Issue #7: A global movement
Ending plastic pollution & investment in fossil fuels, worldwide.
Kia ora & happy Tuesday! Hope you’re enjoying the drier weather and are hitting your Wordle goals ✨ (unless you’re part of the control group, of course).
The most clicked link from last week’s issue was the petition to remove fossil fuel logos from All Blacks team shirts.
This week, there are just two actions, both global in impact, and one of them very time-sensitive ⏳ Read on and get involved in these worldwide campaigns, one of which you can do tonight or tomorrow to help cut off finance for new fossil fuel projects globally.
What can you do today?
🐝 5 mins: Sunset the plastic industry
Plastics are devastating for the environment, our health, and emissions. We know this, and yet our consumption is set to quadruple by 2050 if no changes are made. At the UN Environment Assembly starting in two weeks, the UN will consider a new ambitious global treaty to end plastic pollution (more info here). Sign the following petitions to tell world leaders that we need a strong global treaty to manage plastics sustainably:
Action: Greenpeace: Call on the NZ government to support a strong Global Plastic Treaty
Action: Avaaz: Demand an ambitious global treaty on plastics from all world leaders
🐇 15 mins: Tell global banks to step off the gas
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision is a little-known committee that sets the standards for banking regulation for the whole world. What’s more, they're asking for your input on banking and the climate crisis. This could shift the entire banking system away from fossil fuels. Public consultation closes on the 16th of February (tomorrow!).
Action: Add your voice to the global push for an end to fossil fuel expansion using this submission guide
💃🏽 30+ mins: Really give the banks your two cents
If you have a bit more time, a personalised submission is always a great option as these are more likely to make an impact on the readers on the other side.
Action: Write your own submission for the Basel Committee climate risks consultation
In case you missed it!
These are actions that we’ve already talked about in previous newsletters which are still ongoing and that we think are high-impact.
In Issue #4, we talked about moving our savings away from banks that are still investing in fossil fuels, using 350 Aotearoa’s guide. Last week, we got a wonderful email from one of our subscribers, Ellen, who shared with us the email that she sent to her bank:
Kia ora,
I am contacting to inform BNZ, as a lifelong customer, I will no longer be banking with your company. I do not consent to my money being used to invest in fossil fuels. It is 2022 and it is no longer acceptable that businesses, especially large corporations such as BNZ, support industries that are directly contributing to the degradation of our precious and only home. I hope in the future BNZ is able to shift its attention to ethical investments, until that time, I chose to take my savings elsewhere.
Ngā mihi,
Ellen
With Ellen’s email as inspiration, 350 have now updated their Fossil Free Banks guide to include an email template. This makes it even easier for you to amplify your impact of switching banks, by letting your ex-bank know why you’re leaving!
That’s all for today, folks 👋🏽 Thanks for taking action. Enjoy this Greener Wordle, which challenges you with climate change & environment-related words.
See you next week,
Dhanya, Emily, and Jenny from the Climate Club
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