Als Divest Kassel setzen wir auf die politische und moralische Wirkung eines öffentlichen Divestments. Sich zum Divestment zu bekennen, stellt eine klare Positionierung für den Klimaschutz und für ein friedliches Miteinander dar. Auf diese Weise Stellung zu beziehen, zielt auf den Ruf der Konzerne und soll ihren Lobbyeinfluss begrenzen. Die Stadt Kassel nimmt ihre Verantwortung für den Klimaschutz bisher nur lückenhaft wahr. Die Verantwortung hört zum Beispiel nicht bei Finanzfragen auf, sondern muss diese mit einschließen! Für einen konsequenten Klimaschutz, der der Verantwortung für die Allgemeinheit und für zukünftige Generationen gerecht wird, sollte daher auch das Anlagevermögen nach Kriterien des Klimaschutzes umgestaltet werden. Es reicht nicht, Urban Gardening und Fahrradverkehr mit kleinen Finanzspritzen zu fördern und gleichzeitig die Möglichkeit offen zu lassen, dass die Pensionsrücklagen mit den Profiten der fossilen Energiebranche oder der Rüstungsindustrie anwachsen. Nachhaltigkeit und Klimaschutz müssen ganzheitlich über alle Sektoren gedacht werden, wobei die Finanzen einen wichtigen Hebel darstellen. "Genug Klimaschutz" gibt es angesichts der dramatischen Konsequenzen des Business-As-Usual im Rahmen des Klimawandels nicht! Im Pariser Klimavertrag hat sich auch die Bundesregierung dazu bekannt, das 2°-Limit deutlich zu unterschreiten und Anstrengungen zu unternehmen, den Temperaturanstieg auf 1,5° Celsius zu begrenzen. Das heißt im Klartext: keinerlei neuen Investitionen in jegliche Kohle-, Öl- oder Gasinfrastruktur und frühzeitiges Ende der bestehenden Förderungen. Denn allein die Ausbeutung der heute bereits produzierenden Lagerstätten werden uns schon über diese Limits katapultieren. Von dieser absehbaren Mensch-Umwelt-Katastrophe dürfen wir nicht profitieren, sondern müssen jede Anstrengung unternehmen, sie zu verhindern. Als Divest Kassel sehen wir es darüber hinaus angesichts der örtlichen Rüstungsindustrie und deren aktuellen skandalösen Verstrickungen in Konflikte wie im Norden Syriens oder Saudi-Arabien / Jemen als dringend notwendig an, die Deinvestition aus dieser Branche zu fordern, um so ein Statement für Abrüstung und mehr Frieden in der Welt zu setzen. Denn wenn der Klimawandel und Kriege zu verurteilen sind, dann ist es auch falsch, davon zu profitieren! Weitere Informationen und Hintergründe zum Nachlesen im Argumentationspapier von Divest Kassel: http://divestkassel.blogsport.eu/files/2018/03/argumentationspapier_divest-kassel_2018-02-26.pdf

We all deserve a future worth retiring for, but fossil fuels threaten that future, both here in the Lothians and around the world. It's time for the Lothian Pension Fund to make a strong commitment to sustainability. Scientists are clear that the burning of fossil fuels - coal, oil and gas - is the main driver of warming around the world, the effects of which can already be seen in hurricanes in the Caribbean, wildfires in the US and Europe and catastrophic flooding in Asia. More warming will cause increasing devastation. The Lothian Pensions Fund invests £153 million in fossil fuel companies like BP and Shell, whose business plans, and the valuations of their shares, are based on a world which continues to warm. Efforts to tackle climate change, such as banning fracking and phasing out fossil fuel-powered cars, make the future for fossil fuel companies more risky. The Governor of the Bank of England has warned that the "vast majority of [fossil fuel] reserves are unburnable" if climate change is to be limited to safe levels as pledged by the world's governments. By investing in the companies most responsible for climate change funds risk significant losses, fail to protect members' best interests, and miss an opportunity to take leadership on sustainability. By committing to divest, the Lothian Pension fund would join responsible investors including the Cities of New York and Paris. Over twenty Scottish MPs, including Ian Blackford, Christine Jardine and Ian Murray, have also supported disinvestment of their own pension fund.

