UN Expert Advocates for Criminalizing Fossil Fuel Disinformation

In a bold move to address the escalating climate crisis, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate Change, Elisa Morgera, has called for comprehensive reforms aimed at criminalizing disinformation related to fossil fuels and banning lobbying by the fossil fuel industry. Presenting her report to the UN General Assembly in Geneva, Morgera emphasized the urgent need for defossilization of economies in wealthy nations, asserting that countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia have a legal obligation under international law to phase out fossil fuels by 2030 and to provide reparations for the damages caused by their use.

The report highlights the severe human rights impacts resulting from the fossil fuel lifecycle, including adverse effects on health, food security, and water access. According to Morgera, "Despite overwhelming evidence of the interlinked, intergenerational, severe and widespread human rights impacts of the fossil fuel life cycle, these countries have accrued enormous profits from fossil fuels without taking decisive action."

Morgera’s recommendations extend beyond mere regulatory measures; they advocate for a systemic overhaul of economies reliant on fossil fuels. She argues for the eradication of fossil fuels from all sectors, including politics, finance, and media, referring to this transition as 'defossilization.' "The transition to clean energy is not enough to tackle the widespread harms caused by fossil fuels," Morgera stated. "States must inform their citizens about the harms of fossil fuels and the necessity of phasing them out."

The report also points to the alarming profits generated by the fossil fuel industry, which amounted to $2.4 trillion for oil and gas companies and $2.5 trillion for coal companies in 2023. Morgera highlights that eliminating fossil fuel subsidies, which reached approximately $1.4 trillion for OECD members and 48 other countries, could reduce global emissions by up to 10% by 2030. Redirecting these funds could enable fossil fuel-producing states to fulfill their obligations to aid developing countries in transitioning away from fossil fuels.

Furthermore, Morgera stresses the need for accountability, proposing that governments enforce penalties for damages inflicted by fossil fuel companies. This includes requiring the industry to finance climate adaptation and mitigation efforts, ensuring that affected communities receive necessary resources.

The implications of Morgera’s report are profound, as it underscores the intersection of climate change and human rights. Communities that have contributed least to fossil fuel emissions, particularly Indigenous and vulnerable populations, are facing the most severe consequences of climate change. As Morgera noted, "The fossil fuel playbook has undermined the protection of all human rights that are negatively impacted by climate change for over six decades."

While Morgera’s recommendations may be perceived as radical by some, she argues that transitioning to a renewable energy-based economy is not only feasible but also economically advantageous. "What may seem radical or unrealistic is now cheaper and safer for our economies and healthier for our societies," Morgera concluded. The call for reform represents a critical moment in the global fight against climate change, pressing nations to reconsider their priorities and take decisive action to protect both the planet and human rights.