Make polluters pay

Hi Earthlings! This weekend was beautiful — on Saturday we learned the state of California is suing Big Oil for billions of dollars in damages after years of deliberately downplaying the risks associated with fossil fuels. On Sunday, 75,000 people took to the streets of New York and rallied ahead of the UN meeting urging President Biden to take bolder steps towards curbing global warming.

Across industries, workers are organizing against corporate greed and demanding a more livable future. In the climate world we are organizing against the polluters who, for decades, have prioritized profits over the planet. Community is proving to be our most powerful tool.

In the words of cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

🌡️ “1.5” is not a magic number. It’s a number that often gets used in climate conversations. We discuss what it means and why it’s important.
🔥 CA is suing Big Oil — there’s an important petition that can help keep the momentum going.
🌈 Pics or it didn’t happen. We shared some of our favorite signs from the frontlines of Climatechella.

Over 75,000 climate protesters marched in NYC on Sunday. The protest message was to stop fossil fuels and send the message to Biden during his push for re-election: “Do more if you want our votes.” A weekend of climate protests across the globe came ahead of the UN Climate Ambition Summit and Climate Week.

California is passing a major climate emissions bill. The law will require major companies operating in the state (who make more than $1 billion annually) to publicly disclose the emissions directly emitted by their operations, and also indirect emissions, including from supply chains. With the state’s influence as the world’s 5th largest economy, this could mean a nationwide standard that has global repercussions. New York Times

NYU is divesting from fossil fuels. One of the US’s largest private universities (endowment of over $5 billion) committed to avoid direct investments in fossil fuel companies, and in private funds whose primary aim is to invest in fossil fuels. Students have been pushing NYU to divest since 2004. The school has taken other steps to address climate, including cutting building energy and food-related emissions and pledging to achieve net-zero by 2040. The Guardian