[Media Statement] Statement on the situation in Ukraine

Statement on the situation in Ukraine

 

April 5, 2022 – On February 24^th, Russia launched an unprovoked, deadly war in Ukraine. It has resulted in thousands of civilian casualties (OHCHR), millions of refugees, and the destruction of Ukrainian cities and towns. The attacks continue today.

 

Russia’s ongoing armed attacks are in complete violation of international law. In Article 2 of the U.N. Charter, member states are required to refrain from “use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.” The invasion is illegal and cannot be justified.

 

Solutions for Our Climate (SFOC) with World Without War, Korea Federation for Environmental Movement(KFEM), and Youth Climate Emergency Action condemn the invasion of Ukraine. We stand firmly against war. Along with the international community, we urge for a peaceful resolution using political and diplomatic means and demand Russia immediately cease its war efforts.

 

Russia is paying for its war with the billions of dollars countries—including South Korea—spend on Russian coal, oil, and gas. Ukrainian climate scientist Svitlana Krakovska said, “Human-induced climate change and the war on Ukraine have the same roots – fossil fuels – and our dependence on them.” The money made from Russia’s fossil fuel industry is the engine behind Vladmir Putin’s war aggression and is funding the bullets and missiles that rain upon Ukraine today.

 

South Korea is entrenched in Russia’s fossil fuel industry. Last year, Russia was the second-largest coal exporter to South Korea as well as South Korea’s fourth-largest crude oil and sixth largest gas supplier, making up billions of dollars’ worth of the country’s energy market. We are deeply concerned that South Korea’s imports of Russian fossil fuel is helping to finance Putin’s war against Ukraine.

 

Furthermore, South Korean public and private financial institutions are still supporting Russia’s war efforts with fossil fuel investments, in hopes of financial returns at the expense of human lives. Private South Korean firms, including Kiwoom and Mirae, have invested tens of millions of dollars in Russian coal, oil, and gas but more troubling, South Korea’s National Pension Service (NPS) has invested millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money in Russian coal, helping to fund Russia’s current exploits.

 

South Korea and its public and private financial institutions must cut ties with Russia’s fossil fuel industry. We demand South Korea immediately divest from Russian coal, oil, and gas projects and investments and urge other governments to divest and refrain from buying and investing in Russian fossil fuels. Beyond Ukraine, fossil fuels are driving conflicts globally and exacerbating the climate crisis. In this vein, we urge South Korea to stop financing fossil fuels globally, immediately begin a government-led decline of fossil fuels, and shift investments to renewable energy to safeguard a peaceful and sustainable future for South Korea.

 

We stand in solidarity of peace activists and citizens in Ukraine and Russia who are speaking out against the invasion. We send our condolences to all those in the peril of the war. We urge the Russian government to stop the invasion and withdraw troops. We oppose the war and call for a peaceful resolution.

 

Solutions for Our Climate

World Without War

Korean Federation for Environmental Movement

Youth Climate Emergency Action

 

 

 

ENDS. 

Solutions for Our Climate (SFOC) is a South Korea-based group that advocates for stronger climate policies and reforms in power regulations. SFOC is led by legal, economic, financial, and environmental experts with experience in energy and climate policy and works closely with policymakers.   

For media inquiries, please reach out to: 
Joseph Kim, Communications Officer, joseph.kim@forourclimate.org