UNITED STATES
In the U.S., we’re working at all levels to halt fossil fuel expansion and align government policies with science and justice.
OVERVIEW OF WORK
In the United States, Oil Change is bringing mobilization, research, policy, and communications support to bear at the federal, state, and local levels to stop fossil fuel infrastructure projects and keep oil, gas, and coal in the ground. In partnership with grassroots movements, allies, and coalitions, Oil Change is working to end U.S. government subsidies and finance propping up the fossil fuel industry, and fighting for aggressive regulation of the private financial industry to end fossil finance.
Oil Change also works to support frontline communities confronting fossil fuel infrastructure across the North American continent. We prioritize supporting Indigenous and frontline voices, including working in partnership with local Indigenous groups as well as national and international coalitions.
LATEST PROGRAM POSTS
Rich countries have continued to approve USD 4.4 billion in international public finance despite committing to end this support by the end of 2022. Six countries including the United States, Germany, Italy and Japan have at least 26 fossil fuel projects awaiting approvals, with Germany having the biggest number of projects pending.
US main street banks like Wells Fargo and Bank of America have provided loans to Mountain Valley Pipeline since the beginning. These banks have continued pouring money into the project over recent years, despite numerous warnings that the project has been financially unsustainable, a threat to the climate and environmental justice communities in Appalachia.
“By voting for a dirty deal that fast-tracks the Mountain Valley fracked gas pipeline and guts bedrock environmental laws, Congress betrayed people and the planet."
Next week, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation is likely to consider a $500 million guarantee to help Polish oil and gas company PKN Orlen increase its imports of U.S. LNG, violating Biden’s commitment to end public finance for fossil fuels by the end of 2022.
LATEST PROGRAM RESEARCH
Two weeks before global leaders gather for the UN Climate Ambition Summit in New York, new analysis by Oil Change International shows that several major countries continue to pump $4.4 billion in public finance into international fossil fuel projects despite committing to end this support by the end of 2022.
From 2010-2021, the United States' trade and development finance institutions provided nearly five times as much support to fossil fuels as to renewables — over $51.6 billion for fossils compared to just $10.9 billion for renewables.
"President Biden promised to end the leasing program entirely due to its deadly threat to the climate, but Interior's recommendations fall far short of that goal — and ring particularly hollow days after the largest lease sale in U.S. history," said Rees.