Actions

BANKING ON OUR FUTURE!

This month’s action is to sign the Banking on our Future pledge, a campaign from THIRD ACT to get the big four banks to STOP lending to fossil fuel companies. It’s quick and easy, and could have a big impact! These four banks–Bank of America, Chase, Citibank, and Wells Fargo, are funding climate chaos with no plans to stop. You can help change that by signing the Pledge:

Last year, the International Energy Agency stated that in order to meet the Paris climate targets there can be no new investments in oil, gas, or coal, starting immediately. Yet since the climate accords were signed, Chase, Citi, Wells Fargo and Bank of America have loaned the fossil fuel industry a trillion dollars with no plans to stop.

But these banks rely on their credit card and banking customers to stay in business. An effective consumer campaign could exert powerful economic and social pressure on them to stop funding the destruction of a stable climate through fossil fuel investing. You can help by pledging that by the end of 2022, if these banks are still funding fossil fuel projects, you will cut up your credit card and close your account with them. If you don’t bank there now, you pledge you won’t do so in the future.

To learn more:
Banking on Our Future, a 3-minute video from Third Act
An overview of the connection between financial institutions and the climate crisis, from the New Yorker

To check your bank’s fossil fuel financing record:
Bank.green, a tool rating various banks on their fossil fuel financing record

Resources to find better credit cards for the climate:
Green America’s list of credit cards issued from banks that don’t lend to fossil fuel companies.

EMAIL FOR CLIMATE ACTION TODAY!

Citizens’ Climate Lobby has easy-to-use tools you can use any time to ask the President and Congress to take action on climate. And unlike many other groups, they allow you to opt-out of getting on their email list when you use their tool, so you don’t have to increase your email burden!

Use the link below to contact your Senator, Congressperson, or President Biden and urge them to pass bold climate policies (such as a price on carbon) that reach the critical goal of 50% emissions reductions by 2030, opening a path toward meeting our aspirations under the Paris Climate Accord.

Follow the easy instructions to email your elected officials or President Biden. If you are feeling ambitious, you can do both! The more voters they hear from, the more likely it is that Congress and the President will find a way to pass climate policies that truly meet the moment.

Many powerful interests are fighting to weaken and derail these efforts. YOU can help by letting Congress and the President know you want them to pass sweeping, bold action tackling the climate crisis!

TALK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE!

There is one simple step you can take that many climate experts say is the single most effective thing you can do to help solve the climate crisis. Talk about it with your friends and family members. Talk about why you care, and what actions you are taking to contribute to solutions. 

There is no need to talk to skeptics or deniers. Talk to those who are concerned about climate change to some extent. As climate scientist Dr. Katherine Hayhoe has said, “The biggest challenge isn’t science denial, it’s complacency.”

Here are several resources to inspire you:

Katherine Hayhoe, Why you should talk about climate change right now, Gizmodo, October 13, 2021.

Funny 1-minute Video on talking about climate change.