, Jennifer, and Jon are joining Americans United's Boardof Trustees," said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United. "The three of them bring a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and a passion for church-state separation that will advance our mission. From Doug's legal experience, including arguing church-state cases before the U.S. Supreme Court; to Jennifer's financial and corporate leadership experience; to Jon's extensive work in corporate governance and nonprofit investment strategy, Americans United will grow stronger with their insight and support."
Amy Norr, chairwoman of AU's Board of Trustees, said the new members were appointed to three-year terms that began last month.
"The board is delighted to have Jennifer, Jon, and Doug join our ranks and apply their impressive professional and personal experience to AU's mission of separating church and state to protect religious freedom for all," said Amy Norr. " I know they will ensure the continued success and vitality of our organization's important work to secure freedom without favor and equality without exception."
Douglas Hallward-Driemeier
Douglas Hallward-Driemeier is a partner at the law firm Ropes & Gray LLP, where he leads the firm's appellate and Supreme Court practice. He has argued more than 110 times before appellate courts, including 19 times before the U.S. Supreme Court and before every U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. In a single month in 2015, Doug argued before the Supreme Court in defense of marriage equality in Obergefell v. Hodges and in a key bankruptcy case, Bullard v. Blue Hills Bank.
Doug also represented the City of Boston in the 2022 church-state case Shurtleff v. Boston, in which a Christian Nationalist organization demanded the right to fly a Christian flag at Boston City Hall. Between 2004 and 2009, he served as assistant to the solicitor general, briefing and arguing cases on behalf of the United States before the Supreme Court.
"The work of Americans United has never been more important, as governmental bodies increasingly try to turn religious dogma into official government creed," said Douglas Hallward-Driemeier. "As a religious person myself, I have always appreciated the mission of Americans United of protecting and preserving the religious freedom of all Americans. I am very excited to now have a chance to contribute to that effort."
Jon Lukomnik
Jon Lukomnik is a Brandmeyer Fellow and an adjunct professor at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. He is a long-time institutional investor who has been a fiduciary for more than $100 billion in total assets and has consulted to pension funds, insurance companies, endowments, foundations and others with total assets of more than $2 trillion. Jon has been awarded a lifetime achievement award from the International Corporate Governance Network and has been honored three times by the U.S. National Association of Corporate Directors as one of the 100 most influential people in American corporate governance.
"As Thomas Jefferson once wrote, the First Amendment builds a 'wall of separation between Church & State' to protect the right of everyone to believe or not to believe as they choose, as long as they don't harm others," said Jon Lukomnik. "Americans United is the foremost buttress of that wall. I'm honored to do what I can to preserve the protection that our founding fathers felt central to American democracy."
Jennifer Powers
Jennifer Powers is president of UPS Global Treasury and Risk Management, where she leads a team of more than 160 professionals worldwide. She is also a globally recognized finance and treasury executive with over two decades of experience leading high-impact strategies. Jennifer's strategic thinking and professional experience has been recognized by international awards such as the Asset Triple Award for Best Solutions in Payments and Collections, Adam Smith Award for Best Accounts Receivable Solution, and the EuroFinance Treasury Excellence Award for Technology Implementation.
"I am honored to join the Board of Trustees for Americans United and support a mission that means so much to me personally," said Jennifer Powers. "I am grateful for the opportunity to serve and excited to contribute to the critical mission of Americans United for Separation of Church and State."
In addition to Norr, AU's Board of Trustees includes Vice Chair the Rev. Brian Kaylor, Secretary Charles E. Taylor, Treasurer Dwayne Leslie, the Rev. Douglas Avilesbernal, the Rev. Traci Blackmon, Dr. Sara Imershein, Mara Keisling, Katherine Stewart, Eddie Tabash, and Dr. Sam Weisman.
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Americans United is a religious freedom advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, AU educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.
