Climate-justice-focused assembly, sponsored by Chase, becomes venue for demonstration holding the bank accountable for its massive financing of fossil fuels, climate change
New York City –– Activists disrupted the Chase-sponsored climate-justice focused event, The Regional Plan Association assembly, where Chase Bank CEO Jamie Dimon delivered a luncheon address. The activists called attention to JPMorgan Chase Bank’s massive financing of fossil fuels.
“It’s a slap in the face for the world’s worst banker of climate change to sponsor a climate-justice focused event,” says Laurel Sutherlin, a spokesperson at Rainforest Action Network. “We are here today to let Jamie Dimon and Chase Bank know that they can’t hide the fact that they are the largest funder of fossil fuels on the planet. We will continue to hold them responsible until they take real action on climate and defund dirty energy.”
According to data from Rainforest Action Network’s Banking on Climate Change 2019 report, since the Paris Agreement, JPMorgan Chase has provided $196 billion in finance for fossil fuels. The group behind that report disrupted him again today by transforming his luncheon address into an unsanctioned award ceremony, presenting Dimon with the following distinguishments:
Distinguished Achievement Award
Chase Bank – Officially the World’s Worst Banker of Climate Change
Distinguished Dishonor Award
Chase Bank – The Bank that Care’s the Least About Climate.
Distinguished Disservice Award
Chase Bank – World’s Worst Bankroller of Environmental Injustice
World is Learning
Today’s disruption comes just a week after Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib used the Banking on Climate Change report to grill Mr. Dimon at the House Financial Services Committee hearing, “Holding Megabanks Accountable.” The action also follows a blitz of demonstrations across the country targeting Chase Bank; from Seattle where protestors shut down 44 Chase bank branches, to Boulder, where activists staged a “die-in” at the regional branch, to New York City, where protestors unfurled a 30ft. banner in front of Grand Central Station directly across Chase’s headquarters, to the very hearing where CEO Jamie Dimon was being questioned by congressional members.
According to the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, emissions must be halved within 12 years in order to limit the Earth’s temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. In order to align with the 1.5 degree target, banks must end their support for fossil fuels and cease financing further expansion of any fossil fuels.
Source: Rainforest Action Network
