ISDS is a threat to our collective future – European Trade Justice Coalition

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Investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) threatens a just transition from fossil fuels and the urgent need for a social and ecological transformation for people and the planet. We welcome the recognition and inclusion of this risk within the thematic pillars of the First Conference on Transitioning Away From Fossil Fuels.

We call on governments to begin building a coalition of countries committed to freeing themselves from ISDS.

ISDS mechanisms are written into many trade and investment agreements. They entitle transnational corporations to sue governments in secretive tribunals outside of the national legal system over law and policy changes that they fear could reduce their profits. ISDS grants privileges to foreign investors that are unavailable to local businesses or ordinary citizens – especially the peoples and communities most affected by their investments.

The impacts of ISDS are felt in all areas of society and economy, from health care and public services to national security and chemical safety regulation. It is a profoundly anti-democratic system that undermines rights and constrains sovereignty and self-determination.

For many years, extractive firms in the oil, gas, and mining industries and energy corporations have brought hundreds of ISDS cases against countries, and this is increasing. Fossil fuel and mining companies have used ISDS to rake in more than $87bn in public money since 1998.¹

On top of this, in recent years we have seen a growing number of cases that directly challenge the transition away from fossil fuels. Corporations are suing over matters including coal phase out, refusal to license new coal mines or extend existing ones, windfall taxes on excess energy profits, a ban on offshore oil drilling, fracking regulation and closure of a gas field.²

Communities at the frontlines of the climate crisis are often at the heart of ISDS claims through struggles against destructive mining and other extractive projects, including from rising demand for minerals.

Key risks from ISDS for a fossil fuel phase out and truly just transition are a prohibitive increase in the cost from payouts to polluters and a chilling effect on necessary law and policy changes. Corporations can claim vast amounts of taxpayer money through ISDS, often far higher than in domestic courts. Recent claims have been in the billions, which surpasses the ability of many countries to pay and undermines the capacity to support a just transition. As a result, the fear of being sued may cause countries to delay or decide against taking needed action on fossil fuels and other extractive industries. Countries have already admitted that this is happening.³

UN bodies have raised fundamental concerns over ISDS, including the 2022 IPCC report and reports by Special Rapporteurs.⁴ The International Court of Justice has emphasised that investment treaties must not be interpreted in isolation, but in harmony with international climate law and that countries have obligations under multiple sources of international law to prevent, mitigate and remedy climate change and its resultant harms.⁵ The Baku to Belém Roadmap of the COP29 and 30 presidencies identifies ISDS as a systemic barrier.⁶

We call on governments to begin building a coalition of governments committed to freeing themselves from all forms⁷ of ISDS. This alliance would explore:

Cancelling treaties with ISDS, or renegotiating to remove ISDS, between the governments involved, in ways that address ‘sunset clauses’
Collective engagement with other countries to support further potential for stepping away from ISDS
Committing to not signing any new ISDS agreements
Including provisions on cancelling ISDS in a future Fossil Fuel Treaty
Initiating negotiations for a multilateral treaty to bring about a world free from ISDS

Signatories

(The statement remains open for signature by civil society organisations)

Global and regional

350.org
Amigos de la Tierra América Latina y el Caribe (ATALC)
Amnesty International
Bank.Green
bilaterals.org
CAN Europe
CANLA (Climate Action Network Latin America)
Caritas Europa
Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)
Centroamérica Hub de Finanzas Sostenibles
CIDSE
Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO)
E3G
European Environmental Bureau
European Trade Justice Coalition
Financial Transparency Coalition
Focus on the Global South
Friends of the Earth Europe
Friends of the Earth International
Global Forest Coalition
GRAIN
Greenpeace
IBON International
JASS – Just Associates
JESC-Jesuit European Social Centre
Natural Justice: Lawyers for Communities and the Environment
Nordic Climate Justice Coalition
Oxfam International
Pacific Network on Globalisation
Peace Brigades International (PBI)
Plataforma América Latina y el Caribe Mejor Sin TLC
Protección Internacional Mesoamérica
Red Europea Oficina Internacional de Derechos Humanos – Acción Colombia
Resource Justice Network
Society for International Development (SID)
Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI)
Third World Network
Transnational Institute
We Don’t Have Time
Yes to Life No to Mining

