FOSSIL FUELS KILL
WE FIGHT TO
LIVE
This summer was historic. This was the first time in history that climate activists held an entire season of sustained civil disobedience protests targeting Wall Street and big banks for their role in fueling the climate crisis,
We built a wide coalition of migrants, faith leaders, elders, parents and even “orcas”.
But our fight is not over yet. We will continue to hold Wall Street accountable during Climate Week and beyond
SUMMER OF HEAT
🔥
SUMMER OF HEAT 🔥
We’ve Reached
the Boiling Point.
ABOUT US
Summer of Heat on Wall Street is thousands of frontline community leaders, youth, elders, and climate activists coming together in New York City for a months-long campaign of relentless nonviolent civil disobedience.
Our main demand is for Wall Street to stop funding the oil, coal, and gas projects that are driving the climate crisis and the related widespread floods, wildfires, deadly air pollution, mass drought, and forced migration that kills and displaces millions each year.
Over 5,000 people joined us in over 40 actions over the summer
Over 600 people have participated in non-violent civil disobedience
But our fight is not over…
OUR DEMANds
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Wall Street must stop funding, insuring and investing in all coal, oil, gas, and petrochemical companies.
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Wall Street must increase its level of financing for renewable energy so that it is in line with what is required for the world to limit global warming to 1.5°C.*
* According to research by ReclaimFinance, this means that Wall Street banks must increase their level of renewable energy financing by at least a factor of six by 2030
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From Arizona to the Congo, the energy transition risks driving a new wave of human rights abuses and violations of Indigenous sovereignty. Wall Street must ensure that human rights, Indigenous sovereignty and the rights of workers are respected by every company they finance, including renewable energy and rare earth mining companies.
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Wall Street must acknowledge its role in fueling climate chaos and environmental racism around the world and pay into a climate reparations fund, such as the UNFCCC’s Loss and Damage Fund.
Summer of Heat brings together a multiracial, multigenerational, cross-class movement for a campaign of sustained nonviolent direct action that demands that Wall Street stop investing in, financing, and insuring fossil fuels. Our work together is guided by these principles:
Principles
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Every day that we continue to burn fossil fuels, the climate crisis worsens. To stop the climate crisis, we must end the era of fossil fuels.
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While the climate crisis threatens all of us, we face the impacts of the crisis at different rates and intensities. In our work we honor the variety of reasons people choose to fight and the different exposure we have to the climate crisis.
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At the core of the social, economic, and environmental crises we face today are centuries of colonialism, racism, capitalism, and other systems of oppression. Our work is grounded in addressing the root causes of the climate crisis, and we remain vigilant to the ways these systems can creep into our work.
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The only way we will win is by creating a movement that is irresistible to mass numbers of people. Our actions strive to create a moral crisis that polarizes the public and forces people to take a stand. We welcome all who act in alignment with our principles.
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We stay focused on achieving our goals. Our actions are strategic, disciplined, and innovative.
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The people and institutions that use their financial, cultural, and political power to support the fossil fuel industry are destroying our world. Our work strives to disrupt their businesses and their lives.
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While violence may be used against us, we never respond with violent acts. The violent actions of the state and corporations will only inspire people to join our cause, while a violent response on our part will inevitably drive people away.
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The climate crisis is a bummer, but we don’t have to be. Joy and humor are powerful tools of resistance that bolster our resilience.
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There will be many battles in the fight to end fossil fuels. Our work isn’t about one campaign or one moment, it's about building toward our collective vision of a livable future.
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In order to be in the fight for a livable future for the long haul, we must remind each other to rest and help each other carry the load. We do our best work when we are our best selves.
Frequently Asked Questions
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We’re targeting Citigroup because they are the worst funder of fossil fuel expansion since the Paris Agreement went into effect in 2016, and because we know we can push them to do the right thing. In addition to being the worst funder of new fossil fuels, Citi is the second worst funder of dirty energy projects in the world from 2016 to 2023, spending a total of $396.3 billion on coal, oil, and gas.
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US banks have provided $1.8 trillion to fossil fuel companies since 2016. Insurance companies provide insurance to new fossil fuel projects, without which they could not be built. Investors provide coal, oil, and gas with trillions every year. That’s why we are also going after other major backers of climate destruction, such as AIG, BlackRock, Chubb, and KKR.
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We are still finalizing our convergence space for the summer, but it will be in downtown Brooklyn or lower Manhattan. The G line in Brooklyn will be repaired this summer and replaced with a shuttle bus. If you are staying along the G or have a connection via the G, please keep this in mind as your travel times may increase.
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We don’t have funding for housing for out-of-towners. If you are on a budget, we can send you a list of hostels in NYC. If you can afford a place but just need advice around where to stay, we recommend anywhere in Manhattan and in Brooklyn along the A/C/E for the quickest commute times to actions and our campaign headquarters. We do have a Solidarity Housing Board where you can request housing but we cannot guarantee a match.
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Maybe! Please reach out and tell us about your group and we will try to connect you with solidarity housing. Please email info@summerofheat.org
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Unfortunately, we don’t have travel funds at the present moment – our priority with our limited funds is supporting people in the NYC area to join. If you are from the Gulf South and engaged in fighting fossil fuel infrastructure in your area, there may be funds to support you to join. Please email info@summerofheat.org.
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Awesome! Here is a form to fill out to offer housing. We’ll connect you with someone needing housing and you can decide if it’s a good fit.
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Yes, the Summer of Heat campaign strives to provide legal support to everyone taking part in our actions and acting within our action agreements and campaign norms. We have regular legal briefings available – sign-up for one on the Calendar of Events.
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At our nonviolent civil disobedience actions, we make room for many types of roles and risk levels -- including many low-risk roles. We can never 100% guarantee police response, and you should know that partaking in any public demonstration comes with some amount of risk, but we are committed to organizing actions that are accessible to many different levels of risk tolerance.
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The National Lawyers Guild put together this pamphlet on Arrest and Processing in NYC. Check it out.
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The short answer is: usually not. The longer answer is that the risk of having a bail imposed is fairly low since bail is not considered in many cases in New York City. In the unlikely situation that a Summer of Heat participant is required to post bail, we would work with the NYC Action Bail Fund to post your bail. Note: Your risk of bail is much higher if you have an open case, an open warrant for your arrest, or if you have ever missed a court date in the past.
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We are offering weekly legal briefings to provide more information about the arrest and legal process! You are welcome to join to ask specific questions you may have as well.