Today the Council of the European Union will approve a statement that commits all Member States to end international public finance in the form of export credits for projects in the fossil fuel energy sector.

"With sky-high energy prices, it’s mind-boggling to allow the fossil fuel industry to rake in record profits at the expense of working families. What’s needed now is immediate relief for American consumers, which is what this commonsense windfall profits tax bill would provide," said Rees.

"The 'California Way' means protecting vulnerable communities and being a national leader in confronting climate chaos. Newsom has a huge chance to do both, but it will require bold action and follow-through, not just nice words," said Rees.

Over 200 progressive groups sent a letter to the White House urging President Biden to resist Big Oil and invoke the Defense Production Act in order to ramp up the deployment of renewable energy to transition the world off the fossil fuels that are leading to global instability.

Between 2016, following the adoption of the Paris Climate Agreement, and June 2021, public and private financial institutions poured at least $132 billion in lending and underwriting into 964 gas, oil and coal projects in West, East, Central and Southern Africa. The vast majority of this finance came from financial institutions based outside Africa, both commercial banks and public finance institutions like development banks and export credit agencies.