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Original text here: https://www.au.org/the-latest/press/douglas-hallward-driemeier-lukomnik-powers/
[Category: Political]
350.org: Climate Finance Makes It Onto the COP31 Agenda - Now Developed Countries Must Deliver
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Nov. 10 [Category: Energy] -- 350.org, an organization that works to end the age of fossil fuels and build a community-led renewable energy, posted the following news release:
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November 9, 2026
350.org: Climate finance makes it onto the COP31 agenda: now developed countries must deliver
ANTALYA, TURKIYE: Despite resistance from developed countries the provision of climate finance was added to the agenda for COP31 but now we need those countries to step up and actually fulfill the finance commitments we need , or risk leaving countries on the frontlines of the climate
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BOSTON, Massachusetts, Nov. 10 [Category: Energy] -- 350.org, an organization that works to end the age of fossil fuels and build a community-led renewable energy, posted the following news release:
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November 9, 2026
350.org: Climate finance makes it onto the COP31 agenda: now developed countries must deliver
ANTALYA, TURKIYE: Despite resistance from developed countries the provision of climate finance was added to the agenda for COP31 but now we need those countries to step up and actually fulfill the finance commitments we need , or risk leaving countries on the frontlines of the climatecrisis without the resources they urgently need to protect their communities, adapt to worsening climate impacts and transition away from fossil fuels.
Rukiya Khamis, East Africa Program Manager at 350.org, said:
"The COP Presidency has rightly emphasised that implementation must be at the heart of COP31. Getting climate finance onto the agenda is an important first win for developing countries,but now we need real commitments. Climate justice demands that those who have done the least to cause this crisis are not left to shoulder the greatest costs of tackling it - so at this COP we need to see real progress on the commitments to climate finance including the tripling of adaptation finance. Wealthy, high-polluting countries must deliver the finance they owe, so that countries on the frontlines can protect their communities, build resilience and make a just transition away from fossil fuels. One of the ways we can generate this much needed finance is by making those fossil fuel corporations, who are responsible for the climate crisis, pay via taxing their excess profits."
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About 350.org
350.org is an international climate movement working to end the age of fossil fuels and build a world of community-led renewable energy for all.
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Original text here: https://350.org/press-release/350org-climate-finance-makes-it-onto-the-cop31-agenda-now-developed-countries-must-deliver/
350.org: COP31 - World Cannot Afford Another Decade of Fossil Fuel Dependence as Climate Crisis Deepens
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Nov. 10 [Category: Energy] -- 350.org, an organization that works to end the age of fossil fuels and build a community-led renewable energy, posted the following news release:
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November 8, 2026
COP31: World cannot afford another decade of fossil fuel dependence as climate crisis deepens
350.org calls on governments gathering at UN climate talks in Turkiye to turn promises into action, make polluters pay and deliver a just transition away from fossil fuels
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ANTALYA, TURKIYE: As world leaders prepare to gather in Antalya for COP31, 350.org is warning that the world
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BOSTON, Massachusetts, Nov. 10 [Category: Energy] -- 350.org, an organization that works to end the age of fossil fuels and build a community-led renewable energy, posted the following news release:
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November 8, 2026
COP31: World cannot afford another decade of fossil fuel dependence as climate crisis deepens
350.org calls on governments gathering at UN climate talks in Turkiye to turn promises into action, make polluters pay and deliver a just transition away from fossil fuels
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ANTALYA, TURKIYE: As world leaders prepare to gather in Antalya for COP31, 350.org is warning that the worldcannot afford another decade of delay in transitioning away from fossil fuels. The UN climate conference starts amidst the largest fossil fuel crisis in history and people all over the world are facing increasingly devastating climate impacts while fossil fuel companies continue to profit from the very industry driving the crisis.
From deadly heatwaves across Europe and North America and catastrophic flooding in Nepal to wildfires raging through Indonesia and the Amazon and forecasts of a "Godzilla" El Nino, the climate crisis is already here, and its consequences are severe and lasting. Meanwhile, continued dependence on coal, oil and gas is leaving households and economies exposed to volatile energy prices, geopolitical instability and growing insecurity. 2026 has been another year of obscene profits for the fossil fuel industry. By the close of the third quarter, just five of the world's largest oil and gas companies BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell and TotalEnergies - had raked in a staggering $56 billion in combined profits.
The UN climate talks come at a critical moment for international climate cooperation. Momentum from COP30 in Brazil and the Santa Marta conference in Colombia, where around 80 countries supported efforts to advance the transition away from fossil fuels, has created an opportunity to move from political recognition to implementation. Days ago, the COP30 presidency added on the pressure and presented the roadmaps to help countries turn commitments into action. There are no more excuses for delay.
350.org is calling on the Turkish and Australian COP31 presidencies to build on this momentum and ensure that the summit delivers a credible pathway towards phasing out fossil fuels, backed by time bound milestones, accountability and finance. Governments must agree on concrete steps towards a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels, accelerate the expansion of renewable energy, deliver the climate finance developing countries urgently need and ensure that those responsible for the crisis pay their fair share.
