Take your business to climate-friendly banks

Published 1:30 am Sunday, August 13, 2023

Why have big banks like Bank of America, Chase, Citibank and Wells Fargo, according to the report Banking on Climate Chaos, invested more than $1 trillion into polluting industries since 2016 when the Paris climate accord was signed?

Why are we, as customers, helping them destroy our own backyards? As an example, imagine you are doing all you can to prevent plastic pollution. Ironically, your bank is lending your savings and or the interest you pay them to build more plastics factories. Perhaps you are planting trees while your bank is funding deforestation, or the interest you are paying on your electric car loan is funding fossil fuel expansion.

Our communities have been experiencing the effects of climate change. A simple change, refusing to finance pollution, can help slow climate extremes that we, and coming generations will experience. Big banks should adopt resolutions on climate change, commit to accelerating their investments in clean energy, and divest from coal, oil, and gas. Until they do, I have changed to a climate friendly bank that does not finance pollution. I hope you will too.

Sue Roane

South Skagit County