NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Conservation advocates are calling on The Bahamas to join Colombia, Palau, Samoa Nauru in joining the growing movement for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty.

Our Islands, Our Future (OIOF), a grassroots coalition advocating for a permanent ban on oil exploration and exploitation activities in The Bahamas, has praised the leaders of those four nations for formally supporting Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and has once again urged Prime Minister Philip Davis to announce his administration's commitment to a global transition away from the primary cause of global warming.

The groups also note that the final text from COP28 failed to produce a defined plan for phasing out fossil fuels, further indicating the need to support a treaty-based approach, which could begin as a commitment from countries willing to take a stand and show global leadership to light the way forward.

Casuarina McKinney-Lambert, executive director of BREEF, an OIOF founding member, said: "COP28 has been a historic summit for many reasons, none more so than the addition of four nations to this fast-growing global commitment to end all aspects of petroleum product exploration and exploitation. As the president of Colombia said in making the announcement last week, this is a question of the survival of the entire world.

"As the conference draws to a close, the whole world is attuned to this issue. Now is the moment for the Davis administration to take his place among the nations and organizations leading this most urgent charge to save the planet."

Twelve countries have now joined the fossil fuel treaty movement, which was launched by a group of Pacific island nations and has gained support from the European Parliament, civil society groups, the World Health Organization and 100 cities and subnational governments. The aforementioned four nations joined just during the climate talks in Dubai.

Leading the way in the Caribbean is Antigua and Barbuda, and in his speech at COP28, that nation's Prime Minister Gaston Browne said the transition to clean energy is not simply an option, but "an urgent necessity."

"The irony is, that small island states that contribute the least to global CO2 emissions - a mere 0.5 percent are its greatest victims," he added.

"...Despite these dire potential consequences to all of humanity; the protection of the fossil fuel industry continues to be a priority in the pursuit of extortionate profits, at the expense of all of humanity, especially people in climate vulnerable countries."

OIOF noted that Prime Minister Davis has made a number of similar declarations, most recently following his own participation in COP28, when he criticized industrialized nations for failing to pledge enough in terms of climate mitigation during the conference.  

"We agree with Prime Minister Davis and with Prime Minister Browne," said Rashema Ingraham, executive director of Waterkeepers Bahamas, a founding member of the OIOF alliance.

"It is important that wealthy nations be held to account in the struggle to secure a safe future for generations to come. All countries must do as much as they can and to that end, we commend the many commitments to environmental protection and resource conservation made by the Davis Administration over the last few years, notably its agreement with the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency for the development of a renewable energy plan for the entire country.

 "OIOF is calling on Mr. Davis and his Cabinet to take the next step and cap off his participation in this historic conference by formally declaring support for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, a movement that is crucial for the future of coastal states like The Bahamas."

"Fossil fuel exploitation and climate change are inextricably linked," added Chris Wilke, also an OIOF founding member. "Governments in small island developing states like The Bahamas, which are hardest hit by climate-driven challenges like stronger storms, coral loss, and sea-level rise, can lead the way by taking a stand for the rights of future generations."

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