BlackRock is the world’s biggest investor in fossil fuels, with over $7 trillion in assets. Our members, whose communities have been harmed by BlackRock’s investments, have been pressuring BlackRock to stop financing climate destruction. Last October, for example, along with allies, we blocked the entrance to their worldwide headquarters in midtown Manhattan.

Today, BlackRock announced it will begin to divest from coal and other important actions to reduce its deadly impact on the world. This signals a big change by Wall Street’s biggest player.

We demand divestment from oil, gas, forest destruction—not just coal. Nonetheless, it is a very significant action that would not have happened without tough, hard-hitting activism by a worldwide effort called “BlackRock’s Big Problem,” which we support.

So what’s next? This coming Earth Day, on April 22nd, will be the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Expect huge action that day and the following two days!  

We’ll keep fighting alongside our allies on BlackRock and the broader coalition called “Stop the Money Pipeline” until we win.

Onward!,

Pete Sikora

Climate & Inequality Campaigns Director