Beyond Fossil Fuels - #GG20

Friends don't let friends burn more fossil fuels.

We need to be on a path to ending our dependence to fossil fuels in our lifetimes. Love your support #GG20

[Beyond Fossil Fuels - #GG20 @BFF_Campaign]

Thank you for supporting our work on @Giveth!

https://t.co/iOH806Xs9G

[Djimo Serodio 🌳 @DjimoSerodio]

Excited to present 'How to plant 1 trillion trees' and @SilviProtocol on the 14th at @EarthCommons #EarthCommons #ECBerkeley

[Al Gore @algore]

The chances for real progress at COP28 were badly damaged early this year when an oil company CEO was appointed to lead the negotiations. And now investigative journalists have confirmed some of the worst fears of those who criticized that absurd appointment with the shocking news that the President-designate has been using the meetings he has set up with nations around the world to sell more oil and gas. At the same time, the fossil fuel company he leads (the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company) has been preparing to launch one of the largest expansions of oil and gas production of any company in the world — timed to begin immediately after COP28 concludes.

Using international climate talks as leverage to shore up support for pumping more oil and gas at a time when we urgently need to phase out fossil fuels is — to say the least — utterly appalling.

[Beyond Fossil Fuels - #GG20 @BFF_Campaign]

Check out the Gitcoin #GG19 climate solutions impact map.

[Elephant Room - Campaigns for the Climate @ClimateRace]

Out sick for most of #GG19 but finally created this map showing all the places where Gitcoin climate projects are working their magic. Will throw more love onto more great projects today! Elephant Room’s pretty late this round but would love your support. https://t.co/pgVuqnPxrd

[Melina Laboucan @Melina_MLM]

Start your journey towards true reconciliation by learning about the hidden histories of our past so we can heal our future together. This #NationalIndigenousPeoplesDay WATCH 🎥 Power to the People now airing on @weathernetwork

[Beyond Fossil Fuels - #GG20 @BFF_Campaign]

@BenWest Juggling Ben around the world

[Gitcoin @gitcoin]

brb getting my last minute funding in

[Beyond Fossil Fuels - #GG20 @BFF_Campaign]

@forkinwisdom @alphabiota @gitcoin @ekonavi_com @ForkForest @SilviProtocol @shambanetwork @agroforestDAO @SunflowerEcoTec Very cool - will support!

[Beyond Fossil Fuels - #GG20 @BFF_Campaign]

@alphabiota @gitcoin @ekonavi_com @ForkForest @SilviProtocol @shambanetwork @agroforestDAO @SunflowerEcoTec Thank you!!

[🙃 Ben WΞst 🦋 @BenWest]

Hey @BFF_Campaign check out this video @forkinwisdom made about the Wet'suwet'en fundraiser!👀

a couple days left to support this campaign in #gg18.

https://t.co/A3GojtfpKX

You can also just donate directly here: https://t.co/OK8BhjVQrF

[Beyond Fossil Fuels - #GG20 @BFF_Campaign]

@litter_token @T_H_Warriors Thank you!

[Beyond Fossil Fuels - #GG20 @BFF_Campaign]

@mathildawrites Beyond Fossil Fuels - Supporting Indigenous legal efforts to STOP fossil fuel infrastructure.

Holding fossil fuel companies and governments accountable for climate change and other environmental damage. #GG18

https://t.co/6vari6FDiD

[Beyond Fossil Fuels - #GG20 @BFF_Campaign]

@HelpersSocial @Solar_FND Fantastic work!!

[Beyond Fossil Fuels - #GG20 @BFF_Campaign]

@litter_token @T_H_Warriors Thank you for your support! #GG18

[Beyond Fossil Fuels - #GG20 @BFF_Campaign]

https://t.co/rQmtmTPdO4

[Mark Ruffalo @MarkRuffalo]

Canada’s Royal Canadian Mounted Police are using the same tactics on First Nations people that the USA and Canada use on their foes in war. It’s a war on First Nation water and land defenders. https://t.co/9HxJU9uklT

[Beyond Fossil Fuels - #GG20 @BFF_Campaign]

@kokodaoxyz Hey @kokodaoxyz we would love your support in #GG18!😀👋

We're supporting Indigenous communities working on climate solutions with legal actions and more...

https://t.co/6vari6FDiD

[Beyond Fossil Fuels - #GG20 @BFF_Campaign]

@gitcoin #gg18

[🙃 Ben WΞst 🦋 @BenWest]

I've been reflecting on this situation with Shell and Gitcoin… 

Having worked in environmental campaigns and green politics since I was in my teens (I'm currently 46) the discussion of "dirty money" is an old one and always a difficult topic. It's a lose lose scenario, a lot less money for important work vs problematic optics (if not worse). 

This funding can genuinely make a HUGE difference to a wide range of projects in the global south and around the world and it didn't feel right to make that decision on their behalf.

My hope was that by giving grantees the choice of opting into this funding pool we could at least make this decision for themselves.

I see Gitcoin as an incredibly effective bridge between legacy institutions and web3. I was so proud to work with Unicef at the end of last year and so much more is possible. My hope is that we continue to work with big brands but get better at setting guardrails and boundaries within our ever evolving open source protocol.

I have always felt that as long as you stay true to yourself and your core values you can take money from people or organizations that you disagree with, Even ones you vehemently oppose, when there is common ground. Did I mention I have personally organized large protests outside of Shell facilities on more than one occasion in my life? 

 It says a lot that many seemed to think this was satire. Where is @evil_gitcoin when you need them, right? Gitcoin's values and purpose are so fundamental to the DAO that I don't believe any money from "surprising" partners could move us off course.

Ultimately for me the bigger picture is the urgency of climate solutions that are more important than any brand value calculation. If more money goes to things that potentially have the chance to have an impact at scale or even if we can just support more people who are already feeling the effects of climate change on the ground, then that is worth doing. That is what really tipped the scales for me on this partnership. 

I could not be more acutely aware of this company's history and reputation. I didn't love seeing the logo of Gitcoin, which means so much to me, next to one that I have… a different association with. But what I can say is the people that we have met and are coordinating with from the blockchain team within this massive company make me feel confident that the work we are doing together can be meaningful and useful for our grantees and our community. 

 It's a complicated world and in my experience there are a lot of good people working in companies that do bad things. And I'm glad they are there to make things better. We need everyone everywhere doing whatever they can and we sometimes need to make uncomfortable partnerships to get things done. 

I'm not asking you to like Shell, I'm not asking myself to either.

I agree we could have introduced this idea better to the community. It really brought to light for me the dynamic tension that exists between building in public and negotiating in private. The slow pace of old school contract negotiations and marketing plans is so different from the fast moving world we are living in. That ultimately was a part of this problem and I think the "voice of Gitcoin" got lost in the mix. What couldn't be more clear to me from this week is how strong and principled this community is and that as long as the Gitcoin community remains engaged and involved Gitcoin will be just fine.

But what about the current situation you might be thinking… I know a governance process seems like a lame cop out but i'm actually really hopeful that we can create a partnerships framework for the DAO together and perhaps shift relationships like this one with big brands that may not be the right fit in our Grants Program to be something that is happening at arms length from the DAO...

🧵 1/2

[Beyond Fossil Fuels - #GG20 @BFF_Campaign]

Watch “Gitcoin Climate Solutions” on #Vimeo https://t.co/TgLannBmKY

[Khalon Bridge @KhalonBridge]

Emerging Markets stand the most to gain from what web3 has to offer so let's take a closer look at the @gitcoin #alpharound Emerging Economies and Indigenous Communities bundle.