Draw the line by demanding Global North countries do their fair share of climate action

As the UNSG’s Climate Summit convenes in New York on September 24, the national plans governments submit will shape our collective future and define the lived reality of billions of people on the frontlines of the climate crisis.

We call on countries with the greatest historical emissions and highest capacity to pay – and who have so far failed to do their fair share of global climate action – to include plans to equitably phase out fossil fuels and provide public finance for just transitions worldwide in their NDCs.

When countries signed the Paris Agreement, they promised to safeguard our shared path forward by submitting stronger plans every five years. Yet, ten years later, their updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are anticipated to fall far short of preventing catastrophic climate impacts that are already deepening inequalities and devastating communities, ecosystems, and economies alike. Marginalised and vulnerable countries bear the brunt of the impacts of the climate crisis, while historically major emitting governments of the Global North continue to burn and even expand production polluting fossil fuels, fail to deliver their fair share of climate finance, or align national action with global responsibility.

This is where we draw the line. 

We draw the line against inequalities, tyranny, genocide, destruction, and chaos.

We draw the line for rights, jobs, justice, democracy, and systems change towards a fulfilling life on a safe planet.

In a global week of actions from September 15th to 21st, people and civil society will come together in a massive show of strength to resist rollback, inaction and injustices and demand real, decisive, and urgent action from world leaders: Make 2025 a turning point.

NDCs must address the historical responsibilities of countries who got rich first from burning fossil fuels, detailing equitable fossil fuel phase-out plans that reject dangerous technologies and false solutions that deepen injustice. Governments of the Global North must deliver on their commitments and obligations to provide finance to Global South countries who contributed less to the crisis yet bear the costs with no support. Together, they must showcase that the Paris Agreement remains a powerful tool and one of our best bets to tackle injustice, pollution, and violence by enabling a just transition built on peace, clean energy, and fairness.

This world is ours. This is our line to draw.

This letter is being released ahead of the UNSG Climate Summit on September 24th, undersigned by civil society groups, social movements, and individuals taking part in the Draw the Line global mobilisations, September 15-21. 

350.org

Action for Climate and Environmental Sustainability

ActionAid International

African Initiative for Integrated Development in the Sahel

Afrique Eco 2100

Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD)

Asociación Ambiente y Sociedad

Association des jeunes pour l'assainissement et la protection de l'environnement (Ajape)

Billion Strong

Bureti championships

Care About Climate

The ChariTree Foundation

Climate Action Network Europe

Climate Action Network - Réseau action climat Canada

Climate Clock DRC

Climate Solution International

Eco-Impact

Ecoresiliencenetwork

Emmaüs International

Fondation GoodPlanet

Fridays for future Sierra Leone

GHETT'UP

Global Network of Civil Society Organisation for Disaster Reduction

Global Platforms Network

Green Disability

Green Transformation and Sustainability Network

Iceland Nature Conservation Association

Jeunes Volontaires pour l'Environnement

Life of Pachamama

Oil Change International

Our Kids' Climate

Regional center for International Development cooperation - RCIDC

Renewable Energy Engineering Students Association

Roots

Santo Sunset Environment Network (Vanuatu)

The Nikola Tesla Foundation International

TIPPING POINT NORTH SOUTH

Transforma

Union of Concerned Scientists

Universal Versatile Society

We, The World Botswana

Wellbeing Economy Alliance

WiLPF Canada

World's Youth for Climate Justice (WYCJ)

Young volunteers for Environment cameroon

YOUNGO - Children and Youth Constituency of the UNFCCC