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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.
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.
See for example
AET v Germany; Woodhouse Investment and West Cumbria Mining v UK; Zeph v Australia 2, 3 & 4; Glencore v Colombia 3; Rockhopper v Italy; Ascent v Slovenia; ExxonMobil v Netherlands and Shell v Netherlands.
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.
UN bodies have raised fundamental concerns over ISDS, including the 2022 IPCC report and reports by Special Rapporteurs (2023 and 2025). 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. The Baku to Belém Roadmap of the COP29 and 30 presidencies identifies ISDS as a systemic barrier.
We call on governments to begin building a coalition of governments committed to freeing themselves from all forms of ISDS – including ICS (Investment Court System), MIC (Multilateral Investment Court) or a permanent tribunal for international investment disputes. 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- GLOBAL 2000, Austria
- Informationsgruppe Lateinamerika – IGLA, Austria
- Transform! at, Austria
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Amigas de la Tierra, España
- ATTAC España, 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
- 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
- Austrian Trade Union Federation, Europe
- 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
- 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
- Stiftung Asienhaus, Germany
- Umweltinstitut München e.V., Germany
- Weltladen Hailer, Germany
- Zukunftsrat Hamburg, Germany
- NatureFriends Greece, 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
- 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
- Trócaire, Ireland
- ATTAC Italia, Italy
- Fairwatch, Italy
- Rinascimento Green, Italy
- Community Action For Health And Development (CAHED), Kenya
- Action Solidarité Tiers Monde (ASTM), 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
- Justiça Ambiental JA!, Mozambique
- Both ENDS, Netherlands
- Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO), Netherlands
- Handel Anders! (Dutch Trade Justice Coalition), 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
- 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
- ONG Solidarité Ci Sutura, Sénégal
- Umanotera, Slovenia
- Alternative Information & Development Centre (AIDC), South Africa
- Jordens Vänner / Friends of the Earth Sweden, 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
- 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
