---
title: 350.org on UN Chief warning fossil fuel investments mean “an unsustainable future”
date: 2017-11-16T20:49:49Z
modified: 2017-11-16T20:55:35Z
permalink: "https://350.org/press-release/un-chief-fossil-fuel-investments-unsustainable-future/"
type: press-release
status: publish
excerpt: ""
wpid: 63151
---

_GLOBAL —_ At COP23 today, UN Chief Antonio Guterres warned that [investments in fossil fuels means “an unsustainable future”](https://phys.org/news/2017-11-fossil-fuel-investment-unsustainable-future.html) and that time is running out to prevent calamitous climate change caused by atmosphere-fouling emissions.

In response, **Yossi Cadan, 350.org Global Divestment Senior Campaigner**, issued the following statement:

> “The Secretary General’s statement should make it crystal clear to investors and financial institutions around the world: if you’re still funding fossil fuels, you’re part of the problem. Guterres’ statement, along with today’s announcement from Norway that they’re looking at ditching oil and gas, is a clear sign that momentum is on our side.
> 
> This December, French President Macron will host a climate summit focused on mobilizing finance for climate solutions. We call on him, and all would-be climate leaders, to commit to not put one penny more into fossil fuels.
> 
> Now, the United Nations must also walk the talk and divest its pension fund from fossil fuels. If Secretary General Guterres doesn’t want to retire on a dead planet, he should tell his pension fund managers to follow his own advice.”

What began as a moral campaign is now a mainstream and responsible financial tactic. To date, over 800 institutions representing [more than $5.4 trillion in assets](https://gofossilfree.org/commitments) have committed to some level of divestment. Recent reports have found the fossil fuel divestment movement [successfully changed the conversation around climate](https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2017/9/29/16377806/mckibben-effect) change and the responsibility of all decision-makers and institutions to take action..

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