Convenors: Onnie Byers, Phil Aroneanu

Aim: To explore the use of fossil fuel divestment as a tool to make our organizations greener; to communicate to governments, colleagues, and visitors about the urgency of addressing climate change; and to help move the world toward a clean energy future that provides a livable planet for all species.

Background: At the 2012 Annual Meeting, the Climate Change Action Planning Working Group called for a social movement that leads to government policies that address the threat of climate change. Ramping up climate change education and green initiatives at our zoos is important, and many zoos and aquariums have led the charge with these initiatives. But beyond greening individual institutions, how can zoos and aquariums become involved in a movement to bring about policy changes, and what is our role in that movement?

One way is for zoos/aquariums to choose to pull any investments they have in fossil fuel companies and reinvest in solutions that reflect their conservation mission. We’ve long known that we need government to act in favor of the environment. Yet coal, oil and gas companies maintain a strong grip on our government and financial markets, funding voices of doubt and restricting progress. This has spurred a movement around the globe for institutions like universities, businesses, state and city governments, and zoos and aquariums to divest their investments from fossil fuel companies.

Divestment empowers zoos to send a powerful message to governments demanding policy change to incentivize the development of clean alternative energies and a return to the safe level of 350 parts per million of CO2 in the atmosphere. It assures zoo visitors and donors that the money they spend or donate will not be used to fund companies who actively contribute to environmental risks to animals that they love and the planet we, and future generations, depend on.

Preparation:

• Read through the briefing material provided below.

• Do some research about your institution’s finances. What kind of investments does the zoo/aquarium have, if any? Most well performing mutual funds include fossil fuel companies. Consider how divestment might become part of your institution’s greater plan to address climate change.

• Prepare questions for fellow zoo/aquarium staff, CBSG, and Phil Aroneanu from 350.org.

Briefing Material:

Articles:

• Global Warming's Terrifying New Math

• Deep Green Investing - Ensia
• Is Divestment from Fossil Fuels a Sound Financial Play?
• Campaign Against Fossil Fuels Growing, Says Study - The Guardian

Reports:

• Zoo and Aquarium Divestment FAQ - CBSG (modeled after this one from www.gofossilfree.org)

• Debunking Divestment Myths
• Beyond Fossil Fuels: The Investment Case for Fossil Fuel Divestment
• Unburnable Carbon - Carbon Tracker
• Institutional Pathways to Fossil Free Investing

Other:

• CC mindmap (.xls)

Back to 2013 Briefing Book.