HSBC is a UK-based banking company which has a subsidiary in America. In 2021, they claimed they were going towards becoming a net zero bank, reducing their emissions. That same year, they invested €17 billion in the fossil fuel industry and supports companies that will build 73 more coal power plants. It is important for HSBC and companies like HSBC to answer to their hypocrisy. Investing money into the fossil fuel industry will only worsen the current climate disaster.

As fossil fuels are burned, carbon dioxide is released which is absorbed by the ocean. This leads to ocean acidification in which the  increased acidity dissolves shells used by marine organisms and reduces the availability of carbonate ions which shelled organisms use to make shells. This leaves them unprotected and less likely to survive, decreasing biodiversity and threatening/degrading coral reef ecosystems. Climate change brought about by fossil fuels also contributes to extreme weather events such as wildfires, hurricanes, wind storms, flooding, and droughts that cost billions of dollars in damage, money that some countries can't afford in their current state. Global warming also causes melting glaciers and land-based ice which is causing sea levels to rise and leading to increased flooding and destructive storms. Burning fossil fuels also releases sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and mercury which can lead to acid rain and contribute to eutrophication. Fossil fuels also waste millions of gallons of water and the resulting wastewater is hazardous and can contaminate groundwater. Millions of tons of plastic are also produced each year from fossil fuels which end up in the ocean and inside wildlife decreasing their survival and impacting their fertility. As these situations worsen, our children and grandchildren won't get to enjoy the environment and biodiversity that we have access to. Even if you don't see the effects now, think of your children who will suffer for your benefit. 

It starts with urging HSBC to divest in fossil fuels and then we can move towards eliminating fossil fuel subsidies and putting a price on carbon. Your signature matters!

Please also take a moment to visit: https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/05/03/money-money-money-bankers-interrupted-by-climate-protesters-singing-abba (to see a unique way in which climate protesters interrupted an HSBC general meeting with their own rendition of ABBA’s classic ‘Money, money, money’). It's worth a listen! And always remember, there are multiple ways to protest and most importantly, multiple ways your voice can be heard.