Students are leading a campaign to stop the world’s biggest banks from pouring billions into the fossil fuel industry - because there’s no future in fossil fuels, for our careers or our planet.
The Banking on Climate Chaos report found that over the past 7 years, just 4 banks were responsible for 25% of all fossil fuel funding by banks, a massive $5.5 trillion from 60 banks in total. The Dirty Dozen banks were behind 50% of the bankrolling, including Barclays, Europe's top fossil fuel funding bank.
The Guardian reported that just 100 companies - fossil fuel producers and their investors - are responsible for 71% of all global emissions.
The problem is clear: The fossil fuel industry needs money to fuel the climate crisis, and banks are giving it to them. Banks must stop this funding.
Banks rely on students and universities for recruitment, reputation, and business: they need us. Through university campaigns across the country, we are using this reliance to demand that they stop funding fossil fuels.
Other campaigns have been successful: For example, the University of California system of ten universities, and the cities of Seattle and Davis all broke ties with Wells Fargo after student campaigning against the bank's funding of private prisons and investment in the Dakota Access Pipeline. Christian Aid, one of the UK's largest charities, cut ties with Barclays over fossil fuel financing.
We can stop fossil fuel funding by building a movement in our university communities: Join or start a campaign today
List of links to further resources on other successful campaigns:
The Guardian UCSD: UC System Divests from Private Prison Industry
City On A Hill Press: UC Divests from Wells Fargo
Daily Cal: UC to divest from Wells Fargo after Afrikan Black Coalition advocacy
Petition: Divest from Wells Fargo! University of California (UC) Prison Divestment!
The Guardian: Just 100 companies responsible for 71% of global emissions, study says (July 2017)
Bloomberg: Christian Nonprofit Ditches Barclays Over Oil and Gas Financing (July 2023)
We're at various stages of building campaigns with students across universities: Send us a message with the form below to join the campaign at your institution or to start a new one, or just to find out more. Don't worry about how much experience you have: We'll provide the training, support, and connections you need to launch your campaign with other students.
