Fossil Fuel Divestment: Cities & States

Of all the institutions that ought to be looking out for the public good, surely our local and state governments are foremost among them. They have a responsibility to divest from an industry that’s destroying our future, and reinvest in solutions to climate change.

Even as extreme weather events like Hurricane Sandy threaten to overwhelm local budgets, federal inaction to solve this crisis is all but stalled. We have the solutions, but we won’t see any political progress on the issue until we can weaken the power of the fossil fuel industry.

The bottom line is this: divestment is the only moral choice for governments that care about their citizens. Solving the climate crisis is the only practical choice for governments that care about their solvency.

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Campaigns (18)

  • Divest Frederick from Fossil Fuels!
    Our local government has a responsibility to divest from an industry that’s destroying our future, and reinvest in solutions to climate change. We can not count on the federal government, even as extreme weather events like the record rain fall in the Duluth area last Spring overwhelm local budgets. We have the solutions, but we won’t see any political progress on the issue until we can weaken the power of the fossil fuel industry. The bottom line is this: divestment is the only moral choice for governments that care about their citizens. Solving the climate crisis is the only practical choice for governments that care about their solvency. It's time to divest from fossil fuels now!
    7 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Charlotte Wood
  • Knox
    Divest from Fossil Fuels!
    Our local government has a responsibility to divest from an industry that’s destroying our future, and reinvest in solutions to climate change. We can not count on the federal government, even as extreme weather events like the record rain fall in the Duluth area last Spring overwhelm local budgets. We have the solutions, but we won’t see any political progress on the issue until we can weaken the power of the fossil fuel industry. The bottom line is this: divestment is the only moral choice for governments that care about their citizens. Solving the climate crisis is the only practical choice for governments that care about their solvency. It's time to divest from fossil fuels now!
    11 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Peter Scott
  • Beverly
    Divest Beverly from Fossil Fuels!
    Beverly, like every city, town, state, and country, is at a pivotal moment in history. Man-made climate change is causing environmental devastation and human suffering here in Beverly and around the world. We still have the power to avert irreversible changes, but the window of opportunity is closing. Divesting from the fossil fuels that are causing climate change is a crucial step toward ensuring a sustainable future for Beverly and the rest of the world. Our local government has a responsibility to divest from an industry that’s destroying our future, and reinvest in solutions to climate change. We can not count on the federal government, even as extreme weather events like the record-breaking winter storms of 2014-2015 overwhelm local budgets. We have the solutions, but we won’t see any political progress on the issue until we can weaken the power of the fossil fuel industry. The bottom line is this: divestment is the only moral choice for governments that care about their citizens. Solving the climate crisis is the only practical choice for governments that care about their solvency. It's time to divest from fossil fuels now!
    8 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Anthony Harris
  • Portsmouth
    Help Portsmouth, NH pave the way for Fossil Fuel DIVESTMENT!
    Our local government has a responsibility to divest from an industry that’s destroying our future, and reinvest in solutions to climate change. We can't count on the federal government, even as extreme weather events overwhelm local budgets. We have the solutions, but we won’t see any political progress on the issue until we can weaken the power of the fossil fuel industry. The bottom line is this: divestment is the only moral choice for governments that care about their citizens. Solving the climate crisis is the only practical choice for governments that care about their solvency. It's time to divest from fossil fuels now!
    43 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Cody Hussey
  • Auckland
    Urge Auckland Council to Divest from Fossil Fuels!
