Growing a Global Climate Movement

Connecting the Climate Movement Internationally

Holding Political Leaders Accountable

Resisting the Keystone XL Pipeline

Our Victories at a Glance

• Keystone XL Pipeline Resistance

  350.org, along with 10,000 activists, gathers outside the White House in Washington, D.C, to protest the proposed Keystone XL. This massive tar sands pipeline which, if built, would have the capacity to carry 830,000 barrels of oil per day from Canada to the United States, with devastating consequences to the climate and communities. Scroll down to 2021, when the federal government finally cancels the project for good.

  
• Skilling up the movement

  We introduce trainings to accelerate and scale the movement, equipping thousands with tools to be climate leaders in their own communities.

  

Launching the Divestment Movement

Our Victories at a Glance

• Do the Math Tour

  Bill McKibben and Naomi Klein reveal fossil fuel industry's excess reserves, enough to exceed our carbon budget fivefold. Their film energizes campus groups in North America to push for fossil fuel divestment.

  
• The Fossil Free Divestment movement is born

  Inspired by the successful divestment campaigns against apartheid in South Africa, our movement started with students and universities petitioning their schools to divest their money from fossil fuels. The first significant victory came when Unity College in Maine became the first college to divest, in November 2012.

  

Empowering Youth Climate Leaders

Our Victories at a Glance

• Rising against Keystone XL in the US

  350.org joins allies at "Forward on Climate" in Washington D.C. This becomes the largest US climate rally up to that date, with 40,000 urging President Obama to reject Keystone. Then, our "Summer Heat" and “Draw the Line” campaigns hold nationwide actions against fossil fuels.

  
• Go Fossil Free launches

  We collaborate with partners in spreading the “Go Fossil Free” campaign to divest from fossil fuel companies. It spreads across the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe.

  
• Typhoon Relief in the Philippines

  After Typhoon Haiyan strikes, we act swiftly by raising funds for relief, supporting our local team in supplying aid, and coordinating vigils in solidarity with those affected.

  

Mobilizing Thousands for Climate

Our Victories at a Glance

• Campaign against Keystone XL continues

  Throughout 2014, we hold 45 separate actions to pressure President Obama to reject the Keystone XL Pipeline.

  
• Anti-Fracking rallies

  350.org organizes Don't Frack California, one of history's largest fracking protests. The action draws over 4,000 to Sacramento, advocating for a statewide ban on fracking.
• Divestments grow

  As 350.org launches campaigns in the US and Europe to train and support people around divestment, 181 institutions and local governments and nearly 700 individuals pledge to divest from fossil fuels — representing over $50 billion USD in assets.

  

Making International Climate Policies a Reality

Our Victories at a Glance

• Landmark Paris Agreement

  Following our mobilizations before and during COP21, including the Global Climate March, heads of governments create the Paris Climate Deal, the first international climate agreement to limit global heating to 1.5 degree celsius.
• Keystone XL pipeline rejected in the US

  Years of organizing with indigenous communities pay off when the Obama Administration rejects the pipeline because of its climate impact.
• Fracking made a contentious political issue in Brazil

  Our Day of Action against fracking garners attention from 39 Brazilian cities. 51 municipalities enact bans, with the National House of Representatives' environment commission approving a five-year moratorium.

  
• Coal Basin development halted in Australia

  350.org Australia's #RaiseTheHeat campaign pressures 12 international and two domestic banks, including two of Australia's largest banks, to rule out funding for the Galilee Basin coal development, one of the world's largest.

  
• Philippines halts Palawan coal plant

  Grassroots activism, including efforts by 350 Philippines, leads the government to ban new coal plants in the region.

  
• Lignite mine halted in Germany

  350.org and other activists take part in civil disobedience shutting down the Garzweiler lignite mine, Europe’s biggest source of CO2 emissions.

  
• Divestment commitments soar

  Media buzz and commitments skyrocket during our Global Divestment Day from $50 billion in 2014 to $3.4 trillion in managed assets 2015.

  

Keeping Fossil Fuels in the Ground

Our Victories at a Glance

• Exxon investigation launched

  Our #ExxonKnew campaign garners 500,000+ signatures, prompting four US attorney general probes and weakening the fossil fuel industry's social license.

  
• Ekumfi Aboano coal plant canceled in Ghana

  Our partnership with 350 G-ROC results in the cancellation of the coal plant, saving thousands from health and livelihood impacts.

  
• Fracking suspended in Paraná, Brazil

  Our No Fracking Brazil Coalition's advocacy and collaboration with indigenous allies result in the state passing a temporary ban after years of hard work.

  
• Galilee coal mine loses backers in Australia

  Our continuous campaigns result in the four largest banks pulling out of the coal mine, with only one remaining in support of it.

  
• More fossil fuel projects stopped

  Our pivot to the tar sands fight in 2016 leads to 28+ fossil fuel project cancellations, delays, or rejections. We fight the Dakota Access Pipeline in the US, oppose Kinder Morgan in Canada, and back 5-year resistance against the Rampal power plant in Bangladesh.

