Pact For the Future – we must pass on a healthy planet to our children

Today (22 September 2024), world leaders committed to “transitioning away from fossil fuels” in the Pact for the Future agreed at the United Nations Summit of the Future in New York.

Maya Mailer, co-director of Our Kids’ Climate – a global network bringing together parents and grandparents from over 55 countries to take action on climate – said:

“The reality of climate breakdown is painfully clear. Millions of children are suffering. We welcome the commitment by world leaders to phase out fossil fuels in the Pact For The Future at the United Nations Summit of the Future. Now they need to turn these words into reality. World leaders must secure a fair, fast and funded transition to renewable energy, so that we can pass on a healthy planet to our children.

“Parents want to protect who and what we love: our children and precious planet. We brought together over 150 notable parents to make a call on world leaders to phase out fossil fuels ahead of the Summit. The burning of fossil fuels drives the climate crisis, harming children now and stealing their futures. We need leaders to turn the Pact’s words into action and make fossil fuels the past.

“We urge high-income countries and historical emitters to take the lead in driving a just and equitable transition, and calling on these nations to provide critical support to low-income countries, and ensure that children’s rights and needs are prioritized at every step.”

ENDS

Note to editors:

More than 150 leading parents from the arts, entertainment, sport, science, civil society, and business signed an open letter, led by Our Kids’ Climate, urging world leaders to end our dangerous dependence on fossil fuels.

Parents who have signed include Angelique Kidjo, Christiana Figueres, Don Cheadle, Dame Emma Thompson, Julianne Moore, Khaled Hosseini, Robert Redford, Tasneem Essop, Mayor of Freetown Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, and many more.

Read the full letter here and find out more about the signatories here.