Climate change is the greatest challenge humanity has encountered. Warming in excess of 1.5°C will have catastrophic consequences [1]. In order to have a chance of staying below this temperature rise, 80% of known fossil fuel reserves must not be burnt [2]. The fossil fuel industry currently holds vast carbon reserves which if burnt would result in emissions 5 times larger than what it is deemed to be safe [2]. All available evidence suggests that fossil fuel companies intend to burn the reserves within their control. In addition, companies such as Shell are actively trying to discover new reserves, often in environmentally sensitive regions [3]. If it is wrong to damage the world we live in, then it is wrong to profit from that damage. Responsible investors should no longer be profiting from the destructive activities of these companies. The States of Jersey Common Investment Fund (CIF) manages the public funds of Islanders. It manages nearly £3 billion worth of assets, millions of which are direct investments in fossil fuel companies including BHP Billiton, ExxonMobil, BP, Rio Tinto and Shell [4]. These fossil fuel investments are becoming increasingly risky as the cost of extraction increases and international treaties restrict the use of fossil fuels [2]. Not only does it make moral sense not to invest in the destruction of our planet, it also makes financial sense. By divesting from fossil fuels, the States of Jersey will join New York City and public institutions such as the British Medical Association, Glasgow University and Oxford City Council, amongst many others, in leading by example to help create a sustainable future for the citizens of Jersey and beyond. So we ask that the States of Jersey, through the Minister for Treasury and Resources, to: - Immediately freeze any new investment in fossil fuel companies, including those made by externally managed and pooled funds. - Ensure pension options to employees are fossil free - Divest from the top 200 companies with the largest known carbon reserves (oil, gas and coal), and shift these funds to lower risk, ethical investments within 5 years Sources: [1]http://bit.ly/1Cp61vN [2]http://bit.ly/1mLPo58 [3]http://bit.ly/1r2Y2Qb [4]https://www.gov.je/Government/Pages/StatesReports.aspx?ReportID=3466

Fossil fuels will soon become obsolete. They are a fuel source that is no longer wanted, as a recognised danger to the health of humans, wildlife, and the planet. They are also a fuel source that is no longer needed, as so many cheap and abundant renewable fuel sources wait to be harnessed. The shift to clean energy is inevitable. In November 2016 the Paris Agreement was ratified: "Recognizing the need for an effective and progressive response to the urgent threat of climate change on the basis of the best available scientific knowledge." However, in November 2017, Fossil Free UK revealed that councils across the UK were investing more than £16billion in the fossil fuel industry. The London Borough of Enfield Pension Fund has itself invested more than £60million in such companies, representing 5.6% of its £1billion total investments. Given the damage that fossil fuels have already caused to our environment, and the growing threat of man-made climate change as a danger both to us and to future generations, fossil fuels represent an unethical investment. But there is also strong evidence that such financial investments are highly risky. Coal use in the UK has fallen by 74% over the past decade, and the government has pledged that all coal-fired power stations will close by 2025. Other fossil fuels such as oil and gas face sharp declines in future, as renewable sources overtake them. The Divest Movement seeks to persuade public institutions that ditching investments in fossil fuel companies is the right decision to make on both a moral and financial basis. Over the border from Enfield, Waltham Forest Council recently became the first UK local authority to fully commit to divest from fossil fuels. If Enfield Council did the same, it too could become a leader in the global shift to a fossil free future.

Dumfries & Galloway Council has aspirations to be Europe's first carbon neutral region, yet its pension fund is the most heavily invested in fossil fuels in the whole of Scotland. Currently, the fund has more than £28 million invested directly in fossil fuels and almost another £50 million in projected indirect investment. These investment decisions make a mockery of the Council's own sustainability and climate change goals. Instead of fueling the climate crisis, it's time for Dumfries & Galloway Council to take a stand and divest from fossil fuels. The more than £78 million invested in fossil fuels could be directed to renewable energy in the Council's own area, promoting the potential for clean, green technologies in the region and boosting employment and infrastructure. With such a large fossil fuel investment (9.4% of their total fund), we would like to see D&G Council implement a 5-year plan to move to total fossil fuel divestment. Fossil fuels are the technology of the 20th century, not the 21st. Stocks in fossil fuels are volatile and the industry is preparing itself for a significant future loss of revenue caused by increasing extraction costs, falling quantities of available fuels and increasing public outrage at the lack of action on climate change. Our people and our planet can no longer afford to delay climate action.