National

350 Aotearoa, Aotearoa New Zealand
Campaign Againbst Foreign Control of Aotearoa, Aotearoa New Zealand
Coal Action Murihiku, Aotearoa New Zealand
Coal Action Network Aotearoa, Aotearoa New Zealand
Environment and Conservation Organisations of Aotearoa-New Zealand, Aotearoa New Zealand
Greenpeace Aotearoa, Aotearoa New Zealand
Lifestock inc Ltd, Aotearoa New Zealand
Ngā Toki Whakarururanga, Aotearoa New Zealand
Sustainable North Trust, Aotearoa New Zealand
Zero Waste Aotearoa, Aotearoa New Zealand
Tierra Nativa / Amigos de la Tierra Argentina, Argentina
Armenian Environmental Front volunteer initiative, Armenia
AidWatch, Australia
Australian Conservation Foundation, Australia
Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network, Australia
Australian Forests & Climate Alliance (AFCA), Australia
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, Australia
Australian Religious Response to Climate Change, Australia
Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action, Australia
Climate Action Burwood/Canada Bay, Australia
Climate Action Monaro, Australia
Climate Action Network Australia, Australia
Climate Emergency Australia, Australia
Climate Reality Project Australia & Pacific, Australia
Combined Retired Union Members Association (CRUMA), Australia
Currie Country Social Change Aboriginal Corporation, Australia
Darebin Climate Action Now, Australia
Friends of the Earth Australia, Australia
GeneEthics, Australia
Jubilee Australia, Australia
Lighter Footprints, Australia
Migrante Australia of New South Wales, Australia
Nature Conservation Council of NSW, Australia
New South Wales Nurses & Midwives’ Association, Australia
Nillumbik Climate Action Team, Australia
NSW Retired Teachers’ Association, Australia
Parramatta Climate Action Network, Australia
Peoples Climate Assembly, Australia
SEARCH Foundation, Australia
Social Responsibilities Committee Anglican Church Southern Queensland, Australia
South Coast Labour Council, Australia
Sutherland Shire Environment Centre, Australia
Tax Justice Network Australia, Australia
Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA, Australia
Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania, Australia
Victorian Trades Hall Council, Australia
Vote Earth Now, Australia
AK Europa, Austria
Anders Handeln Austria, Austria
Attac Austria, Austria
Austrian Trade Union Federation, Austria
GLOBAL 2000, Austria
Informationsgruppe Lateinamerika – IGLA, Austria
Transform! at, Austria
Nagorik Uddyog (Citizen’s Initiative), Bangladesh
11.11.11, Belgium
achACT, Belgium
ACV-CSC, Belgium
ATTAC Belgium, Belgium
Broederlijk Delen, Belgium
Centre Tricontinental (CETRI), Belgium
CNCD-11.11.11, Belgium
Entraide & Fraternité, Belgium
Fédération des services sociaux, Belgium
Les Amis de la Terre – Belgique asbl, Belgium
Rise for Climate Belgium , Belgium
Solsoc, Belgium
vzw Climaxi, Belgium
Fundación Internet Bolivia, Bolivia
Fundación Solón, Bolivia
Programa de Asistencia Agrobioenergetica al Campesino PAAC, Bolivia
SOMOS SUR, Bolivia
TerraJusta, Bolivia
Instituto EQUIT – Gender, Economy and Global Citizenchip, Brazil
REBRIP – Rede Brasileira pela Integração dos Povos, Brazil
Dukingire Isi Yacu (DIY), Burundi
Association for Solidarity through Humanitarian Imperative Action International, Cameroon
Green Development Advocates (GDA), Cameroon
Association québécoise des organismes de coopération internationale (AQOCI), Canada
Atlantic Regional Solidarity Network, Canada
Attac Québec, Canada
BC Casa Vancouver Island, Canada
Black Environmental Initiative, Canada
Canadian Association of the Club of Rome (CACOR), Canada
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Canada
Canadian Interfaith Fast For the Climate, Canada
Centre québécois du droit de l’environnement (CQDE), Canada
Citizens Climate Lobby Canada, Canada
Climate Action Network Canada (CAN-Rac), Canada
Common Frontiers, Canada
Creston Valley Climate Action Society, Canada
Grandmothers Act to Save the Planet (GASP), Canada
Guatemala Research Group, University of Northern British Columbia, Canada
Legal Advocates for Nature’s Defence, Canada
Maquila Solidarity Network, Canada
Maritimes-Guatemala Breaking the Silence Network, Canada
Mining Injustice Solidarity Network, Canada
MiningWatch Canada, Canada
National Union of Public and General Employees (Canada), Canada
Seniors For Climate, Canada
Trade Justice Network, Canada
Chile Mejor sin TLC, Chile
Censat Agua Viva Amigos de la Tierra Colombia, Colombia
Colectivo de Abogados y Abogadas José Alvear Restrepo (CAJAR), Colombia
Comité para la defensa del Agua y el Páramo de Santurbán, Colombia
LazosTech, Colombia
Magazín de la Amazonía y Moviccapp, Colombia
Observatorio Ambiental Ciudadano – Veeduría Ciudadana, Colombia
Shambala, Colombia
