We are in a climate emergency. Industrial agriculture and fossil fuel projects funded by private and public finance are driving harmful emissions and local rights violations. These emissions are in turn fuelling climate-change induced emergencies across the world.. Fund Our Future is a climate campaign involving more than 70 ActionAid offices and hundreds of allies. The movement will call for investors still piling money into fossil fuels and industrial agriculture in the Global South to divest from these harmful activities.We are asking for banks’ loans and financing to stop doing harm, and for public money to be put to real good by investing in renewable energy and agroecological solutions that promote food security and social justice. The escalating climate crisis is spreading further. We have a chance to join together to demand action for climate justice. Let's stop funding destruction, now. And begin to #FundOurFuture
The fossil fuels industry is the biggest contributor of global greenhouse gas emissions which are fuelling the climate crisis; industrial agriculture comes in second place. Banks are providing industrial agriculture and fossil fuel companies with finance for their expansion, accelerating the climate crisis. Phasing out fossil fuels and transitioning to clean energy is essential to meeting the Paris agreement goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees, together with shifting away from destructive agricultural practices.
ActionAid demands a just transition to reach 100% renewable energy globally, without harm to communities from land grabs or unsafe working conditions. To ensure that the shift to greener pathways avoids harming communities they must be guided by four key principles of just transitions: They must address – and not exacerbate – inequality; they must transform systems to work for people, nature and the climate; they must ensure inclusiveness and participation; and they must develop comprehensive frameworks to support communities to make those shifts. We must end financing for fossil fuels now to comply with the Paris Agreement and limit global warming to +1.5°C.
It may surprise you to learn that smallholder farmers produce around 70% of the food eaten by people. They must have their voices heard. One sustainable alternative is agroecology. Agroecology is a way of farming and managing crops, livestock, forests and fisheries that is viable, long-lasting, resilient to climate change, and offers other environmental, social and cultural benefits such as addressing food and water scarcity, gender inequality and poverty. Agroecology is a powerful and innovative solution to stop the climate crisis and strengthen the resilience of food systems to climate change impacts. Agroecological approaches reduce land degradation and are ultimately restorative to the environment. Agroecology practices boost soil health.By reducing the use of synthetic fossil-fuel based fertilisers. This results in increased resilience to drought, and farmers benefit from increases in production as well as increases in their profits – all while reducing climate-harming greenhouse gas emissions. With increased yields and profits, farmers can experience greater improvements in food security. A movement to divest from industrial agriculture and invest in agroecological practices could help women and girls to access their economic rights, reduce emissions on a huge scale, and build a sustainable planet.
The escalating climate crisis is spreading far and wide. And the world’s financing is flowing in the wrong direction. Banks must be told by the people to divest from the problems. We have solutions in renewables and agroecology that can turn the tide. We must support women and young people who are leading the call for a better future. Sign the petition and join us! We have a chance to demand action for climate justice. Stop banks funding the climate crisis, now. Let's stop funding destruction. And begin to #FundOurFuture.
Find out more in ActionAid’s 2023 report “How the Finance Flows: The Banks fuelling the climate crisis
