Join Climate First! and others tomorrow, May 18, 2023, as we confront Citibank over its massive investments in fossil fuels, monies which help to drive the climate crisis. For details and/or how to RSVP, go to bottom.   

Image: Peaceful rally outside a Citibank branch; Bethesda, MD; 10-15-21.

Imagine that you are the Chief Sustainability Officer at a major U.S. bank overseeing your employer's global sustainability commitments and initiatives, including the lender's plan to cut  its greenhouse gas emissions to "net zero" by 2050. And you agree to speak at an energy summit where the speakers also include the Secretary of the U.S. Dept of Energy, a member of the Council of Economic Advisors, a U.S. Senator who chairs a subcommittee that deals with climate and other issues, and other "big wigs". After agreeing to talk about "Innovating Our Way to Lower Emissions", you start thinking about what you will say to the crowd. Quickly, you realize that you'll have to engage in some pretty convincing "greenwashing" as you just can't hide the fact that your employer--yes, it's Citibank--is the #2 bank in the world as far as investing in climate-wrecking fossil fuels. "Oh well", you say to yourself, "I've done that before....."

We invite you to come to Washington, D.C. tomorrow to give your thoughts about greenwashing to Valerie Smith, Chief Sustainability Officer at Citi. Ms. Smith will be speaking at the Politico Energy Summit about "Innovating Our Way to Lower Emissions." While we certainly can agree with Ms. Smith that Citibank is ahead of many of its peer banks in addressing its massive contribution to the climate crisis--are you listening Jamie Dimon, CEO of Chase Bank?--Citi is still responsible for a huge share of the carbon dioxide currently going into the atmosphere. As mentioned above, the lender has been holding on to its status as the #2 climate-polluting bank in the world for a number of years. And like all the other major banks, Citibank just isn't moving fast enough to slash its emissions in order for the world to avoid blowing by the 1.5 Celsius goal agreed to in the Paris Climate Accord in late 2015.

Let's give Citi a piece of our mind about its refusal to fully address the climate crisis. And if you are a Citibank customer (bank account, credit card, or whatever), please contact us at [email protected] about signing onto a letter that we will be emailing to the Ms. Smith, the Chief Sustainability Officer at the bank. Citibank customers will be asking for a meeting (in person or via tele) with her to discuss their concerns. Hope to see you and your friends tomorrow.   

DETAILS:
What: A rally outside the Hamilton Hotel (1001 14th St., NW, Wash., D.C.) where Citibank's top sustainability officer will speak at an energy conference.  
When: Thursday, May 18, 2023, 11:30 am to 2 pm, EDT. 
Where: We will meet at Compass Coffee, 1401 I St NW, Wash., D.C (14th & I) at 10:45 am. Closest metro stops: McPherson Square (Blue, Orange & Silver Lines), & Farragut North (Red Line). 
Misc: Please RSVP to the rally. And if you can only take a little time off at lunchtime, then meet us outside the Hamilton Hotel (14th & K Sts) at 11:30 am or later. Bring a sign if you can. Also, unless it is dangerous weather, we go rain or shine. Finally, if questions, contact us at [email protected].