Today development banks signed a joint declaration at the first global summit of development banks, Finance in Common. Before the summit, the UN Secretary General, youth climate activists, and over 300 civil society organisations all urged development banks to act to end fossil fuel investments. However, the joint declaration only includes a vague commitment to “consider” ways to reduce fossil fuel investments.
Press Releases
G20 Backtracks on Fossil Fuel Funding Phase-Out in COVID-19 Recovery
Despite repeated pledges to end inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, G20 governments’ support to fossil fuels has dropped by only 9% since 2014–2016, hitting USD 584 billion annually over the last three years, according to a report released today by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), and Oil Change International (OCI).
European Development Finance Institutions fall short on climate ambition by allowing continued financing for fossil gas
European Development Finance Institutions fall short on climate ambition by allowing continued financing for fossil gasToday, one week ahead of the Finance in Common Summit, the Association of European Development Finance Institutions (EDFI) announced joint ambitions for climate action. The institutions commit to full Paris alignment by 2022 and to end coal and fuel oil financing. For gas finance, they commit to “generally exclude [such finance] by 2030 at the latest”, but leave the room open to gas financing beyond 2030 in certain cases.
U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley Introduces Pair of Bills to Halt Financial Investments in Fossil Fuels
“If banks won’t stop funding climate devastation, our government must force their hand, and Senator Merkley’s bills would force the action we need,” said David Turnbull of Oil Change International.
Oil Change International Response to New Report Revealing that UKEF Switch to Renewables Could Deliver 42,000 Jobs
“This report shows that the UK has a clear opportunity to show climate leadership and stop propping up deadly fossil fuels with public money.
Oil Change International Response to IEA’s 2020 World Energy Outlook
Limiting warming to 1.5ºC is both urgent and possible, but governments and investors alike need pathways that allow them to plan for success, not further entrench fossil fuels.
Statement: France fails to show climate leadership with proposed export finance policy
Today, the French government outlined new measures aimed at greening the country’s export credit support policy. Under the proposed new policy, France will continue supporting fossil fuel projects worldwide until at least 2035. OCI urges the French government to reconsider this end date as it is grossly misaligned with the Paris Agreement.
Stop the Money Pipeline: JPMorgan Chase Can’t Be Paris-Aligned If It’s Still Funding Fossil Fuels
“Chase’s path to aligning with the Paris Agreement is obvious — it must stop funding fossil fuels immediately. Anything short of an end to fossil finance is woefully insufficient.”
Fracking Fiasco: New report names Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase as main players funding U.S. shale bust
A new report by Oil Change International and Rainforest Action Network (RAN) shows how major banks have continued pouring money into fracking companies in recent years despite numerous warnings that the sector was financially unsustainable — on top of the well-documented environmental, health and climate impacts of the industry.
Last Chance Alliance: California Governor Newsom’s Executive Order on Climate Is Missing Action on Oil
The Last Chance Alliance coalition pointed out that while Newsom’s announcement was commendable on some accounts, its failure to commit to a phase-out of oil production and a clear just transition policy to support workers and communities makes the order falls short.