United Nations Environment Programme
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Online event
Save Children’s Lives: Responsible Banking Survival Guide
3 July 2024
- Overview
- Action Checklist
- Additional Resources
On 9th May 2022, the World Council of Churches (WCC), Faith for Earth of the United Nations Environment Programme, the Muslim Council of Elders, and the New York Board of Rabbis launched the appeal “Climate-Responsible Finance: A Moral Imperative towards Children” urging financial service providers to align with what science says is needed for human survival.
See previous events in 2022 and 2023.
On 3 July 2024, we are honoured by Dia Mirza, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Goodwill Ambassador, who will facilitate the event.
Esteemed speakers will include:
- Andrew David Raine, Deputy Director of the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) Law Division
- Ellyanne Wanjiku-Chlystun (13 years), Africa's Youngest Climate Finance & Health Champion
- Dr. Iyad Abumoghli, Founder and Director of the Faith for Earth Coalition of UNEP
- Rosie Venner, Just Money Movement
- Dr. Anne Olhoff, Chief Climate Advisor, UNEP Copenhagen Climate Center
- Foday Bangura (19 years), co-author of the Children's Declaration to the New Global Financing Summit
- Eric Usher, Head of UNEP Finance Initiative
- Megan Clay, Client Earth
- François de Cambiaire, attorney specialised in responsible banking
The objectives of the event are to:
- support participants in seizing the power of climate-responsible financial choices
- inspire participants through testimonials by faith leaders
- share insights on the changing legal landscape for financial choices
Action Checklist
- If you only have 10 minutes or limited capacity, adapt a template letter and send it to the CEO of your bank.
- Check the climate credentials of your bank using the Laudato Si Movement search engine or Bank.Green.
- If your bank is not making progress, switch but make sure to tell your bank why you are switching.
- Share your commitment to stopping investments in fossil fuels with a Green Investment Declaration or on the Laudato Si’ Movement platform.
- Arrange a meeting with your organisation’s bank or asset manager, pension fund, and insurance provider to verify that their investment strategies exclude fossil fuels.
- Share the resources from the May 9 appeal with your organization, partners, colleagues, friends, family, or on social media.
Additional tools and resources
Tools to check your bank’s sustainability
- Bank Boycott - Laudato Si’ Movement
- Bank.Green
- Calculate Your Banking Climate Footprint - BankFWD
- The Asset Managers Fueling Climate Chaos
Guides to engaging with your bank or financial service provider
- Aligning Your Company’s Banking with Its Sustainability Goals
- Stop the Money Pipeline - Organizer Toolbox
- Climate-Responsible Finance - 5 ways to take action
- Banking on our Future - Third Act
Finding and switching to sustainable banks
- WCC Sustainable Banks List
- How to Switch to Better Banks & Credit Cards: FAQs - Third Act
- Student Christian Movement: Switch to an Ethical Bank
- Make My Money Matter
- Switch It Green
- Move Your Money - THIS! is What We Did
Commitment and experience-sharing platforms
Climate litigation resources
- Climate Change Litigation Database UNEP Global Climate Litigation Report: 2023 Status Review
- ClientEarth
- Centre for Environmental Law (CIEL)
- Our Children’s Trust
- Advancing Child Rights in Strategic Litigation
