Day 18 - Email your pension fund to demand action on climate change

Let’s green our money today! Email your pension fund demanding they take action on climate change. That means no more funding for fossil fuel expansion, stopping financing of deforestation and investing much more in climate solutions.

2023 has shown the world that the climate crisis is already here. Record temperatures broken day after day. Lethal wildfires and deadly floods across the world. And yet, fossil fuel companies are rolling back on their climate commitments and deforestation of the world’s forests continues.

People are angry and want to see a liveable future that is fair and just for all. So, what can we do this winter? Make sure that our money works for good!

The money in our pension funds doesn’t just sit there; it’s invested in a variety of businesses. Worryingly, some of it goes towards industries destroying our planet. Did you know that £88 billion of our pensions is invested in fossil fuels? That’s more than £3,000 per pension! Or that £2 out of £10 of the money we pay into out pensions is linked to deforestation? That’s £300 billion in the UK alone.

The money going to fossil fuels and deforestation dwarfs what pensions are investing in solutions to the climate crisis. In short, our pensions are ploughing money into projects that damage communities and the environment, risking the retirement we’re actually saving for. This cannot go on.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. In this fantastic advent calendar, there are many worthwhile projects that can help so many people around the globe, particularly those on the frontline of the climate crisis. And we can use our money to reduce the devastating effects of a warming planet – building a healthy world and securing healthy returns for our future.

Our research shows that having a green pension is 21 times more effective at cutting carbon than stopping flying, switching your energy provider and going vegetarian combined! (Those are still good things, please keep doing them, but make sure the money in your pension aligns with, not undermines, these steps!).

But how can we take action? The first step is easy. Contact your pension fund with the handy tool on our website demanding that they take action. We have suggested text for the message and the email addresses all set up for you! It’s just a few clicks. Check it out here.

Since we launched our campaign, thousands of people have contacted their funds, as a result, change is beginning to happen. These emails allow us here at Make My Money Matter to engage directly with these institutions and their high-profile clients. Every email counts and amplifies the message: our money needs to work for people and planet.

If you’d like to learn more about how to make your money matter, visit our website: https://makemymoneymatter.co.uk/