In a landmark decision, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has, for the first time, declared fossil fuel production a direct threat to nature. On October 16, the IUCN adopted Motion 042 during its World Conservation Congress, marking a historic shift in global conservation policy.
The motion urges governments and civil society to phase out coal, oil, and gas, halt new extraction projects, and ensure a just transition for affected workers and communities. It also proposes exploring new international frameworks such as a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty to address what it calls a “critical gap in global governance” over fossil fuel supply.
“This is a historic moment for global conservation,” said Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s Minister for Climate Change Adaptation. “For the first time, IUCN has recognised that we cannot protect nature while expanding fossil fuels. This vote shows the courage the world needs ahead of COP30.”
The motion, introduced by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and supported by Indigenous and civil society groups including BirdLife International, COICA, and NRDC, ties together the climate and biodiversity crises by identifying fossil fuels as a shared root cause.
WWF International’s Fernanda Carvalho described the move as a turning point. “By addressing fossil fuels as a root cause of biodiversity loss, IUCN members have aligned the climate and nature agendas,” she said. “A Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty could be the key to reversing these crises.”
The decision aligns with recent global momentum, including the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion reinforcing states’ responsibility to prevent climate harm and protect future generations. Additional IUCN motions such as Motion 038 call for a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels in line with the Paris Agreement.
Harjeet Singh, an advisor to the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, called IUCN’s stance a long-awaited acknowledgment of the core problem. “There’s no existing global plan to phase out coal, oil, and gas. This decision fills that gap and adds real momentum ahead of COP30.”
Indigenous leaders also hailed the outcome. “You cannot protect nature while expanding fossil fuels,” said Fany Kuiru Castro of COICA. “Oil and gas extraction has destroyed our territories for generations. There is no conservation without Indigenous rights, and no climate justice without a fair fossil fuel phase-out.”
With COP30 set to begin next month in Belém, Brazil, IUCN declaration sends a powerful signal: protecting biodiversity and stabilising the climate both depend on rapidly ending the fossil fuel era.