“…a weak plan at a time when we need bold and transformative action.”
New York, NY — Today, New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli released a Climate Action Plan, one week after his shareholder engagement efforts once again failed at ExxonMobil’s annual general meeting. New Yorkers launched the call for DiNapoli to divest from fossil fuels the day after Superstorm Sandy hit in 2012, a storm intensified by fossil fuels and climate change that many communities are still recovering from.
On this latest plan, Lindsay Meiman, New Yorker and 350.org spokesperson, issued the following statement:
“Overall, this is a weak plan at a time when we need bold and transformative action. Any efforts DiNapoli makes to act on the climate crisis are immediately undermined by his multi-billion dollar investments in rogue fossil fuel companies like ExxonMobil. The plan includes no benchmarks, no firm delivery deadlines, no parameters to measure companies’ actions, and doesn’t even commit to divest from thermal coal companies, including ones on the edge of bankruptcy. It’s a testament to the pressure from New Yorkers that the state pension fund is releasing this plan at all, finally recognizing the need to divest from reckless companies that don’t meet minimum standards. With DiNapoli continuing his lip service and incrementalism, it’s time the legislature pass the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act and reinvest in real solutions to the climate crisis.”
As New Yorkers continue to push DiNapoli to take meaningful action on the climate crisis, leaders in the legislature, such as Senator Liz Krueger and Assemblymember Felix Ortiz, are gaining steam on support for the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act. The Act currently has support from 28 senators and 38 assembly members.
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For more on New York State’s Common Retirement Fund by the numbers, explore this resource.
Contact: Lindsay Meiman, lindsay@350.org, (347) 460-9082