Page 208 - Carbon Capitalism and Communication Confronting Climate Crisis

204 B. PALESE AND B. BREVINI

interests. It’s a David and Goliath fight but a critical one. Our co-founder
Bill McKibben and 350.org board member Naomi Klein regularly con-
tribute to mainstream media networks to try to ensure we can keep edu-
cating people about the latest science, the severity of climate change impacts
we are seeing around the world and the many benefits of shifting to clean
energy. Whether it’s around our Break Free protests, ensuring important
science is getting the attention it demands or calling out climate change
deniers on their misinformation, we use all of our digital muscle to get the
word out and provide opportunities for people to get involved on the issue.
BB: Now, a piece of good news. The global movement to divest from
fossil fuels has doubled in size since September 2015. Can you tell us a
bit more about this global campaign in which 350.org is engaged?
BP: The divestment of more than A$6 trillion (US$5.2 trillion) from fossil
fuels is something that we in Australia and the 350.org team globally are
particularly proud of. The campaign started off very much as a symbolic
effort—much like the divestment effort during the Apartheid years. But
much to our amazement, it has become all about money—and lots of it!—
being moved from coal, oil and gas. By the end of 2016, 688 institutions
and 58,399 individuals across 76 countries have committed to divest in
some way. This includes the Norwegian Sovereign Fund, the Rockefeller
Bros Fund, Stanford University and, here in Australia, 30 local councils,
one local state government (the ACT), two universities and a number of
investment funds. This is a real indicator that people are frustrated with
government inaction and are taking their own steps to be part of the
climate change solution.
350.org continues to work with funds, churches, universities and gov-
ernments to divest from fossil fuels and this year we are campaigning to see
the Nobel Foundation and the Louvre museum divest as well. Institutions
everywhere have an important role to play not only to send the signal that
moving from fossil fuels is the right thing to do but it’s also the smart thing
to do if you want to protect your investments.
BB: After the good news—let’s talk about Adani. Plans are alive to
build the biggest coal mine in the southern hemisphere in the middle of
Queensland—a mine that will wreck the already endangered Great
Barrier Reef. Are you optimistic about the possibility to stop Adani,
given the Federal and local government support it gained? What would
it take to stop it?