Youth Council – La Primavera – Vichada, Colombia
Shujaa-Initiative, Congo DRC
Colombia Solidarity, Denmark
CRAC, Denmark
Den Grønne Ungdomsbevægelse, Denmark
Fossilfri Fremtid, Denmark
Frie Bønder Levende Land (Danish La Via Campesina), Denmark
NOAH – Friends of the Earth Denmark, Denmark
Observatorio de la Dolarizacion , Ecuador
CESTA Amigos de la Tierra, El Salvador
Amigas de la Tierra, España
ATTAC España, España
CNT-AIT Asturies , España
Colectivo Sur Cacarica, España
Confederación General del Trabajo, España
Departamento de Ecología Integral, Conferencia Episcopal Española, España
Ecologistas en Acción, España
Enginyeria sense Fronteres, España
Enginyeria sense fronteres de les Illes Balears, España
Extinción Rebelión Málaga , España
Fundación Vida Sostenible, España
Intersindical Solidària, España
La Coordinadora de Organizaciones para el Desarrollo-España, España
Medicusmundi Spain, España
Observatori del Deute en la Globalització (ODG), España
Recortes Cero, España
REVO Prosperidad Sostenible, España
Salva la Selva, España
Unión Universal Desarrollo Solidario, España
Progressiivne Liikumine, Estonia
Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN), Fiji
Amis de la Terre France / Friends of the Earth France, France
Attac France, France
BLOOM, France
CliMates, France
Confédération paysanne, France
France Amérique Latine, France
France Nature Environnement, France
GAFE-France, France
Igapo Project, France
MABD, France
Notre Affaire A Tous, France
Reclaim Finance, France
Veblen Institute, France
Association for Farmers Rights Defense (AFRD), Georgia
Andy Gheorghiu Consulting, Germany
Attac Berlin, Germany
Attac Germany, Germany
BUND Regionalverband Nordschwarzwald/ D, Germany
CADEHO Menschenrechtskollektiv, Germany
FDCL – Center for Research and Documentation Chile-Latin America, Germany
German NGO Forum on Environment and Development, Germany
Hamburger Energietisch e. V., Germany
Hondurasdelegation, Germany
Konstanzer Bündnis für gerechten Welthandel, Germany
Misereor, Germany
Netzwerk gerechter Welthandel, Germany
PowerShift e.V., Germany
SAN Germany, Germany
Stiftung Asienhaus, Germany
Umweltinstitut München e.V., Germany
Weltladen Hailer, Germany
Zukunftsrat Hamburg, Germany
NatureFriends Greece, Greece
Young Active Eurocitizens, Greece
Residencia Pacífica La Puya, Guatemala
Instituto para el Futuro Común Amerindio IFCA, Honduras
Red de abogadas defensoras de derechos humanos, Honduras
National Society of Conservationists – Friends of the Earth Hungary, Hungary
Association for Promotion Sustainable Development, India
Samata, India
The Future We Need, India
Aceh Wetland Forum, Indonesia
Coalition Against Mining in Aceh, Indonesia
Ekologi Maritim Indonesia, Indonesia
Indonesia for Global Justice (IGJ), Indonesia
Koalisi Rakyat untuk Keadilan Perikanan (KIARA), Indonesia
KRuHA – people’s coalition for the right to water, Indonesia
Puanifesto, Indonesia
Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia, Indonesia
Sahita Institute (Hints) , Indonesia
Think Inc Indonesia Legal Office, Indonesia
Afri (Action from Ireland), Ireland
Christian Aid Ireland, Ireland
Comhlámh, Ireland
Communities Against the Injustice of Mining (CAIM network), Ireland
Earth Restore, Ireland
Financial Justice Ireland, Ireland
Friends of the Earth Ireland, Ireland
Green Greystones, Ireland
National Council for People with Disabilities (NCPD), Ireland
Nexus Research Cooperative, Ireland
Trócaire, Ireland
ATTAC Italia, Italy
Cova Contro, Italy
Fairwatch, Italy
L’Ondaverde ODV Falconara M., Italy
Rinascimento Green, Italy
Community Action For Health And Development (CAHED), Kenya
Action Solidarité Tiers Monde (ASTM), Luxembourg
ForLiveable, Luxembourg
Mouvement Ecologique, Luxembourg
Seniors for Climate Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Consumers’ Association of Penang, Malaysia
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Friends of the Earth Malaysia), Malaysia
Friends of the Earth Malta, Malta
GeoComunes, México
MIRA Feminismos y Democracias, México
Otros Mundos Chiapas, México
Procesos Integrales para la Autogestion de los pueblos, México
Proyecto sobre Organización, Desarrollo, Educación e Investigación (PODER), México
Red de Información y Acción Ambiental de Veracruz, México
Red Mexicana de Afectadas y Afectados por la Minería (REMA), México
Rizoma Entretejiendo la Defensa de los Bienes Comunes, México
Cuba Solidarity, Mozambique
Justiça Ambiental JA!, Mozambique
Both ENDS, Netherlands
Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO), Netherlands
Handel Anders! (Dutch Trade Justice Coalition), Netherlands
Hawkmoth, Netherlands
Milieudefensie – Friends of the Earth Netherlands, Netherlands
OECD Watch, Netherlands
Platform Duurzame en Solidaire Economie, Netherlands
