Active Campaign
DIVEST THE DIRT
While you’re out there on the slopes, on the trail and in nature, are you thinking about what your bank is doing with your money?
Too many banks are still investing money into dirty fossil fuel activities which put our planet and our future under threat. Your bank might be one of them. Let’s change that.
WILL YOU JOIN US?
TAKE ACTION THROUGH YOUR LOCAL POW CHAPTER OR WITH POW EUROPE
POW Europe is a network of nine national chapters, all working together as a loud, united outdoors community to make a bigger impact. Get involved in your national POW climate finance initiative and influence change locally, or if there is no POW chapter in your country take part in our European-wide action. Just click on the map.
TAKE ACTION THROUGH YOUR LOCAL POW CHAPTER OR WITH POW EUROPE
POW Europe is a network of nine national chapters, all working together as a loud, united outdoors community to make a bigger impact. Get involved in your national POW climate finance initiative and influence change locally, or if there is no POW chapter in your country take part in our European-wide action:
COUNT ME IN! SO WHAT DO WE DO??
Despite pressure to shift investments to sustainable options, the world’s biggest banks continue to increase their financing into fossil fuel activities. In 2020 alone, 17 European banks put nearly €162 billion EUR into fossil fuel companies. Banks need to change course immediately. The future of the outdoors depends on it.
With COP26 around the corner, we must demand that banks’ investments match their Paris Agreement promises. They need to have a fossil fuel phase-out plan if there’s any hope of meeting the 1.5°C target. We need you to ask your bank if they are investing in fossil fuels. Your voice matters and your money matters. Together we can protect the great outdoors and build a sustainable future we want to live in.
Write to your bank today to find out what they do with your money and if they have a fossil fuel phase-out plan.
Why Climate Finance? Why Now?
The latest and most stark warning of our climate breakdown from the 2021 IPCC Report makes it clear that immediate action needs to be taken. In order to meet the 1.5°C target in the Paris Agreement, there should be no more development of new oil, gas, or coal beyond 2021 (International Energy Agency). The time is up for allowing our banks to fund fossil fuel projects without our consent.
With COP26 on the horizon, all eyes will be on world leaders to make bold climate decisions. One of the big agenda items for COP is climate finance, so we’re seizing this opportunity to put pressure on financial institutions. The decisions made at COP26 will affect the future of all our lives and the outdoor places we love.
The EU Commission adopted an Action Plan for Financing Sustainable Growth. As part of this plan, the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), the Low Carbon Benchmarks Regulation and the new EU Taxonomy impose mandatory ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) disclosure obligations for financial institutions. This requires all financial institutions to disclose to what extent they are associated with sustainable economic activity.
This is happening soon, giving us a small window of opportunity to show banks that we’re paying attention. Their disclosures will not go unnoticed and we have high expectations. You have the power to influence your bank and let them know this matters to you and that you will give your money only to the greenest bank. Find out what your bank is doing with your money.
A GLOBAL POW MOVEMENT
The Protect Our Winters network is leveraging its global outdoor community and campaigning together for climate finance change. Giving those who ski, hike, climb, or ride bikes the tools to take action and empower them to use their money to help finance a greener world.
POW US is focusing on the financial portfolios of outdoor brands, because greening their financial supply chain is actually one of the most powerful things a company can do for the planet.
POW Canada is targeting Canada’s five largest banks through their #BankingOnNature campaign.
POW UK is demanding local councils divest their pensions, because 75% of local UK councils declared a climate crisis, they collectively hold investments of nearly £10 billion in sketchy fossil fuel funds.
POW Norway is focusing on retail banks’ financing of fossil fuel exploration in the Arctic Circle.
POW Europe (along with 7 continental POW chapters) is targeting retail banks.
Source: Banking on Climate Chaos (RAN 2021)
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?
Have you sent the letter to your bank, shared the message and looked into changing to a greener bank and now wonder what more you can do? If you want to have an even bigger impact than sending a mail, consider calling your bank or go to your bank and ask to speak to a manager and express your concerns.
We’d like to hear what your bank has to say about your concerns and questions. Send us the responses you receive to campaigns@protectourwinters.eu.
We have plenty of other ideas what you can do to make your money greener. If you opted in to our newsletter, we will be back in touch a few weeks after this first phase of the campaign to talk about what steps you can take next.
In the meantime see some ways you can support our work and other campaigns below.
SPREAD THE WORD
Our power is in numbers. Help spread the world and get more people on board by following us on social media and sharing our posts.
DONATE
Everything we do is because of your support. Donate and help us build momentum up until COP26. All donations go directly to driving climate change solutions.
GET INVOLVED IN OUR CAMPAIGNS
Around 80% of environmental laws in Europe are made at the EU level. Get involved in our other campaigns and help influence systemic change.
