Move Your Government’s Money Out Of Fossil Fuel Subsidies
According to the IMF, a staggering 7 trillion USD (yes, that is 7 million million) go into fossil fuel subsidies every year. The money needed for the renewable energy transition amount to roughly two thirds of that, 4.5 trillion. In face of a climate crisis threatening civilization with catastrophic and deadly impacts, and ultimately collapse, funding fossil fuels seems like a very bad thing for governments to continue with. Politicians can change this and you can influence them. Here is a practical step-by-step guide on how to do it.
Step 1: Shortlist your preferred politicians
You’ll need to narrow down the list of people you want to contact. Create a list of politicians whose values you share and whose policy proposals you agree with.
Step 2: Check your country’s fossil fuel subsidies
The IMF has published this list where you can look up your government’s explicit and implicit fossil fuel subsidies. Look these numbers up and add them together, so that you have a figure representing your government’s total fossil fuel subsidies.
Step 3: Create a new email using this template – add information to the [brackets], including your government’s total fossil fuel subsidies
Dear [Name of politician],
I hope this message finds you well.
I’m a supporter of you and I support many of your policies. I’m reaching out about something that is very important to me.
With the global consensus at the UN COP28 meeting on the urgency of transitioning away from fossil fuels to mitigate climate change, my concern is the governments’ continued support of the fossil fuel industry. According to the IMF, global fossil fuel subsidies amount to $7 trillion or 7.1 percent of GDP.
[Your country of citizenship] is guilty of this too. Our government continues to subsidize the fossil fuel industry amounting to [X billion USD] in implicit and explicit subsidies.
You can read the IMF’s latest report on this matter here: https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WP/Issues/2023/08/22/IMF-Fossil-Fuel-Subsidies-Data-2023-Update-537281
Could you please clarify your position on our government’s subsidies and any plans to abandon them to support the renewable energy transition instead?
If I am to continue to support you politicially I must be assured that you are committed to a sustainable future. I will vote and support politicians who does not compromise on this issue, and work tirelessly to remove fossil fuel subsidies.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Step 4: Send the email to all politicians on your shortlist
Final step: Move the money in your bank account!
Don’t forget about your savings! If you haven't done so yet, sign up for the #MoveThe Money campaign, and don’t forget to write in how much money you want to move. We will send you our guide on how to move your savings. This has the potential to reduce your footprint in half. So it’s actually the most important action you can take with your money.
