CREDO Mobile funding supports 350.org in its fight to cool our climate and save our planet

Recently, CNN posted an opinion piece titled “I’m a climate scientist. If you knew what I know, you’d be terrified too.”

The author is Bill McGuire. In his piece, he wrote, “If the fracturing of our once stable climate doesn’t terrify you, then you don’t fully understand it. The reality is that, as far as we know, and in the natural course of events, our world has never — in its entire history — heated up as rapidly as it is doing now. Nor have greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere ever seen such a precipitous hike. Think about that for a moment. We’re experiencing, in our lifetimes, a heating episode that is probably unique in the last 4.6 billion years.”

Worried yet? We are. That’s why we support the vital work of 350.org. And why we recently made a large donation to the group.

350.org is an international movement of ordinary people working to end the age of fossil fuels and build a world of renewable energy for all. And, with the support of CREDO Mobile and our community, it is making progress.

Our funding moves the needle on climate change

With our help, 350.org is taking important steps forward in its campaign to save our climate. Here’s a report from 350.org on its recent successes.

• March to End Fossil Fuels. On September 17, together with our partners we mobilized 75,000 climate activists to fill the streets of New York City and demand the phase-out of fossil fuels and renewable energy solutions for all.

This was the largest climate mobilization since the start of the pandemic. It was one of 700 #EndFossilFuels actions in 65 countries, with total participation by 600,000 people. The demonstration received extensive news coverage, including a piece on the front page of the New York Times.

• Power Up. We organized a month of Power Up actions in November. Thousands of people around the world joined one of our 200 events in 46 countries, demanding 100% renewable energy and an end to fossil fuel finance and investment. Led by communities worldwide, Power Up events sent a resounding call that cannot be ignored: we need climate action now.

One example was Power Up in the Gulf. In New Orleans, we welcomed people of all ages into the climate movement, celebrating the community power and joy of the Gulf while engaging attendees in conversations about the harmful effects that methane gas plants have on people and the planet. We kicked off the event with a joyful Second Line march downtown calling on the government to end corporate subsidies, stop all old and new fossil fuel projects, and usher in real and just climate solutions for the Gulf and the world.

Additionally, we continued campaigns from previous years in which we saw major wins, including:

• Defunding fossil fuels. Three major financial institutions — Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Standard Chartered Bank and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group —publicly declared their non-involvement in financing the EACOP project. The StopEACOP coalition raised the profile of this iconic fight, amplifying the voices of thousands of affected people and emphasizing the injustices of EACOP. Through coordinated advocacy, local and global community mobilization, communications and litigation, we’re closer to stopping EACOP’s oil and infrastructure developments before it’s too late.
• Phasing out Amazon oil and gas builds ahead of COP28. At the 2023 Amazon Summit, the damage of fossil fuel extraction received the same level of attention as deforestation for the first time, thanks to collective mobilizations and media attention. To achieve this increased focus, we worked closely with other grassroots organizations, including Amazon Watch, Global Gas & Oil Network, and Rainforest Action Network.
• Taking on the Federal Reserve. At the beginning of 2024, after years of our campaigning, the U.S. Federal Reserve officially released proposed climate guidance principles for major banks. 350.org’s Fossil Free Fed campaign successfully pressured the Fed to strengthen these guidelines by mobilizing an unprecedented 15,000 people to submit public comments on the proposal, something that is unheard of for an institution that’s used to hearing only from academics and politicians.

350.org puts new projects in the pipeline

The current moment presents us with a unique opportunity to effect a radical shift in both the “what” and the “how” of galvanizing our global movement in this next phase of securing climate justice.

To make it happen, we will build the power, strength and capacity of frontline groups, offer strategic focus and support. The campaign will be integrated across local, national and global spheres, addressing and overcoming challenges, both shared and unique.

We will focus on the following activities and objectives.

Distributed renewable energy

• Widespread regional variation is our strength. We will build the size and capacity of the movement through our current network of 500+ grassroots groups on six continents.
• We’ll empower local groups to advocate for and/or implement renewable energy solutions where they live, with principles and guardrails agreed with partners to ensure solutions are contained and focused.
• We’ll develop tools for community-led renewable initiatives.
• We’ll identify localized barriers to the uptake of renewable energy, and develop and test solutions.
• We’ll invest in grassroots groups, enabling community leaders to shape the work and also to develop renewable energy campaign approaches by learning together.
• We’ll enable new alliances and reach new audiences to create demand for climate solutions.
• We’ll deliver a full suite of support to grassroots groups to help them become self-sufficient.
• We’ll identify and train the next generation of youth activists to ensure sustained community-led action toward 100% renewable energy.

Iconic renewable installations

In strategic locations around the globe, we will campaign for investment in and implementation of iconic renewable installations that will reignite the movement. We’ll develop a comprehensive communications strategy at the global, regional, national and community levels to increase public acceptance and demand for renewable energy.

A shift of financing toward renewables

We’ll continue to drive forward our finance campaigns in key regions, shifting the focus of financing toward investment in renewables. According to the International Energy Agency’s net zero scenario, investment in renewables must triple to reach $4 trillion by 2030.

Together, CREDO Mobile and 350.org are making a difference

350.org is calling for a deep transition, one that places energy justice at the beating heart of its values. It is moving forward into the world we all want to see, leaving no one behind. It is doing this with the urgency the climate crisis demands of us. And it is doing it with the support of CREDO Mobile.

To learn more about the critical work 350.org does, go to 350.org.