  

Fighting Climate Deniers & Stopping Pipelines

Our Victories at a Glance

• East Energy Pipeline canceled in Canada

  After years of campaigning alongside Indigenous allies, the largest proposed tar sands pipeline, carrying 1.1 million barrels per day, is scrapped.

  
• Solar XL launched in the US

  Fighting against the Keystone XL pipeline (revived by the Trump administration), we team up with partners to install three solar arrays along its proposed route.

  
• Coal mines canceled in Türkiye

  Grassroots resistance forces cancellations of two coal plants in the Aliaga region.

  
• Funding abandoned for Adani Coal Mine in Australia

  Throughout many years of campaigning, 350.org's opposition leads to 28 global banks withdrawing funding, the lead construction firm quitting, and the local government denying a $1 billion loan to construct the mine.

  
• Historical gas protest in the Netherlands

  5,000 people came out for the largest protest against gas extraction in Dutch history in the northern city of Groningen.

  
• Culprits held accountable

  New York City commits to divest its $190 billion pension fund and sues five of the biggest fossil fuel companies for climate damages from superstorms like Hurricane Sandy.

  

Mobilizing for the Climate & Canceling Coal Mines

Our Victories at a Glance

• Adani coal mine becomes non-viable in Australia

  Our #StopAdani campaign and our partners prevent outside funding for the project, get the mining company prosecuted for contaminating the Great Barrier Reef and force it to decrease the scale of the mine.
• Kinder Morgan pipeline approval overturned in Canada

  Indigenous-led mobilization with 10,000 people marching compels the Federal Court of Appeal to overturn government approval of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline extension.
• Sea exploration banned in Aotearoa (New Zealand)

  The Government bans new permits for offshore oil and gas exploration.

  
• Keystone XL pre-construction halted in North America

  A US District Court rules to vacate the cross-border permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, ordering TransCanada to cease all pre-construction for the project.

  
• Fracking bans in Argentina

  Along with a regional coalition of partners, 350.org, achieves at least 35 municipal bans, one provincial ban and stops the construction of a nuclear power plant in the country.

  

A Historic Global Climate Strike

Our Victories at a Glance

• Funding for coal plant in South Africa stopped

  Our campaign pressures the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) to halt funding for the Thabametsi coal-fired power plant, prompting its funding mandate to expire. Additionally, 3 big banks officially withdraw financial support for the Thabametsi and Khanyisa coal-fired power plants with one bank publicly commiting to never finance coal again.

  
• License canceled for Lamu Coal Plant in Kenya

  After years of grassroots campaigning, Kenya’s government cancels license granted to Amu Power, the developer of the Lamu Coal Plant.
• 3 pipelines delayed in the US

  Keystone XL and Line 3, the two massive tar sands oil pipelines, and the Williams fracked gas pipeline in New York are delayed.
• Wins against fracking in Brazil continue

  The states of Paraná and Santa Catarina permanently ban fracking in their respective territories, as do 400+ municipalities.

  
• Gas does not pass in Europe

  Three iconic fights against gas win big victories in Europe. The MidCat pipeline between Spain and France, and Gothenburg terminal in Sweden were both canceled, while fracking is banned in the UK.
• Hema Thermal Power Plant stopped in Türkiye

  Turkey’s Supreme Administrative Court rejects the construction of the Hema Thermal Power Plant in the region of Amasra, a UNESCO Temporary World Heritage site.
• European Investment Bank ends fossil fuel project financing

  Thousands of people pressure the European Investment Bank (EIB) to permanently end support for most fossil fuel projects. Their efforts lead the bank to adopt a new lending policy cutting finance to most fossil fuel projects.

  
• Asian banks dump coal

  The world’s fifth largest bank, Japan’s MUFG announces an end to new project finance for coal power. Singapore’s big three banks also end financing to new coal plants.

  

Taking Climate Activism Online

Our Victories at a Glance

• New York bans fossil fuel projects

  350.org, along with its diverse coalition, successfully pressures New York city and state to enact the world's largest municipal ban on fossil fuel projects. The state, making history, divests its $226 billion pension fund from oil and gas, marking the largest such divestment by a pension fund globally.

  This is a BIG deal. New Yorkers are celebrating a groundbreaking win in the fight for climate justice today, as Mayor Bill de Blasio announced New York City’s intention to stop all new fossil fuel projects within and serving the city. pic.twitter.com/DyVdtxPcSd

  — 350 dot org (@350) February 7, 2020

• Investors pull out of Lamu Coal Plant in Kenya

  General Electric, and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), pull out of the Lamu Coal Power Station project in Kenya, after years of fighting by 350 Africa and its partners.
• Teck withdraws from open-pit mine in Canada

  Teck Resources no longer pursues the largest-ever proposed mine, Frontier, in Canada’s tar sands region due to sustained efforts by Indigenous Climate Action, 350 Canada and other partners.

  
• Dakota Access Pipeline ordered suspension

  A federal court supports the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and orders the suspension of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

  
• Williams Fracked Gas Pipeline stopped

  350.org and allies in New York successfully halt the proposed Williams pipeline. The project meets its demise after being denied key permits in 2019 and 2020.
• Historic rise in fossil fuel divestments globally

  The divestment movement gains further traction, securing commitments totaling $14.56 trillion and a historic joint divestment announcement by 47 faith institutions from 14 nations.

