Ecologic Institute distances itself from awarding Israel with the "Fossil of the Day" and the related statement. The Climate Action Network (CAN) awarded the "Fossil of the Day" at the UN Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai on December 10, 2023. Ecologic Institute was not involved in the selection process or the drafting of the statement accompanying the award.

Ecologic Institute condemns any form of terror and war. Our heart goes out to all those who are suffering in the conflict between Israel and Palestine and to those who have lost family members and loved ones.

In its own words, the "Fossil of the Day" aims to single out the parties involved in the climate negotiations that have "done their ‘best’ to block progress in the negotiations in the last few days of talks." Awarding the "Fossil of the Day" to Israel is a departure from the above-stated climate and negotiation policy goal. For one, the reason given for the award has nothing to do with the on-site climate negotiations. It further fails to do justice to the complexity of the conflict, by failing to mention the Israeli victims of the recent terrorist attack. We therefore reject both the decision to award and the reasons given.

Ecologic Institute is observer member of CAN Europe and as such one of the approximately 1,900 members of CAN international. Ecologic Institute is part of this climate policy and civil society network along with other research institutes with the aim of helping to bridge the gap between science and civil society. We value the occasionally heated exchange of views and proposed solutions in a context of complexity, conflicting goals and uncertainty. Camilla Bausch emphasizes the importance of CAN as a climate policy network, but notes: “Should I subsequently realize that CAN is shifting its thematic focus and that universal values such as solidarity with all those affected, human rights for all and international humanitarian law are not being represented in the value compass of this network, I will terminate the membership of Ecologic Institute.”