Since the IPCC released its 1.5°C report and as part of the #GasdownFrackdown last weekend, activists have been targeting banks role in the climate crisis in increasing numbers.
Momentum is growing to take on the economic structures at the root cause of the climate crisis. We’re calling for continued organising and action targeting banks for their role in financing new fossil fuels. Here are some of the highlights of whats happened so far:
- In France, over 40 actions targeted Société Générale. People demanded that the bank “stops boiling the planet”. Société Générale finances the Rio Grande LNG pipeline, which would bring fracked gas from the US to Europe.
Activists in Grenoble, France, demonstrating in front of a Société Générale branch.
- Geneva in Switzerland hosted a 7,000 people strong climate march. It’s most likely the biggest climate march ever in Switzerland. We were there and you can read our impressions here. Protesters delivered the IPCC report to the Swiss National Bank and Credit Suisse. The report acts as a reminder that we need bold climate action to keep global warming below 1.5°C. Both banks fund projects like the Dakota Access and Keystone XL pipeline.
55 seconds of collective energy. 7000 participants from all over Switzerland. 2 strong messages: the time has come for ambitious action on climate change. The SNB must divest from fossil fuels. #ClimateAction pic.twitter.com/tKC5at6Q8x
— Climate Alliance Switzerland (@climalliancech) October 16, 2018
- Activists in Basel, Switzerland, sent a solidarity message to the defenders of the German Hambacher Forest: UBS and Credit Suisse need to stop their investment in coal giant RWE. The two banks hold a total of 2.3 billions in RWE, the company that wants to cut down the Hambach Forest to enlarge its massive lignite coal mine.
- Barclays was the target in Oxford, UK, where Oxford residents protested the bank’s involvement in fracking.
Activists reading out their demands in the Barclays Oxford branch.
- The European Investment Bank got a surprise visit by climate justice activists in Lisbon, Portugal. They carried a symbolic pipeline through the city, in protest of a 160 km long gas pipeline, financially supported by the European Commission. In Belgium, action was held at the European Parliament in Brussels.
Activists carrying pipeline pieces that read “Gas is as natural as mass extinction”.
- An Italian customer of Intesa Sanpaolo had enough and closed his account. He protests over the bank’s investment into the Dakota Access and Trans Adriatic pipelines.
Banner drops, rallies, & conferences, from Germany to Bali to South Africa! & only the beginning of #GasdownFrackdown!
In solidarity with the struggle against gas, an ally in Italy closes his account w. @intesasanpaolo bank!
The fight is global, but so is our solidarity! pic.twitter.com/ImL60wLMDW— Gastivists Network (@gastivists) October 12, 2018
Feel inspired by what others have been doing? It’s not too late to take action this week: Find all the information you need in our Step by Step Action Guide. Follow us on Twitter to always hear about the latest actions.