Efe Baysal, Turkiye Program Manager at 350.org, said:
"Turkiye has a unique opportunity to demonstrate what climate leadership looks like. Hosting COP31 comes with a responsibility to help move the world beyond fossil fuel dependence and towards an energy system that works for people, not polluters. Communities in Turkiye and across the region are already experiencing the consequences of climate change, from extreme heat to water stress and wildfires. We cannot keep treating these impacts as a distant threat. COP31 must deliver real progress towards a just transition away from fossil fuels, with renewable energy, climate resilience and people's livelihoods at its heart."
Fenton Lutunatabua, Pacific and Caribbean Program Manager at 350.org, said:
"For Pacific communities, the climate crisis is not a future scenario being debated in negotiation rooms. It is an immediate threat to our homes, cultures, livelihoods and very existence. Our islands are on the frontline of a crisis we did little to create, while the companies most responsible continue to extract and profit. We need governments to listen to the communities already living with these consequences. COP31 must deliver action, not more delay: a rapid transition away from fossil fuels, meaningful climate finance and a commitment to protect the people and places most at risk."
Rukiya Khamis, East Africa Program Manager at 350.org, said:
"We can't wait until COP32 in Ethiopia to fix what needs fixing now. Across East Africa, people are facing the devastating impacts of a climate crisis they did not cause. From prolonged droughts to destructive floods, we are losing homes, livelihoods and access to food and water. Yet the money needed to respond to these impacts remains out of reach for many of the countries and communities most affected. It is fundamentally unjust that those least responsible are being left to carry the greatest costs. COP31 must make climate justice a reality. That means delivering the finance communities need and making fossil fuel companies pay their fair share, rather than asking ordinary people to foot the bill. By the time countries arrive in Addis Ababa next year, we should be negotiating deadlines and binding targets, not vague promises full of 'ifs' and 'maybes."
Fanny Petitbon, Policy Analyst at 350.org, said:
"Out in the real world, people are paying the price of the worst energy crisis in history caused by our toxic dependence on fossil fuels, with energy bills they can't pay and growing insecurity. Meanwhile, oil giants make enormous profits. If this isn't the moment for governments to act, when will it be? For once, this COP needs to respond to what people are living through, not to what is being bargained over in the negotiating corridors. Ten years after the Paris Agreement, pledges are no longer enough. We need wind and solar power built at full speed, renewable-driven electrification, an end to fossil fuel expansion, and polluters paying for the damage they've caused. COP31 must be where governments stop promising and start delivering. People cannot afford another decade of delay."
350.org is urging governments to focus on four priorities at COP31:
* Deliver a credible transition away from fossil fuels: Build on the momentum from COP30 and Santa Marta towards a just, orderly and equitable phase-out of coal, oil and gas, with clear milestones and accountability.
* Make polluters pay: Introduce stronger, permanent taxes on fossil fuel companies' profits and other measures to ensure fossil fuel companies contribute to climate recovery, adaptation and the transition to clean energy.
* Electrification via the acceleration of accessible renewable energy: Expand wind and solar, strengthen electricity grids and storage, and ensure that electrification reduces fossil fuel dependence rather than reinforcing it.
* Deliver climate finance and a just transition: Ensure wealthier countries and major polluters provide the finance, technology and support needed by emerging economies and communities on the frontline of climate impacts.
The choice facing governments is not between climate action and affordable, secure energy. It is between continuing to expose people to the volatility and insecurity of fossil fuel dependence, or building an energy system powered by clean, affordable and increasingly homegrown renewable energy.
Every fraction of a degree of warming avoided matters. Every tonne of emissions prevented can reduce future harm. COP31 must recognize that the transition away from fossil fuels is no longer political luxury - Its a desperate environmental necessity for safety, security and equity for this generation and those who come after us.
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Notes to editors
* Check 350.org's events, actions and spokespeople at COP31
* COP31 takes place in Antalya, Turkiye, from 9-20 November 2026.
* Turkiye is hosting COP31, with Australia serving as President of Negotiations.
* 350.org is an international climate organization working to end the age of fossil fuels and build a world of community-led renewable energy for all.
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Original text here: https://350.org/press-release/cop31-starts/