Working group Food Justice, Netherlands
Nigerian Women Agro Allied Farmers Association, Nigeria
Policy Alert, Nigeria
Renevlyn Development Initiative, Nigeria
Handelskampanjen, Norway
Colectivo Voces Ecológicas COVEC, Panamá
Sobrevivencia / Amigos de la Tierra Paraguay , Paraguay
Ecological Society of the Philippines, Philippines
Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center – Friends of the Earth Philippines, Philippines
Sibuyanon Against Mining, Philippines
Polish Zero Waste Associaion, Poland
Campo Aberto, Portugal
CIDAC – Centro de Intervenção para o Desenvolvimento Amílcar Cabral, Portugal
Ecomood Portugal, Portugal
Extinction Rebellion Minho, Portugal
GEOTA – Grupo de Estudos de Ordenamento do Território e Ambiente, Portugal
Palombar – Associação de Conservação da Natureza e do Património Rural, Portugal
TROCA – Plataforma por um Comércio Internacional Justo, Portugal
ZERO – Associação Sistema Terrestre Sustentável, Portugal
ActionAid International Senegal, Sénégal
CONIPAS , Sénégal
ONG Solidarité Ci Sutura, Sénégal
Singapore Youth for Climate Action, Singapore
Via Verde, Slovakia
Umanotera, Slovenia
Alternative Information & Development Centre (AIDC), South Africa
Energy and Climate Policy Institute for Just Transition, South Korea
Urgent Action for Climate Korea, South Korea
Jordens Vänner / Friends of the Earth Sweden, Sweden
Klimatsekretariatet, Sweden
Tankesmedjan ockelbo, Sweden
Alliance Sud, Switzerland
Pro Natura / Friends of the Earth Switzerland, Switzerland
Public Eye, Switzerland
Sustainable Holistic Development Foundation (SUHODE Foundation), Tanzania
TATIC, Tanzania
Baloos Foundation, Timor Leste
Network of Rural Women Producers Trinidad and Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago
Centre for Citizens Conserving Environment & Management (CECIC), Uganda
ABColombia, United Kingdom
Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA), United Kingdom
Balanced Economy Project, United Kingdom
CAFOD, United Kingdom
Campaign against Climate Change, United Kingdom
Compassion in World Farming, United Kingdom
Corporate Justice Coalition, United Kingdom
Debt Justice UK, United Kingdom
Earth Thrive, United Kingdom
EcoNexus, United Kingdom
Encountering Existence Ltd, United Kingdom
Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), United Kingdom
Environmental Network for Central America (ENCA), United Kingdom
Faith for the Climate, United Kingdom
Fire Brigades Union, United Kingdom
Fresh Eyes, United Kingdom
Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Friends of the Earth Scotland, United Kingdom
Fuel Poverty Action, United Kingdom
Gaia Foundation, United Kingdom
Global Justice Now, United Kingdom
Global Witness, United Kingdom
Green New Deal Rising, United Kingdom
Greenpeace UK, United Kingdom
Labour Behind the Label, United Kingdom
London Mining Network, United Kingdom
Mothers Rise Up, United Kingdom
Oxfam GB, United Kingdom
PCS Union, United Kingdom
Positive Money, United Kingdom
Share The World’s Resources, United Kingdom
Stamp Out Poverty, United Kingdom
Tipping Point UK, United Kingdom
Trade Justice Movement, United Kingdom
War on Want, United Kingdom
Weald Action Group, United Kingdom
350 Bay Area Action, United States
350 Wisconsin, United States
Alliance for Global Justice, United States
Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), United States
Cross Border Network for Justice & Solidarity, United States
Denver Justice and Peace Committee, United States
Earth Ethics, Inc., United States
Earthworks, United States
Global Justice Ecology Project, United States
Indigenous Research Center of the Americas, United States
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, United States
Institute for Policy Studies – Global Economy Project, United States
Latin America Solidarity Coalition, United States
Local Futures, United States
Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA), United States
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, United States
Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition, United States
Portland Central America Solidarity Committee (PCASC), United States
Public Citizen, United States
Rethink Trade, United States
Rochester Committee on Latin America, United States
SAFES, United States
Sierra Club, United States
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Washington DC Justice Team, United States
Trade Justice Education Fund, United States
United Church of Christ, United States
Cross border organizing working group / line 5 coalition, United States and Canada
REDES-Amigos de la Tierra Uruguay, Uruguay
NatureWize Vietnam, Vietnam
Yemeni Observatory for Human Rights, Yemen
Climate Action Network Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe