Do towns and cities have the authority to ban fossil fuel projects? What about projects that cross different geographic areas?

This depends on the country and region where you live. If your town or city has the legal authority to issue such bans, great — it’s time to make that happen! Where a town or city does not have that legal authority, there are other ways of creating obstacles for the fossil fuel projects, such as prohibiting water usage for fossil extraction or the transit of trucks. There are many creative solutions. Passing even a symbolic resolution can be a powerful statement that together with neighbouring areas could help build popular support for such a ban at a state, provincial, or national level.

In the case of banning projects that cross geographic areas, such as pipelines, it’s often not up to individual municipal governments to make the final determination, but the voice of each place where these projects will pass matters in making the overall project determination.

How do you pass a local resolution or ban?

Again, this depends on how local government and institutions function where you live. For an official resolution or ban to go into effect, at some point you and your group will need to persuade decision makers to propose, vote on, or otherwise issue the resolution or ban. More on engaging decision makers here.

If you live in a place where all decision makers stand in opposition to your effort, another option could be to first put aside the goal of an official resolution/ban and work to educate and survey the public to declare your area Fossil Free and then to work with local government to make that official (more on that survey and declaration strategy here).

How do I get started?

If you are new to this movement and effort, first check to see if other Fossil Free groups or campaigns exist where you live on the map. If none exists, host an event and invite friends, neighbours, or other groups who might be strategic to work with to discuss forming a campaign group together. Here is an overall campaign guide and here are resources for hosting such an event.

If you are already part of an existing group active on similar issues, host a meeting to discuss what a local campaign to ban fossil fuels might look like, and you can check out some of the same resources to see what would be useful to you.  Don’t forget to register your campaign on the Fossil Free map.

Isn’t it risky to challenge fossil fuel companies and their projects?

Depending on where you live there can be some real security risks associated with challenging fossil fuel corporate interests. Fossil fuel companies aren’t only dirty when it comes to the products they produce — they also use dirty tactics, like corruption and sometimes even violence. If you live in a part of the world where activists can be persecuted or attacked, we encourage you to take utmost care as you plan and execute your efforts. You can find some basic security guidance here.

There are no proposals for new fossil fuel projects where I live. Should I still work on a ban?

Maybe. It can send a powerful message, if town after town, city after city, around the world issues a ban on new fossil fuel projects — even if largely symbolic. That said, if there’s truly no risk of new fossil fuel projects being developed where you live, perhaps you’re better off focusing your efforts on demanding 100% renewable energy for all, ensuring local government or other institutions are divested from fossil fuels, or pursuing some of the other options outlined on this website. All these combined efforts are important for battling the power of the fossil fuel industry and creating a Fossil Free world – and you should pick whichever will have the highest positive impact and generate the most local participation where you live.

What about people who work for fossil fuel companies? Could this hurt people’s jobs and livelihoods?

This is precisely why we’re calling for a fair and just transition to 100% renewable energy for all. Read more here about how we ensure that this transition is fair and cares for all people, even as we phase out dirty sources of energy across the globe.