As climate impacts across the world intensify, wrecking our communities with  unprecedented violence, climate change is no longer a threat the financial sector can ignore. The continued extraction and burning of fossil fuels is driving us further into climate breakdown, and our governments and institutions are failing to take the required level of action to address the crisis.

Banks are playing a massive role in fueling the climate crisis, with over $1.9 trillion poured into climate-wrecking fossil fuel projects and companies by 33 big banks across the world since the signing of the Paris Agreement. This support for the fossil fuel industry by banks must stop.

In the midst of this inaction, young people across the world have been organising and building a strong movement calling on decision-makers to do much, much better to address runaway climate change. BankTrack has been deeply inspired by the energy, dedication and passion shown by young people across the world taking a stand for climate justice. This September we want to stand in solidarity with the Youth Strikers and support their actions.

This is why from September 20 to 27, BankTrack will be joining and supporting events organised and led by the Youth Strikers.

We call on all bank workers who see the crisis we are in, whose children may already be climate activists, to join the Global Climate Strike or support it in whatever way they can. Bank employees, by disrupting business as usual, can show decision-makers at banks that there is support among their workforce for strong climate action, and for banks to play their role in ending the age of fossil fuels.

We further call upon all banks that are genuinely committed to the fight against climate change to follow the example of German ethical bank GLS, and close their doors on September 20 to allow their workers to join the strike and demand climate justice. 

It is clear that continued bank support for the fossil fuel industry is incompatible with reversing the climate catastrophe. Banks must take action to stop this support, starting with ruling out all new lending for new oil, gas and coal projects. Our house is on fire, and the Global Climate Strike provides bank workers with an ideal opportunity to demand their employers stop adding fuel to the fire.

To find out more about the Global Climate Strike, and to find an event near you, check out globalclimatestrike.net.