Resilient Palisades Green Banking Team Prepares for ‘Banking Day of Action’

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor 

Environmental groups across California—including locally founded organization Resilient Palisades—are gearing up for “Banking Day of Action” on Tuesday, March 21.

Led by Third Act, the groups are planning to protest the use of the four banks most responsible for funding the fossil fuel industry. According to a Fossil Fuel Finance Report, the world’s 60 largest commercial and investment banks loaned the fossil fuel industry over $3.8 trillion between 2016 and 2020.

Palisadian and member of Resilient Palisades’ Green Banking team Dennis Higgins told the Palisadian-Post as a result of the burning of fossil fuels, the world is seeing the planet warm at a rapid rate with the increase of flash floods and pollution.

“People should know that these banks are using our money to contribute to the climate craziness,” Higgins said. “Your bank account may be the largest part of your carbon footprint … There are alternative, cleaner ways to produce energy.”

Higgins is one of Resilient Palisades’ Green Banking team members steering Palisadians on the March 21 demonstration.

“This is important to me as a parent,” Higgins added. “I want to do my best to make sure the Earth my children inherit is as livable as possible. We are not headed in that direction now. Our children deserve their own future.”

The event is being described as a “Day of Action,” a coordinated, “movement-building” day.

“Thousands of people are coming together for a giant collective ‘break-up’ with the banks funding the climate crisis,” according to an event flier. “Switching to a climate-safe bank has never been easier or more important.”

In Los Angeles County, demonstrations will be held in Thousand Oaks, Calabasas, Studio City and Beverly Hills—which is closest to the Palisades. Interested individuals are invited to meet at the Beverly Hills sign, located at Santa Monica Boulevard and N. Beverly Drive.

For more information or to sign up, visit resilientpalisades.org/green-banking.