    Climate change is happening now, driven by the extraction and burning of fossil fuels. Heatwaves are becoming more frequent and more severe, with temperatures in Pakistan reaching 49°C earlier this year, resulting in the loss of over 2000 lives. Extreme monsoons have delivered more than three times normal rainfall to parts of India causing loss of life and livelihood for thousands and acidified oceans are killing coral reefs and putting pressure on fish stocks worldwide. The fossil fuel industry has enough coal, oil and gas in their reserves to breach the IPPC’s agreed-upon 2°C limit 5 times over. It’s time for our council to end their support of the fossil fuel extraction industry. The city of Auckland stands to lose a lot in the face of climate change: Much of Auckland’s CBD and coastline risks being swallowed up by rising seas. Wine-grape and kiwifruit growing around Auckland will be history and the frequency of “one in twenty year” rainfall events could quadruple - putting a great strain on our storm water infrastructure. We urge the Auckland council to show solidarity to Auckland businesses and the community by taking their money out of fossil fuels.
    2,125 of 3,000 Signatures
    Created by Carl Naus
  • Divest Martha's Vineyard towns from Fossil Fuels!
    Our local government has a responsibility to divest from an industry that’s destroying our future, and reinvest in solutions to climate change. We can not count on the federal government, even as extreme weather events like the record rain fall in the Duluth area last Spring overwhelm local budgets. We have the solutions, but we won’t see any political progress on the issue until we can weaken the power of the fossil fuel industry. The bottom line is this: divestment is the only moral choice for governments that care about their citizens. Solving the climate crisis is the only practical choice for governments that care about their solvency. It's time to divest from fossil fuels now!
    21 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Rachael Curtin Picture
  • Divest the Virginia Retirement System from Fossil Fuels
    The Virginia Retirement System (VRS) has the fiduciary responsibility to invest public employee retirement savings in enterprises that do not undermine the future health and safety of those same employees. The fossil fuel industry's business objectives are to extract all known fossil fuel reserves and continue to explore for new reserves. It has been demonstrated that if more than 20% of the known reserves are consumed, the climate impacts will adversely affect all aspects of society. Their business model is in conflict with life on Earth. It is unconscionable for the VRS to invest in corporations that threaten the health and welfare of VA’s public employees and all VA residents.
    229 of 300 Signatures
    Created by Natalie Pien
  • Oceanside
    Divest Oceanside from Fossil Fuels!
    Our local government has a responsibility to divest from an industry that’s destroying our future, and reinvest in solutions to climate change. We can not count on the federal government, even as extreme weather events like the record rain fall in the Duluth area last Spring overwhelm local budgets. We have the solutions, but we won’t see any political progress on the issue until we can weaken the power of the fossil fuel industry. The bottom line is this: divestment is the only moral choice for governments that care about their citizens. Solving the climate crisis is the only practical choice for governments that care about their solvency. It's time to divest from fossil fuels now!
    11 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Alix Meyer
  • Beaverton
    Divest the City of Beaverton from Fossil Fuels and Nuclear Power!
    Our local government has a responsibility to divest from an industry that’s destroying our future. We can reinvest in solutions to climate change! For more about my work on Climate Change as I prepare to become a Bar Mitzvah please visit: yitzchakadin.wordpress.com. We can not count on action by the federal government. We as individuals, citizens, and members of other organizations need to act also. Extreme weather events are overwhelming local budgets across our country. Nuclear power is no better--not only is it nuclear (and therefore terrible, which should be obvious)--fossil fuels are used heavily in its production and in attempts to minimize the hazard of storing nuclear waste. We have the solutions, but we won’t see any political progress on the issue until we can weaken the power of the fossil fuel industry. The bottom line is this: divestment is the only moral choice for governments that care about their citizens. Solving the climate crisis is the only practical choice for governments that care about their solvency. It's time to divest from fossil fuels and nuclear power now!
    532 of 600 Signatures
    Created by Pam and Rob and Miko and Isaac Vergun
  • Santa Cruz
    Divest the City of Santa Cruz from Fossil Fuels
    Our local government has a responsibility to divest from an industry that’s destroying our future, and reinvest in solutions to climate change. We can not count on the federal government, even as extreme weather events like the record rain fall in the Duluth area last Spring overwhelm local budgets. We have the solutions, but we won’t see any political progress on the issue until we can weaken the power of the fossil fuel industry. The bottom line is this: divestment is the only moral choice for governments that care about their citizens. Solving the climate crisis is the only practical choice for governments that care about their solvency. It's time to divest from fossil fuels now!
    287 of 300 Signatures
    Created by Teetle Clawson