Let's Tell U.S. Banks to Divest Our Money from Fossil Fuels and Reinvest in Clean Energy

Banks are crucial to the fossil fuels industry. By divesting from fossil fuels and reinvesting those funds in renewable energies, banks could lead in the fight to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow global warming. Their collective financial resources could fund the urgently needed advancement into clean energy. Investments could lower the costs of alternative energy sources and transfer the majority of our energy to solar, wind and hydro. The U.S. can and should be powered by green energy!

In order to avoid the worst of climate change we will need to double our current investment spending in clean energy while eliminating fossil fuel investments. Scientists warn that we have only until 2030 to cut our global emissions in half to avoid a course of irreversible damage to life on earth.

The Four Worst U.S. Banks
Through our personal bank accounts, we are unintentionally contributing to investments in fossil fuels. Over the last four years, 35 of the world's largest banks invested $2.7 trillion dollars in fossil fuels. JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citi and Bank of America are the world's largest fossil fuel lenders. They account for roughly 33% of those global fossil fuels investments. This cannot continue.

The entire world is experiencing the hardships of COVID-19. This dramatic global pause has given the environment an opportunity to recover. The benefits of cleaner air, oceans and rivers can already be seen from space. When our societies reopen we must commit and transition to clean energies so that we can achieve the life saving benefits of a lasting cleaner environment.

Youth Vision
I am a 14 year old who wants to see human and animal life survive on this planet. We young people envision a better world. We dream of a vibrant planet. Sadly this crisis will not wait for us to become adults. The consequences of global warming are forcing us to grow up fast, to participate in finding solutions and to demand change NOW.

Changing Mindsets
The world is waking up. In 2014 the World Bank announced a shift in its energy financing of coal to renewable energy. As of September 2019, governments, pension funds, faith based organizations, philanthropic foundations and educational institutions across the globe have committed to divest a total of $11.48 trillion. This encouraging number will only grow!

Your participation is powerful. Please join me in calling on these U.S. banks to DIVEST from fossil fuels and to REINVEST in clean energy NOW.


My Sources and Further Learning

The Rainforest Action Network's 2020 Banking on Climate Change report. https://www.ran.org/bankingonclimatechange2020/
Divestment works – and one huge bank can lead the way- Bill McKibben. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/oct/13/divestment-bank-european-investment-fossil-fuels
The Future We Choose: Surviving The Climate Crisis By Christiana Figures & Tom Rivett-Carnac
TED Talks
The most important thing you can do to fight climate change: talk about it. https://www.ted.com/talks/katharine_hayhoe_the_most_important_thing_you_can_do_to_fight_climate_change_talk_about_it
The inside story of the Paris climate agreement. https://www.ted.com/talks/christiana_figueres_the_inside_story_of_the_paris_climate_agreement
How we can turn the tide on climate — Christiana Figueres and Chris Anderson. TED Countdown. https://www.ted.com/talks/christiana_figueres_and_chris_andersonhow_we_can_turn_the_tide_on_climate