The Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action group has sent an open letter to the major Australian banks calling on them to stop funding new fossil fuel projects and to set dates by which their exposure to coal, oil and gas will be completely phased out, in line with 1.5 degrees of global warming.
Thanks to donations from supporters it was published as a full-page ad in the newspaper the bankers read.
Now we need to make sure they really take notice!
Can you print out the letter and snail mail it to Westpac?
Westpac has poured $5.4 billion into coal, oil and gas projects and companies since the Paris Agreement on climate change was signed. Right now Westpac is in the process of updating its clearly inadequate climate policies. Unless Westpac hears from community members demanding change, then it is very likely to continue its climate-wrecking business as usual.
In solidarity with the bushfire survivors we’re asking everyone to please:
- download the letter,
- print it out (please use recycled paper),
- write you own short message on the back, and
- send it (no stamp needed) to: Westpac Feedback and Complaints, Reply Paid 5265, Sydney NSW 2001.
Don’t have a printer? Just fill out the form on our member group, Market Forces'website and they can mail a copy of the letter on recycled paper for you!
Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic it is not safe for us to rally outside Westpac’s offices as planned, but we can still make our presence felt by going back to basics and flooding Westpac’s mailroom with this important letter from bushfire survivors.
For more information on the banks’ fossil fuel lending click here.