Summer of Heat

Summer of Heat  is 12 weeks of sustained protest and civil disobedience focused on disrupting Wall Street financial institutions that are funding the climate crisis, including big banks like Citibank, insurance companies like Chubb, private equity, and others. We want to “turn up the heat” and escalate pressure on the financiers who are earning big profits while people and the planet burn. 

The primary location is New York City. The lead organizers are Stop the Money Pipeline, New York Communities for Change, Climate Organizing Hub, Climate Defenders, and Planet Over Profit, with 93 endorsing organizations so far, including Third Act, Elders Climate Action, Elders Action Network, 1000 Grandmothers for Future Generations, among others.

There are different themes for each week throughout the summer.

Third Act, in partnership with others, is the lead organizer for Elders Week (July 8-13). Elders Week is the only week that also has solidarity events hosted in other locations in addition to the events taking place in New York City (see above map).

There additional themed weeks throughout the summer in New York City, including a Youth Week, Gulf South Solidarity, Arts Actions, No Genocide & No Fossil Fuels, Frontline Fighters, and more. See the list of weekly actions in NYC. 

Money is the fuel fanning the flames of climate change. Without funding from Wall Street, fossil fuel companies would not be able to continue expanding exploration and development of new oil, gas, and coal projects. According to Banking on Climate Chaos, since the 2016 Paris Climate Accord when governments and corporations agreed to cut carbon emissions, the top four US banks – JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo – have done the exact opposite: they’ve poured in about $1.5 trillion into the fossil fuel industry. Insurance companies, retirement funds, and private equity firms are also investing in dirty fossil fuels. 

This continued funding is in spite of the International Energy Agency’s call in 2021 that funding for new fossil fuel projects should cease and investments and a transition to clean energy must be accelerated. Citibank is the #2 biggest funder of fossil fuels and the #1 biggest funder of fossil fuel expansion. These institutions are using our money, investments, and retirement savings to rob our grandchildren’s and all of our healthy future. 

We say enough! Let’s stop the flow of money so we can stop the flow of dirty fossil fuels and fight climate change.

Older Americans are the fastest growing part of the population. We hold the majority of the country’s wealth, are politically powerful, and have skills and life experience. Elders are also vulnerable to climate change. We want to protect a healthy and habitable planet for our grandkids and coming generations. We want to back up the youth who are fighting for their future. As part of the Summer of Heat, we elders are demanding that banks stop using our money to fund dirty fossil fuels and start accelerating investments in climate solutions. 

Let’s change the public narrative that elders get more conservative as they age. The Rocking Chair Rebellion is our way of poking fun at the stereotype that old folks are sitting in their rocking chairs whiling their time away. We are rising up from our rocking chairs and saying “No!” to rising temperatures. We are old and bold and have no time to waste.

If there is no event near you, you can still take action in a variety of ways. Here are some suggestions:

• Sign the Banking on our Future Pledge and commit to move your money out of the big, dirty banks to a better bank if they don’t stop funding fossil fuels. We plan to deliver another wave of Pledges to bank CEOs later this year. (Takes less than 1 minute)
• Send a fax to the CEOs of the big banks – ask them to stop funding Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) projects and align with President Biden’s pause on permitting new LNG projects. These projects are “carbon bombs” and are wreaking havoc on frontline communities. (Takes 2 minutes)
• Sign the “Costco: Clean Up Your Credit Card” Petition – Costco’s co-branded store credit card is issued by Citibank, the world’s #1 biggest funder of fossil fuel expansion. Tell Costco to urge Citi to stop funding fossil fuels or find a better credit card partner if Citi refuses to act. (Takes less than 1 minute)
• Write a personal letter to your bank and deliver it to your bank branch manager. (Takes 5-10 minutes to write your letter & 10-15 minutes to talk to your bank branch manager)
• Use our resources to find a better bank and credit card to make good on your pledge to move your money out of one of the dirty banks. (Takes time with multiple steps over several weeks.)

Many events in New York City do involve non-violent direct action (NVDA) as we escalate our pressure on the Wall Street financial institutions that are funding climate destruction. At these events, there are roles for everyone, including those who do not want to risk arrest. You can carry a sign, lead a song or a chant, and more.

There are also events in NYC that do not involve civil disobedience or NVDA. For example, on July 10 is a family-friendly event co-hosted by Climate Families NYC involving kids, parents, elders, and grandparents with a “Beat the Heat Story Hour” including cooling snacks.

Most of the events outside New York will not involve civil disobedience or risk of arrest. You can check each of the event pages for more detail.

Definitely bring signs! At events, we often recommend not bringing signs with big sticks. Make a sign that says “I’m here for _____” and add “My grandkids” or “my niece” or whomever you love; print their picture and add to your sign; add underneath the picture “Stop Robbing Their Future” or “Elders Against Fossil Fuels”. 

Other signs ideas include: 

• Don’t use my $$ to fund climate chaos
• Elders want climate solutions
• Elders Rising Up for Climate Justice 
• Elders say: No $$ for Dirty Oil 
• [Name of Bank] Funds Environmental Racism
• Climate change is bad for business
• Climate change is bad for bankers too
• The Summer of Heat:  Brought to You by [Name of Banks]! 
• Invest in Green NOT Greed! 
• Be a Good Ancestor: Stop Funding Climate Chaos
• Stop Robbing Our Grandkids’ Future 
• Rising Generations, Not Rising Temperatures 
• Keep on Rockin’ in the Fossil Free World

• Bring/wear comfortable clothing and shoes.
• Bring water, sunscreen. It may be hot. You can bring small umbrellas for shade (and can also use markers to add a sign or slogan on the top of your umbrella like “No Fossil Fuels”). 
• Bring your passion and a positive attitude. While we can be determined and committed, we do not need to be mean to bank staff or passersby.
• Do not bring weapons, non-prescription drugs, or things that could be construed as weapons (like big sticks).

Email us at info@thirdact.org.