How to shift investment away from dirty fossil fuels
Divestment is an often overlooked but incredibly powerful way to accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels. At our recent event we focused on Divestment with help from Market Forces.
Invest in your planet event, Waurn Ponds Library, 26 April 2023
Kyle Robertson is the Australian Banks Campaigner and Researcher at Market Forces, he explains the ways that individuals create positive change through the way we ‘Invest in the planet’ with a focus on how we utilise our money.
“Divestment is a major step towards cutting your ties with climate wrecking fossil fuels and therefore reducing your carbon footprint. It sits alongside moves such as switching to a renewable energy provider and cutting gas use as one of the most effective ways to reduce your personal carbon footprint.”
– Kyle Robertson, Market Forces
As individuals who have savings in banks, investments in shares and super funds, you have the power to choose whether your money funds environmental destruction or an energy transformation and climate solutions. Divestment demands accountability from financial institutions in the climate emergency and pressures these institutions to protect and not harm the environment, climate and future.
Watch the event recording: Invest in your planet: Shift away from the fossil fuel industry with Market Forces
This session encouraged us to be empowered to have an active relationship with our money and showed us how impactful these changes can be through stories of successful campaigns. The landscape might appear complex but there are simple actions for individuals to make an impact.
Steps to make a difference through Divestment
- Know where your money is – bank, superannuation, insurance, shares
- Explore how they use your money and what they are funding
- If they are big funders of fossil fuels put the institution on notice
- Identify a more sustainable and ethical institution
- Make the switch
- Share with what you have learnt with friends and family
Use the Market Forces resources to compare:
- Where does your bank stand? Bank Comparison Table
- What future is your super funding? Super Funds Comparison Table
- Insuring a safe climate. Insurance Company Comparison Table
Who are Market Forces?
Market Forces believes that the banks, superannuation funds and governments that have custody of our money should use it to protect our environment. Not damage it. Our work exposes the institutions that are financing environmentally destructive projects. We help the community to hold these institutions accountable, and prevent investment in projects that would harm the environment and drive climate change. www.marketforces.org.au