The European Parliament on Thursday, September 15, 2022, adopted a resolution that officially recognises the disastrous consequences for both human rights and the climate due to the construction of East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) by Total.
The pipeline, under construction in Uganda and Tanzania, would be the largest heated oil pipeline in the world. More than one hundred thousand families and farmers are already being displaced from their lands.
If completed, the pipeline would generate over 34 million tons of CO2 emissions every year, and threaten protected wildlife.
The EU resolution puts further pressure on the financiers and corporations behind EACOP that are already facing sustained resistance from local communities – and millions of people around the world.
The decision comes against the background of recent protests by communities in parts of Uganda, citing failure by Total to mitigate against the impacts of the Tilenga oil projects on them.
Clémence Dubois, France Team Lead at 350.org, says: “This is an important step forward in the fight against EACOP. The pressure is growing daily against Total and this project at all levels of society and throughout the world. We won’t stop until the project is stopped. No banks or financers who currently fund Total can ignore their responsibility, and they should be prepared to meet increasing pressure too, until they stop financing climate bombs like this around the world.”
Omar Elmawi, Coordinator at Stop EACOP campaign, says: “By denouncing the persecution and intimidation of human rights defenders who dare to criticise the project – several of whom have been arbitrarily arrested in the past – the resolution by the European parliament is sending a clear message that the rights of the people in Uganda and Tanzania should come before the interests of corporations and governments out to enrich themselves.
“The resolution however urges Total to study the feasibility of an alternative road but if we want to safeguard the environment and water resources, there’s only one road – ending this project that violates human rights and our environment. Communities and climate activists have already expressed their concerns and continued resistance to EACOP. The responsibility lies with the financiers to take a stand against this project.”