We believe divestment from fossil fuels to be not only ethically and environmentally correct, but also financially prudent. Climate change is the greatest challenge humanity has encountered. The 20 hottest years on record have all occurred since 1981 and 2016 was the hottest ever [1]. Higher average temperatures are directly linked to extreme weather events such as heat waves, droughts, floods and storms. Scientists have unanimously concluded that these changes are a consequence of human activity, arising from the burning of fossil fuels [2]. Moreover, this activity has resulted in unprecedented levels of air pollution, now regarded as a major world killer [3]. In a speech at Lloyd’s of London in September 2015, Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England said that by the time ‘climate change becomes a defining issue for financial stability, it may already be too late’. Carney warned investors that policies to address climate change ‘would render the vast majority of reserves ‘stranded’ – oil, gas and coal that will be literally unburnable’ [4]. In order to continue developing fossil fuel reserves – particularly in the difficult areas where the remaining reserves are located (including the Arctic, the mouth of the Amazon and tar sands in sensitive areas) the developing companies need investment – divestment is a way of cutting off the funds needed to carry out these damaging activities. It also sends a powerful signal to the companies and others that it is time to move away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy. References: [0] http://tinyurl.com/lmskfgk [1] http://tinyurl.com/y9tkm4sn [2] http://tinyurl.com/3e3zv [3] http://tinyurl.com/pqgdd5q [4] http://tinyurl.com/ycspl5sg

The North Yorkshire Pension Fund Committee could, like a growing number of other Local Authority-administered Pension Funds, adopt a strategy of steady 'divestment and re-investment'. This means moving away from investing in an increasingly unstable and more costly fossil fuel dependency towards a cleaner, cheaper and ultimately more profitable renewable future, which will enable local communities across North Yorkshire and beyond to benefit. To help achieve this, we are asking the Pension Fund Committee to: 1. Freeze any new investment in the top 200 publicly-traded fossil fuel companies[1] at the earliest opportunity [1] The Carbon Underground 200 Project, at http://fossilfreeindexes.com/research/the-carbon-underground 2. Commit to a policy of divesting or withdrawing from direct ownership and any commingled funds that include fossil fuel public equities and corporate bonds over the next 5 years; and of re-investing in a new carbon-free portfolio of more local, ethical and renewable energy technologies and infrastructure developments 3. Include these action points above in the Pension Fund Committee’s Investment Strategy Statement, with effect from the earliest possible date. (* Adapted from the petition model in the Gofossilfree campaign’s guidance – see Local Government Guide at https://gofossilfree.org/uk/pensions/#action )

The City of Boise touts quite proudly it’s emphasis on ‘sustainable policies, practices and partnerships’ promoting ‘lasting environments, innovative enterprises, and vibrant communities’. Sustainable Boise: Energy, Air Quality, Water Resources, Material Management, Create Lasting Environments - Recognize, protect, and improve the health and sustainability of all our activities, our connection to one another, and our natural resources.** Cultivate Innovative Enterprises: Business Retention and Recruitment, Promote Entrepreneurship, Enhance Work Force / Human Capital, Work with individuals, nonprofits, and businesses to encourage collaboration that will promote economic prosperity and improve lives.** Build Vibrant Communities: Arts and Culture, Housing, Transportation Choices, Safe, Healthy, Caring Communities, Children and Youth, Parks and Open Space, Engage citizens and organizations to spark new connections, inspire exploration, and strengthen Boise’s rich community-minded spirit.** Boise Environmental Education: Community Forestry, Boise WaterShed, Boise Urban Garden School, Foothills Learning Center, claiming, Explore our wild community, develop a new sense of place, and discover the lessons to be learned from nature.** There is nothing lasting about the environment of oil-extraction, including its developers and corporations. Our investment, through financial institutions who lend to these businesses, runs contrary to the very qualities Boise City claims to uphold, as noted above, and we as residents have come to expect. Video of the presentation to the City of Boise http://bit.ly/2owEkiT

