{"id":241565,"date":"2023-01-26T11:12:04","date_gmt":"2023-01-26T10:12:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=241565"},"modified":"2023-01-26T11:12:20","modified_gmt":"2023-01-26T10:12:20","slug":"stephen-fry-emma-thompson-and-aisling-bea-stop-financing-fossil-fuel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=241565","title":{"rendered":"Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson and Aisling Bea: Stop Financing Fossil Fuel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Watts Up With That?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essay by Eric Worrall<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

h\/t Auto<\/strong>; Jetset celebrities Stephen Fry, Emma Thompson and Aisling Bea have demanded banks stop financing production of jet fuel? Maybe they haven\u2019t thought it through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Emma Thompson and Aisling Bea urge UK banks to stop financing fossil fuels<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Beth Timmins<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Business reporter, BBC News<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry and Aisling Bea are among celebrities calling on the five of the UK\u2019s biggest High Street banks to stop financing new oil, gas and coal projects. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It follows criticism that HSBC, Barclays, Santander, NatWest and Lloyds are funding \u201cfossil fuel expansion\u201d despite making green pledges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Businesses and charities like Greenpeace also back the campaign. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

HSBC and Barclays said they were helping their clients to cut emissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Make My Money Matter campaign points to research by environmental charity Rainforest Action Network, which claims that between 2016 and 2021, HSBC, Barclays, Santander, NatWest and Lloyds funnelled almost $368bn (\u00a3298bn) towards the fossil fuel industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It added that in the same time period, the lenders financed the 50 companies making the biggest investments in oil and gas projects to the tune of $141bn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It added that while HSBC and LLoyds had made \u201cwelcome new announcements\u201d on stopping direct finance for new fossil fuel expansion since then, \u201cthere is a long way to go\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHSBC was this month found to have provided $340m to a company opening a new coal mine in Germany,\u201d it said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026Read more:\u00a0https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/business-64399747<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The open letter from \u201cMake My Money Matter\u201d; The letter and website were created using the products of fossil fuel (computers), and the website stays up because of electricity provided by fossil fuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Dear CEOs of HSBC, Barclays, Santander, NatWest and Lloyds:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are writing to you as concerned customers and citizens. In 2021, the International Energy Agency (IEA) announced that there should be no investment in new oil, gas and coal if we want to limit global temperature rise and avoid climate catastrophe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the UK\u2019s Big 5 high street banks funneled $141 billion to the 50 companies at the forefront of oil and gas expansion between 2016 and 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This action is jeopardising our futures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We want you to ensure that your banks stop financing fossil fuel expansion. Here are the steps you need to take:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Stop directly financing fossil fuel expansion activity.\u202f<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Put clients on notice that they must stop expansion activity or face the financing consequences.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. End relationships if clients do not stop fossil fuel expansion.\u202f<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Lloyds has made a start by ending direct financing to new oil, gas, and coal projects; but all 5 of you must ensure you take climate action by following the three steps above, otherwise we will find a new bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Do you think we\u2019ll stand for you financing climate catastrophe? Don\u2019t bank on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Signed,Source: https:\/\/makemymoneymatter.co.uk\/openletter\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    In my opinion Emma Thompson is one of the most egregious celebrity climate hypocrites on the planet.<\/strong> In 2019 Emma Thompson flew 5400 miles to participate in an Extinction Rebellion anti-flying protest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    Police told to use \u2018full force\u2019 of law against Heathrow climate change protesters<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Heathrow is \u201cworking with the authorities\u201d to address any protests which could \u201cdisrupt the airport\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    By Ceren Senkul, news reporter 
    Friday 19 April 2019 07:06, UK<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Police have been given the green light by the home secretary to use the \u201cfull force of the law\u201d against climate change protesters who are planning to disrupt Heathrow airport<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Extinction Rebellion has been holding demonstrations over several days in key parts of London in order to get the government to take action on the \u201cunprecedented global emergency\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Actress Emma Thompson joined the protests in London after taking a 5,400-mile flight<\/strong> from Los Angeles in the US.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    She said: \u201cI absolutely wanted to be arrested on my 60th birthday but I didn\u2019t quite manage that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cI\u2019m so proud and thrilled to be part of Extinction Rebellion.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2026Read more:\u00a0https:\/\/news.sky.com\/story\/police-told-to-use-full-force-of-law-against-heathrow-climate-change-protesters-11697820<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In response to accusations of celebrity hypocrisy, Extinction Rebellion explained the problem is people like Emma Thompson are forced to use fossil fuel, because they are stuck in the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    Dear journalists who have called us hypocrites,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You\u2019re right.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We live high carbon lives and the industries that we are part of have huge carbon footprints. Like you \u2013 and everyone else \u2013 we are stuck in this fossil-fuel economy and without systemic change, our lifestyles will keep on causing climate and ecological harm.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    There is, however, a more urgent story that our profiles and platforms can draw attention to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Life on earth is dying.  We are living in the midst of the 6th<\/sup> mass extinction. For those who still doubt the severity of our situation, here<\/a> is the International Monetary Fund on 10th October 2019 :<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cGlobal warming causes major damage to the global economy and the natural world and engenders risks of catastrophic and irreversible outcomes\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And here<\/a> is Sir David Attenborough on 3rd December 2018 : <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cRight now, we are facing a man-made disaster of global scale. Our greatest threat in thousands of years. Climate change. If we don\u2019t take action, the collapse of our civilisations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Climate change is happening faster and more furiously than was predicted; millions of people are suffering, leaving their homes and arriving on our borders as refugees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Alongside these people who are already paying the price for our fossil fuelled economy, there are millions of children \u2013 called to action by Greta Thunberg \u2013 who are begging us, the people with power and influence, to stand up and fight for their already devastated future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We cannot ignore their call.  Even if by answering them we put ourselves in your firing line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The stories that you write calling us climate hypocrites will not silence us.<\/strong>  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The media exists to tell the public the truth. Right now there has never been a more urgent need for you to educate yourselves on the CEE (Climate and Ecological Emergency) and to use your voices to reach new audiences with the truth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We invite all people with platforms and profiles to join us and move beyond fear, to use your voices fearlessly to amplify the real story.
