350 Aotearoa and Coal Action Network Aotearoa

Immediate Release

Christchurch joins in nationwide calls for Westpac to stop financing climate change

Today 350 Aotearoa and Coal Action Network Aotearoa set up a climate crime scene outside Westpac’s Westfield Riccarton branch in Christchurch as part of the nationwide Westpac Week of Action in which groups around the country are calling on Westpac to stop lending to Bathurst Resources, the company that wants to mine the Denniston Plateau for coal.

Bathurst Resources plans to dig up to 84 million tonnes of coal from the West Coast’s beautiful Denniston Plateau that would add up to 218 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and have a devastating effect on the area’s unique ecosystem. Westpac is providing financial backing for Bathurst Resources.

‘Westpac have not responded to calls for them to live up to their own promises and stop funding climate change, so we’re here today calling on them to do so. We are joined by people and groups right round the country who are holding activities this week to highlight Westpac’s bankrolling of climate change ’ said 350 Aotearoa National coordinator Ashlee Gross.

At least 80% of fossil fuels reserves must remain unburned in order to keep global warming to 2 degrees. The World Bank and European Investment Bank have recently announced their intentions to stop lending to coal projects, based on climate change concerns.

‘Westpac claims it has made a commitment to put sustainability at the heart of its culture, lending and business. They need to live up to that promise by dumping the dirty business of coal, or risk their brand and policies being exposed as greenwash. ’ said Gross

A website has been launched where the public can send letters to Westpac calling on them to ‘Dump Denniston.’ http://gofossilfree.org/nz/westpac

http://gofossilfree.org/nz/westpac

ENDS

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