VERSNELD OVERSCHAKELEN OP DUURZAME ENERGIE Elk jaar dat we eerder afstappen van fossiele brandstoffen betekent minder onherstelbare en onnodige klimaatschade. Onnodig, want volgens sommige wetenschappers kan de transitie naar 100% duurzame energie al binnen 10 jaar* voor elkaar zijn. Het idee van Fossielvrij: als investeerders hun geld massaal terugtrekken uit de fossiele industrie, en dat geld opnieuw investeren in schone energie, kan de wereld al veel sneller overschakelen op 100% schone energie. FINANCIËLE KWETSBAARHEID VERKLEINEN De Nederlandsche Bank, The Bank of England en 's werelds grootste vermogensbeheerder BlackRock waarschuwen**** ook voor de financiële risico's van fossiele investeringen. Meer dan 80% van de voorraden kolen, olie en gas mogen niet gebruikt worden, volgens de eisen ondertekend op de Klimaattop in Parijs. Daarom zijn fossiele bedrijven overgewaardeerd op de beurs. Het is wachten tot deze zeepbel (carbon bubble) knapt. Organisaties met veel fossiele aandelen zijn extreem kwetsbaar. DUURZAAM LEIDERSCHAP UITBOUWEN Als eerste gemeente van Nederland heeft Eindhoven een klimaatplan (en begroting) opgesteld in lijn met de afspraken in Parijs. Onze doelstelling ligt geheel in de lijn van de keuzes die een grote meerderheid van de gemeenteraad is ingeslagen. Eindhoven dient in deze context een verantwoorde keuze te maken door hun financiële banden met de fossiele industrie te verbreken. ------------------------- Voor wie precies wil weten hoe het zit: * Volgens wetenschappers van de University of Sussex kan de energietransitie al binnen 10 jaar voltooid zijn: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629615300827 ** The London School of Economics heeft in het Stern Review (2007) aangetoond dat het veel goedkoper is om nu de CO2-uitstoot drastisch te beperken, dan om maatregelen te nemen om ons te beschermen tegen de gevolgen van klimaatontwrichting. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stern_Review ***Klimaatwetenschappers hebben onderzocht dat door het smelten van Antartica het zeeniveau rond 2100 al met enkele meters gestegen kan zijn – behalve als we heel snel stoppen met kolen, olie en gas. http://www.nature.com/articles/nature17145.epdf http://www.atmos-chem-phys.net/16/3761/2016/acp-16-3761-2016.html **** Artikelen over de financiële risico's van investeringen in de fossiele industrie: http://www.nrc.nl/handelsblad/2016/03/04/dnb-nederlandse-economie-moet-af-van-kolen-olie-1598050 http://www.climatechangenews.com/2016/03/21/bank-of-england-regulator-warns-of-growing-climate-risks/ https://www.blackrock.com/corporate/en-mx/literature/whitepaper/bii-pricing-climate-risk-international.pdf https://hbr.org/2016/04/the-data-says-climate-change-could-cost-investors-trillions

De perrontrappen zijn onderdeel van het oorspronkelijke ontwerp van de Moreelsebrug, die daarmee veel functioneler zou worden. Aanleg van de trappen wordt echter tegengehouden door een agressieve lobby van het Franse bedrijf Klépierre - eigenaar van Hoog Catharijne. Voetgangers kunnen zo uitsluitend via het winkelcentrum het nieuwe station bereiken. Inderdaad, een absurde situatie! Wij vragen de gemeente Utrecht om de belangen van de eigen inwoners en alle mensen die met de trein onze stad willen bezoeken (onze gasten!) zwaarder te laten wegen dan die van de lobby van Hoog Catharijne. Wij vragen onze gemeente om onvoorwaardelijk te investeren in vrije toegang voor schone en duurzame mobiliteit – voetgangers en fietsers vrij toegang te verlenen tot Utrecht CS en nog in 2017 perrontrappen te bouwen aan de Moreelsebrug! Achtergrond petitie - Utrecht Fossielvrij: Sinds 2017 rijdt de NS op volledig duurzaam geproduceerde elektriciteit. Vrije toegang van voetgangers en fietsers naar de trein vormt daarmee een kleine, maar belangrijke stap op weg naar 100% schone mobiliteit, onafhankelijk van fossiele brandstoffen als kolen, olie en gas. Zo levert Utrecht een bijdrage aan de noodzakelijke strijd tegen klimaatverandering en verbeteren we de slechte luchtkwaliteit in onze door veel te drukke snelwegen omgeven stad. Wil je meer doen? Sluit je ook aan bij Utrecht Fossielvrij - en help mee om van Utrecht een schone, toekomstbestendige stad en provincie te maken! Hier kun je aansluiten: https://www.facebook.com/UtrechtFossielvrij/

350.Org carbon reduction leadership fits Salt Lake City's pattern of environmental leadership! Given the regional abundance of solar energy alternative technologies (PV, geothermal, solar-thermal/SGSPs) and wind; given local governmental experience with built-environment energy efficiency leadership, including USGBC-LEED and many solar-energy initiatives; and given the City and County's leadership experience with energy sustainability through the 2002 Winter Olympics, a 350.Org program is critical to the implementation of fossil-fuel, carbon-based energy generation practices and technology applications. But time is running out! We MUST pitch in to generate MEANINGFUL CHANGE!

As residents of a waterfront city, we are especially susceptible to the changing climate. With its imminent impact on our society-at-large, it's our responsibility to be an example for other communities and show what must be done to move forward into a fossil-free future.