Climate groups protest ANZ
Climate groups protest ANZ as “roadblock to real climate action” in light of IPCC 1.5°C report
9 October, 2018
On Friday 12th
October, grassroots climate groups will take action outside
ANZ branches to call for ANZ to stop financing the fossil
fuel industry and contributing to the climate change crisis.
The actions are a response to the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change
(IPCC) report released on 8 October that outlines the
impacts and feasibility of a 1.5°C warming scenario. The
difference between 1.5°C and 2°C of warming is life and
death for millions of people.
350 Aotearoa Executive
Director Erica Finnie said “The IPCC report makes the
science clear: immediate action is needed to stay below 1.5
degrees if warming. Anyone who continues to support new
fossil fuel projects is knowingly contributing to untold
suffering and devastation across the world. Banks hold
significant power in propping up the fossil fuel
industry’s business as usual by financing their
operations. Of New Zealand’s banks, ANZ are the biggest
funder of of new expansionary fossil fuel projects. Despite
publicly championing the Paris Climate Agreement, since 2015 ANZ bank have loaned over $7
billion dollars to fossil fuel projects. It’s time for
ANZ to cut its ties with the fossil fuel industry and stop
funding climate change.”
Local 350 Aotearoa groups
in Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, and Christchurch will hold
warning signs outside ANZ branches to alert customers and
the public to ANZ’s relationship with the fossil fuel
industry. They will also deliver copies of the IPCC’s 1.5
report to each branch, calling for ANZ CEO David Hisco to
implement a fossil fuel free policy. "ANZ are a roadblock to
a safe climate future. If we are to have any chance of
meeting the 1.5°C target in the Paris agreement, we need a
just transition to 100% renewable energy for all. ANZ are
lending billions of dollars to projects that damage the
environment and drive climate change, sustaining an industry
that is coming to its inevitable end. Their continued
support of the fossil fuel industry undermine their
commitment to the Paris Agreement and any real action on
climate change.”
The actions will take place at 12pm
Friday 12th October:
Auckland: 45 Queen St
Wellington: 180 Featherston
St
Nelson: 248 Trafalgar St
Christchurch: 127 Cashel
St
ENDS