  

Building Resilience with Creativity

Our Victories at a Glance

• Keystone XL project definitively canceled

  The 10-year battle by 350.org and various partners, is won as President Biden rescinds the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline and has the US rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement. TC Energy also officially terminates the Keystone XL project.
• Asian megabanks shift from fossil fuels

  350 Asia and its allies’ action prompts the Asian Development Bank’s acceleration plan to phase out new coal, oil, and gas projects, and exclude direct funding for coal power projects. The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) pledges to triple its renewables and green bond investments by 2025.

• Brazilian Development Bank ends coal financing

  After months of sustained pressure from 350.org and partner organizations, Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) finally puts coal financing on its exclusion list, stating that they will not finance any new coal mines or coal power plants.

  
• The European Central Bank incorporates climate as a focus area

  After 18 months of protests by 350.org and a coalition of NGOs, groups and institutions, the European Central Bank (ECB) announces that it would incorporate climate as a key area of focus in its risk assessments and monetary policy formulation.

  
• Total's lies exposed

  Together with the French organization Notre Affaire à Tous, we expose Total’s 50-year cover up of climate science. The #TotalKnew campaign told the world how Total had known about the climate-changing effect of burning fossil fuels since 1971. It led the French government to finally commit to stop financing fossil fuel projects abroad.

  

Blocking Major Carbon Bombs

Our Victories at a Glance

• EACOP's human rights violations exposed

  Our work with the StopEACOP coalition, involving 260 organizations globally, leads to the European Parliament issues an emergency resolution against the project’s human rights violations and environmental threats. In France, we organize a “People’s Trial” condemning Total’s crimes against communities and the environment.

  
• Guaíba coal mine stopped in Brazil

  The Federal Court in Brazil suspends the environmental license of the Guaíba open-pit coal mine in Porto Alegre, as a result of the pressure led by impacted communities supported by 350.org and other organizations. If built, this would be the biggest open-pit coal mine in Latin America..

  
• Fossil fuel auction halted in Brazil

  350.org, together with artisanal fishing communities and environmental groups protests against auction for deep oil extraction. The result: only five out of 92 blocks are sold in the worst historical auction outcome, safeguarding crucial marine biodiversity areas.

  
• Support for Matabari coal project canceled in Bangladesh

  350.org and frontline communities campaign against the expansion of Matarbari coal project leading to investors withdrawing, and Japanese banks canceling planned financial support.
• Japanese shareholders take action

  In Asia, we took a different approach to our campaigning with Japanese megabanks, working from the inside to persuade shareholders to ask for better and more sustainable investment policies. This results in the three major financial institutions (MUFG, Mizuho FG and SMBC) updating their climate policies and targets.

  
• Fossil fuels funding cut in Türkiye

  In less than four months from its launch, our campaign 'Smoke Free Money Zone' asking Turkish banks to stop investing in fossil fuels, particularly coal, achieves its first win! QNB Finansbank, one of the leading banks in the country, announces that they would no longer be financing coal.

  

Mobilizing Thousands for Community-led Renewable Energy

Our Victories at a Glance

• 26 Municipal Utilities leave Gas Lobby in Germany

  Our compelling campaigns, including a nation-wide day of action across 10 locations, lead to 26 municipal utilities breaking ties with the gas lobby “Zukunft Gas”, marking a step towards a cleaner energy future.

  
• France and Germany withdraw from ‘Climate Wrecking’ Treaty

  We, along with partners, amplify calls to abandon the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), which empowers the fossil fuel industry and hinders progress towards a sustainable future. France and Germany announce their withdrawal from the ECT, shortly after.

  
• Brazilian Development Bank halts support for Vaca Muerta Pipeline

  Our campaigns press the Brazilian government to reconsider its support for the Vaca Muerta gas pipeline, ultimately preventing financing from BNDES. Our efforts are amplified by the release of “Esto es Fracking” (This is Fracking), a documentary produced by 350 Latinoamerica, exposing the impacts of fracking in Argentinian Patagonia, which premiered globally to much acclaim.

• Brazil suspends its largest offshore fossil gas project

  Efforts led by 350.org, alongside local partners and Indigenous communities, result in the temporary suspension of Brazil’s largest onshore fossil gas project, Project Azulão, operated by Eneva in the Brazilian Amazon.

  
• Federal Reserve becomes more transparent on climate risks in the US

  Our supporters’ collective efforts compel the U.S. Federal Reserve to comprehensively conduct their climate risk analysis with enhanced transparency.

  
• Whitehaven Coal’s financing expires in Australia

  Through relentless advocacy efforts, activists & 350.org successfully pressure banks like the National Australia Bank (NAB) to withdraw their financing of Whitehaven Coal, a major player in Australia’s coal sector, stalling its expansion plans.

  
• Kato Pacific Community Climate Fund launches in the Pacific

  Born out of the collective efforts of civil society organizations, local leaders, and led by 350.org, Kato Climate Fund is established as a symbol of resistance for Pacific communities.

  

Looking Ahead to Climate Solutions