    Thousands of ordinary people are risking their freedom by taking part in non-violent civil disobedience.  We\u2019ve been inspired by their courage to speak out and join them. We beg you to do the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    With love,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2026 lots of signatures \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Read more:\u00a0https:\/\/rebellion.earth\/2019\/10\/16\/celebrities-backing-extinction-rebellion-say-yes-we-are-all-hypocrites-in-open-letter-to-media\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    What protestors like Extinction Rebellion and celebrity hypocrites are really saying is it is acceptable to be a climate hypocrite, so long as you agitate for change. They are all waiting for you lazy engineering types to get off your butts, and find a way for celebrities to live their high energy lifestyles without mining or fossil fuel or anything else which offends green sensibilities.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What can I say? When you lazy engineers do your jobs, when the world runs on magic, green heroes like Emma Thompson won\u2019t need an airplane to fly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    What can I say? When you lazy engineers do your jobs, when the world runs on magic, green heroes like Emma Thompson won\u2019t need an airplane to fly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":241573,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-241565","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-uncategorized","9":"fallback-thumbnail"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/image-1111.png?fit=1248%2C702&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-10Qd","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":204870,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=204870","url_meta":{"origin":241565,"position":0},"title":"BBC & The Green Lobby","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"06\/18\/2022","format":false,"excerpt":"By Paul Homewood h\/t Joe Public One more example of BBC bias: This was the broadcast: https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/programmes\/m0015lr9 It is hardly surprising that the contributors were firmly anti-fossil fuels: James Murray \u2013 Editor Business Green magazine His job is to promote the green agenda and lobby for the renewable industry. That\u2019s\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/0image-42.png?fit=787%2C448&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/0image-42.png?fit=787%2C448&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/0image-42.png?fit=787%2C448&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/0image-42.png?fit=787%2C448&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":230042,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=230042","url_meta":{"origin":241565,"position":1},"title":"Scientist Rebellion Activist Arrested for Bothering David Attenborough","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"11\/19\/2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Emma Smart apparently attempted to approach Attenborough to discuss his disregard for the excess and inequality of eating at a\u00a0restaurant.","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/image-663.png?fit=800%2C400&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/image-663.png?fit=800%2C400&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/image-663.png?fit=800%2C400&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/image-663.png?fit=800%2C400&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":287124,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=287124","url_meta":{"origin":241565,"position":2},"title":"Farmers, ranchers, and foresters are the best conservationists (ft. Rep. Glenn \u201cGT\u201d Thompson)","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"11\/08\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cThere are no greater climate champions in the world than the American farmer, rancher, and forester.\u201d \u2014 House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn \u201cGT\u201d Thompson From\u00a0CFACT In Episode 391 of District of Conservation, Gabriella speaks with House Agriculture Chairman Glenn \u201cGT\u201d Thompson for a conversation about his committee, 2023 Farm Bill\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Farmers\"","block_context":{"text":"Farmers","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=farmers"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/image-223.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/image-223.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/image-223.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/image-223.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/image-223.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":263319,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=263319","url_meta":{"origin":241565,"position":3},"title":"Cuckoos In Decline? Must Be Climate\u00a0Change!","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"06\/22\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Silly Emma Gatten is at it again! Maybe Emma might care to do some research first in future, before she rushes to blame non-existent climate change.","rel":"","context":"In \"Climate change\"","block_context":{"text":"Climate change","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=climate-change"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/00cuckoo.webp?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/00cuckoo.webp?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/00cuckoo.webp?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/00cuckoo.webp?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/00cuckoo.webp?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":417517,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=417517","url_meta":{"origin":241565,"position":4},"title":"WATCH: UTK Collegian debunks climate crisis in real time","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"12\/17\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"College campuses are saturated with climate slogans, but far less often with climate context. At the University of Tennessee Knoxville, CFACT Collegian Emma Arns set out to change that \u2014 not with a lecture, but with a microphone, a camera, and two graphs most students had never seen before.","rel":"","context":"In \"Antarctic ice core\"","block_context":{"text":"Antarctic ice core","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=antarctic-ice-core"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0Emma-Collegians-Climate-z.jpg?fit=1200%2C668&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0Emma-Collegians-Climate-z.jpg?fit=1200%2C668&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0Emma-Collegians-Climate-z.jpg?fit=1200%2C668&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0Emma-Collegians-Climate-z.jpg?fit=1200%2C668&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0Emma-Collegians-Climate-z.jpg?fit=1200%2C668&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":303089,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=303089","url_meta":{"origin":241565,"position":5},"title":"Give heat pump users a tax break on bills to encourage uptake, Treasury\u00a0told","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"02\/19\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Trust Emma Gatten to be writing this nonsense!","rel":"","context":"In \"Emma Gatten\"","block_context":{"text":"Emma Gatten","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=emma-gatten"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/0Featured-48.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/0Featured-48.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/0Featured-48.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/0Featured-48.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/0Featured-48.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/241565","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=241565"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/241565\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":241576,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/241565\/revisions\/241576"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/241573"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=241565"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=241565"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=241565"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}