By using this website, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.
DenyAcceptThis was a campaign run from 2022-2024 supporting university students to take action on the banks funding the fossil fuel industry.
This campaign has now ended, but action on fossil finance is far from over. Resources from the campaign are freely published below, and other ways to get involved in fossil finance campaigning are outlined as well - both are under the "Legacy" heading. Read our wrap up post here.
If you make use of one of our resources and want to let us know, or have any queries about the campaign or information below, please contact us at hello@sos-uk.org
---------------
Funding fossil fuels is breaking the bank.
Students are leading a campaign to stop the world’s biggest banks from pouring billions into the fossil fuel industry - because there’s no future in fossil fuels, for our careers or our planet.
Banks need universities and students to keep running business as usual, which includes funding the very fossil fuel companies that drive climate change. But universities and students don't need those banks - we have alternatives, which means we have valuable power and influence.
Through university campaigns across the country, we are using this reliance to demand that they stop funding fossil fuels - it's time for them to stop pouring billions into destroying the climate.
Are you part of a university community and interested in getting involved with our campaign to pressure banks to stop funding fossil fuel companies? Get in touch at [Please see our Legacy section below for contacts].
The Banking on Climate Chaos report found that over the past 7 years, just 4 banks were responsible for 25% of all fossil fuel funding by banks, a massive $5.5 trillion from 60 banks in total. The Dirty Dozen banks were behind 50% of the bankrolling, including Barclays, Europe's top fossil fuel funding bank.
The Guardian reported that just 100 companies - fossil fuel producers and their investors - are responsible for 71% of all global emissions.
The problem is clear: The fossil fuel industry needs money to fuel the climate crisis, and banks are giving it to them. Banks must stop this funding.
Banks rely on universities and students for recruitment and reputation: we can use this to put the pressure on for our demand that they stop financing fossil fuels.
Without students for internships and jobs, the banks will struggle to function. Exposing the banks' financing of fossil fuels and how it goes against universities' academic and sustainability values will damage their reputation and thus their business.
We're building university campaigns across the country, each one unique to the institution and group of students. While our tactics vary, our goal is the same: pressure big banks to stop financing fossil fuels. From circulating petitions to disrupting careers events, we are taking a varied approach to make these big banks feel the heat.
Other campaigns have been successful: For example, the University of California system of ten universities, and the cities of Seattle and Davis all broke ties with Wells Fargo after student campaigning against the bank's funding of private prisons and investment in the Dakota Access Pipeline. Christian Aid, one of the UK's largest charities, cut ties with Barclays over fossil fuel financing.
Are you part of a university community and interested in getting involved with our campaign to pressure banks to stop funding fossil fuel companies? Get in touch at [Please see our Legacy section below for contacts].
Follow us on twitter at @break_ngthebank
Follow us on instagram at @breakingthebank__
Breaking the Bank is actively undertaking research and looking for interested university students and staff to support our work. To find out more, please contact us at breakingthebank@sos-uk.org or fill out the form above. Subjects include the relationships between banks and universities; recruitment mapping; and campaigning tactics.
Survey on student perspectives on careers, banking and finance, and the fossil fuel industry
In Spring 2023, we undertook a survey of 2,728 students with results representative of the UK higher education student population. The survey found that:
These results mean that the majority of students want jobs in companies that make a positive difference to environmental and social issues, and don’t want to work for companies that fund fossil fuels. Students are unaware that they’re being recruited for jobs they don’t want, by the fossil fuel industry’s biggest funders: banks.
Breaking the Bank is educating students to bridge the gap between their need for careers that align with their values and the lack of knowledge of fossil fuel funding, and empowering students through campaigning to effect real change on the issues they care about. We provide training, support, and funding for students to run their own campaigns locally.
To join a campaign at your university or to find out more, contact us at [Please see our Legacy section below for contacts].
Full survey results are available on the SOS-UK site: as an article here and a PDF download here.
Want to find out more about banks financing the fossil fuel industry, or anything else mentioned on this page? You've come to the right place:
A report on banks financing the fossil fuel industry:
Articles on the UC system divesting from Wells Fargo:
UC System Divests from Private Prison Industry - UCSD Guardian
UC Divests from Wells Fargo - City on a Hill Press
UC to divest from Wells Fargo after Afrikan Black Coalition advocacy (dailycal.org)
The original petition by the Afrikan Black Coalition calling for the University of California to divest from Wells Fargo:
Articles on Seattle and Davis's divestment from Wells Fargo:
How Two Cities Are Taking A Major Stand Against The Dakota Access Pipeline - GOOD
NoDAPL Success: Davis Moves its Banking - Fossil Free California
Davis and Seattle Divest More Than $3 Billion From Wells Fargo Over Dakota Pipeline | KQED
California City of Davis Divests from Wells Fargo in DAPL Protest | Colorlines
Interested in getting involved with campaigning on fossil finance?
Your first stop is Defund Climate Chaos - the UK’s leading campaign on the fossil finance movement, taking action on the banks, investors and insurers upholding the fossil fuel industry. Join DCC here.
At SOS-UK, we’re still running Invest for Change, our campaign to radically reform how universities invest their money. IfC is going from strength to strength and is in its 4th year. Get involved by contacting hello@sos-uk.org with the subject line “Invest for Change”.
Keep an eye on SOS socials for a new insurance campaign - Instagram and X.
Please make a copy of the template for editing. Templates have words to replace, e.g. [UNI], for your campaign. Note the year as the statistics will reflect that time period - you may wish to update the data or note this on the leaflet. Change images, companies, text, colours, etc. to suit your campaign.
15 banks, 60% of all fossil fuel funding, and billions to arms (2024)
For use when highlighting the top banks funding the fossil fuel industry - current data from the 2023 Banking on Climate Chaos report.
Start a winning career with Europe's top fossil fuel funding banks (2023)
For use when highlighting Europe's top 5 fossil banks: Barclays, HSBC, NatWest, Lloyds, and Santander.
Do the Maths - Banks & Fossil Fuels (2023) - 2 Company Version or 1 Company Version
For use when highlighting banks (or any company or person's) cosy relations to fossil fuel companies - banks and fossil fuel companies are easily changeable. Examples: Goldman Sachs and HSBC with Shell, BP, and ExxonMobil.
Welcome to [University] - Freshers/Intro Leaflet (2024)
For use at Freshers or Welcome Fairs, or can be easily adapted for any event to highlight university ties to industries such as fossil fuels and arms companies.
Meet your [Event] Sponsor (2024)
For use when a bank or company sponsors an event. Example: Goldman Sachs.
Lloyds - Careers for our future, not the planet's (2022)
For use when highlighting Lloyds Bank.
For use in campaigns to get a university or other institution to cut ties with Barclays.
Barclays Screws Your Future (2023)
For use in Barclays campaigning, flexible but includes careers and fossil fuel info.
Loyal Barclays Employee (2024)
A business card sized design for use in quickly spreading information or wearing in a lanyard. Example: Spoof employee for staff engagement.
Fossil Fuel, Arms, and Barclays Christmas Collection Buckets (2023)
A4 designs for use on collection buckets or as posters featuring fossil fuel companies being given burning money by a realistic rendering of the Barclays eagle logo. Thanks for giving! Featuring: Shell, BP, Drax, Rosebank, Equinor, BAE Systems, Caterpillar, Boeing, and of course, Barclays.
In Spring 2023, we undertook a survey of 2,728 students with results representative of the UK higher education student population. The survey found that:
Full survey results are available on the SOS-UK site: as an article here and a PDF download here.