Young Activists Urge Citi to Lead the Way in Ending Fossil Fuel Financing

On April 30th, in New York City‘s financial district, a group of children aged 5 to 16 gathered outside Citi’s headquarters. Their mission: to confront one of the world’s largest financial institutions and demand accountability for its role in perpetuating the climate crisis.

Affiliated with Climate Families NYC, these young activists held a press conference, marking the culmination of a week-long series of direct actions targeting Citi’s financing of fossil fuel projects. With unwavering determination, they called upon Citi to divest from fossil fuels, a crucial step towards safeguarding their future and the planet they will inherit.

Citi, the world’s second-largest fossil fuel financier, has channeled over $332 billion into such projects since the 2016 Paris Agreement—an agreement forged to combat Climate change. Yet, as scientists issue ever more urgent warnings about the existential threat posed by fossil fuels, Citi’s actions betray a staggering disregard for the consequences of its investments.

During the press conference, these young voices resonated with the urgency of the climate crisis. Belle, a 9-year-old, recounted the terror of her school flooding—a stark reminder of the havoc wrought by Climate change. “Citi should be a climate leader,” she asserted, her words echoing the sentiments of countless children worldwide who are witnessing the tangible impacts of environmental degradation.

Liat Olenick, a parent and organizer with Climate Families NYC, underscored the gravity of the situation. “Kids shouldn’t have to beg Citi executives for a livable future,” she proclaimed. The demand is clear: Citi must cease funding fossil fuel projects and pivot towards renewable energy initiatives—a transition that not only aligns with the imperatives of climate science but also safeguards the well-being of future generations.

Zasper, aged 6, said “I remember when there was a flood on my way to school. The streets were like rivers. I think the grown ups should stop doing oil and gas and start doing renewable energy.”

There’s Only One Green Planet Tee by Tiny Rescue: Climate Collection

Related Content:

• Black Vultures Sighting in New York City Due to Climate Change
• New York City Begins Preparing for Climate Change on the Lower East Side
• New York City Launches First Food and Climate Dashboard and Shows Just How Bad Meat is For The Environment
• New York City’s Central Park Becomes a Lab to Study Climate Change

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Adopt-a-Pet: Visit WildWatchers, a watchdog platform specifically designed for animal, earth, and wildlife warriors to actively give back, rescue, and protect animals and the planet.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade repeatedly.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!