21898View
48m 30sLenght
136Rating

A growing group of concerned citizens no longer trusts politicians to tackle climate change. They now focus on the financial sector and receive help from unexpected sources. Big banks like HSBC, Citibank and the regulating Bank of England recently started to warn against the so-called ‘carbon bubble’. Investing in coal, oil and gas not only causes temperatures to rise, but it also involves substantial financial risks, for pensions for example. Armed with this new weapon, activists are summoning pension funds, universities and other funds to reduce their investments in fossil fuels. The trust that politicians will come up with a solution for climate change is waning. A rapidly growing group of concerned citizens is looking for other ways to tackle climate change. They now focus on the financial world, because they believe that there is at least as much influence to be found here as in governments. Pension funds, churches and universities are called on to withdraw their investments in fossil fuels. This ‘divestment’ movement has followers in more than twenty countries, and it’s growing rapidly. With success: besides churches and universities, the Norwegian state investment fund—which holds more than 800 billion euros—has now promised to reduce its investments in fossil fuels. In the Netherlands, pension fund ABP—one of the world’s largest funds, with more than 350 billion euros in investments—is an attractive target for the divestment movement. Through campaigns and conversations with pensioners and supervisors, the fossil free activists are trying to urge ABP to pull large sums out of companies responsible for high carbon emissions. And with success. ABP recently announced that they will start rating all their investments in terms of sustainability. The fund will invest more in renewable energy and less in coal and oil. But for the divestment movement, the mission won't be accomplished until ABP and other pension funds dare to make even more radical choices and completely stop investing in the fossil fuel industry. Is this the right strategy? VPRO Backlight follows activists and stock traders, in search of the benefit and necessity of this new way of campaigning. Including: Corien Wortmann-Kool (CEO ABP), Vatan Hüzeir (co-initiator of ABP Fossil Free), Ella Lagé (campaigner for Fossil Free Berlin) and Bob Litterman (hedge fund manager and former Head of Quantitative Trading at Goldman Sachs). Director: Martijn Kieft VPRO Backlight November 2015 Our globalized world causes societies, economies and cultures to seek a new balance. VPRO Documentaries reflects on this with new features every week. We research subjects like politics, world economy, society and science with experts and try to grasp the essence of prominent trends and developments. So subscribe to our channel and we will be delighted to share our adventures with you! Visit additional youtube channels bij vpro broadcast: vpro Broadcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC75PWWQrls0z6fh0loY5I4Q vpro Metropolis: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpnazGScKQfGauk7YNyI21w vpro Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9sXw4ZdPEIp6bYGvLW-_iA vpro World Stories: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqJ6GC0klkbFuQa-0ZePqkQ vpro Extra: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTLrhK07g6LP-JtT0VVE56A vpro VG (world music): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-KX3q7zIz7s2rjooBfl6Nw vpro 3voor12 (alternative music): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-p9faJQsBObRNiKY8QF2NQ vpro 3voor12 extra (music stories): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtgVYRLGraeL9rGMiM3rBHA