New York, 26 September 2024 — From the floor of the 2024 UN General Assembly, Nepal and the Bahamas made history by joining the growing global call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. Nepal, the first landlocked and South Asian nation to endorse the treaty, and the Bahamas, the second Caribbean island to support the initiative, bring the total number of climate-pioneer nations backing this bold proposal to 16. Both countries are now part of the expanding bloc advocating for a new, legally binding global agreement aimed at rapidly and equitably transitioning from fossil fuel dependency to a sustainable and safe energy future.

In their UNGA speeches, Prime Minister Philip Davis and Honourable K P Sharma Oli, Prime Minister of Nepal respectively called on developing nations to unite in this critical effort to negotiate a Fossil Fuel Treaty.

The Bahamas and Nepal, are both highly vulnerable climate change impacts of climate change. The Bahamas, like other island nations, faces life-threatening climate challenges such as rising sea levels and increasingly severe hurricanes, despite contributing less than 0.01% of global carbon emissions. Its government struggles to provide essential services while grappling with debt driven by these climate impacts. In South Asia, Nepal is confronting the accelerated retreat of the Himalayan glaciers, which threatens the freshwater supply for millions. By endorsing the Treaty, both nations are urging global action to address the root cause of the climate crisis.

Kumi Naidoo, President of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty initiative, said: “Nepal and Bahama calling for the negotiation of a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty during the UN General Assembly is a powerful reminder that the burden of the climate crisis should not fall on vulnerable nations alone. Their leadership challenges the world’s wealthiest nations to step up and take bold action to assume their responsibility to lead in ending our dependence on these destructive fuels. This is not just about transitioning to clean energy—it’s about justice, equity, and ensuring that those least responsible for the crisis are not left to bear its worst impacts."

Minister Susana Muhamad, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development for Colombia, welcomed Nepal’s endorsement: “As countries like Nepal step forward to join us in seeking the negotiation of a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, we are witnessing the rise of a powerful, united front from the Global South. Colombia warmly welcomes Nepal’s leadership and the growing bloc of nations pushing for this crucial treaty. Together, we recognise that the time to act is now. The international community must confront the root cause of both the climate and biodiversity crises: the relentless extraction and burning of fossil fuels. Nepal’s bold action sends a clear message—the future is fossil-free, and we must cooperate globally to achieve it, from the Amazon to the Himalayas.”

Arjun Karki, President r of Asian Peoples' Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD), an organisation which played a  pivotal role in securing the endorsement, stated: “Nepal's endorsement of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty proposal is a powerful reflection of Asia's growing leadership in the fight against climate change. It echoes the bold stance of Pacific Island nations, who have long championed the call for a fossil-free world. Together, these regions are sending a clear message: the countries most vulnerable to climate impacts are leading the way and showing Global North wealthy nations what it means to take genuine action to phase out fossil fuels and genuinely safeguard our future."

Harjeet Singh, Global Engagement Director for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, added: "Nepal’s and the Bahamas’ endorsements of the Fossil Fuel Treaty proposal at the UN General Assembly mark a critical turning point in the growing momentum behind this bold initiative. While both nations are committed to clean energy development, Nepal remains dependent on costly imported fossil fuels, and the Bahamas faces severe climate impacts like rising sea levels and intense hurricanes. These challenges drain their financial resources and heighten vulnerability to climate and economic shocks. Their endorsements underscore the urgent need for a global plan to manage a fast, fair, and financed just transition, ensuring a sustainable, safe, and stable future for all."

QUOTE: “For far too long Caribbean nations have borne the brunt of climate change impacts with devastating consequences. Natural disasters fueled by climate change have become more deadly as time passes with no meaningful action and meaningful action can’t happen without stopping the production of fossil fuels. A Fossil Fuel Treaty initiative lays out the groundwork for a just and equitable transition to clean, renewable energy for all. I commend Primer Minister Phillip David’s leadership and for adding his voice calling other nations to negotiate a much needed Fossil Fuel Treaty.”

QUOTE: “Caribbean nations are united by an unfortunate reality, of being some of the most vulnerable nations to climate change. We are forced to endure a climate crisis created by the emissions of other nations that is only getting worse. This hurricane season is already predicted to be above normal due to warmer waters fueled by climate change. We are resilient people but resiliency doesn’t last forever. The devastating impacts that we face every year are too costly and unsustainable. We can’t afford inaction any longer. We are uniting our voices asking other nations to engage in negotiations that can produce rapid actions and a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty is the best route we have to achieve that.”

The endorsements from Nepal and the Bahamas come just 24 hours after former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon and the Federated States of Micronesia endorsed the Fossil Fuel Treaty proposal. They are the latest to join a global network of over 3,500 civil society organisations, 115+ cities and subnational governments, hundreds of health institutions including the World Health Organisation as well as 10 Indigenous nations globally who have backed the call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. The initiative follows in the footsteps of other powerful treaty proposals which united the power of civil society and leading governments to secure mechanisms that saved the ozone, phased out landmines and banned nuclear weapons.