“Divestment” can mean a lot of things, but in general, the divestment movement is about stopping the flow of money into fossil fuels. Even when we don’t mean to, banks and investors can put our money into funding new fossil fuel projects that damage Creation and our future.
Banking
If you bank with the worst fossil fuels offenders, even the money in your checking account can be used by them to fund new fossil fuel projects! Project Drawdown reports that “every US $1,000 a person has in savings is roughly equivalent to the direct emissions generated by flying from New York to Seattle every year.”
What can you or a congregation do?
- Analyze your bank and their impact at: mightydeposits.com
- If your bank profits from climate chaos, consider finding a more community-centered bank
- The bank you use also affects whether your credit card is invested in fossil fuels. Read more here!
Investments
Check your retirement/investment’s “report card” on fossil fuels at fossilfreefunds.org
You can also check how your investments do in a variety of social justice areas on www.asyousow.org/invest-your-values/
Insurance
Insurers use your premium to invest in the market. Some use that money to fund fossil fuels. See the new Climate Smart Insurance Directory here!
Video Resources
Need somebody to walk you through the process of divesting? Check out this series from our partners at Greenfaith and GreenAmerica.
How to divest with the money in your bank:
How to divest with your money in investments:
How to divest with your credit card:
How to divest with your home and auto insurance: