Sign the petition
To Prime Minister, Keir Starmer:
Regulate UK banks to stop them from funding fossil fuels and the harmful industrial agriculture that's fuelling the climate crisis
Why this is important
UK banks are pouring billions into fossil fuels and harmful industrial agriculture – directly profiting from climate change and the devastation it causes.
The Government says one of its five missions is for the UK to be “a clean green Superpower” but UK banks currently have free rein to fund destructive industries as much as they want – no matter the damage it causes or the impact it has on women and girls.
We know that women and girls are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis. This is because it often makes existing gender inequalities worse, with women more likely to experience violence, malnutrition and, sometimes, death.
Other countries – like Germany, France, Italy and China – are all taking action to incorporate environmental considerations into banking. But in the UK, progress on green banking has stalled. We are lagging behind.
The UK has played a big role in creating the climate crisis. Historically, we’ve benefitted hugely from fossil fuels. And we’re worsening the climate crisis by allowing big UK banks to fund fossil fuels and industrial agriculture. ActionAid’s How The Finance Flows report 2023 found funding from UK banks is causing environmental harm and mass human rights violations in countries across the world.
The world’s addiction to fossil fuels must stop if we are to stop the climate emergency.
Sign the petition calling on Keir Starmer to regulate UK banks to stop them from funding the industries that are driving the climate crisis.
ActionAid Bangladesh protests, demanding financial institutions stop funding the climate crisis. April, 2024. Photo: ActionAid