Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) at the People's Climate March: "We Have to Stop CO2 From Hurtling Into the Atmosphere"
Taking part in the largest climate march in history, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said that Wall Street bankers will only act on climate change if people organize to make them do so. He also expressed succinctly the climate-policy challenge: “We have to stop CO2 from hurtling into the atmosphere.”
During the PeoplesClimate.tv livestream of the People’s Climate March, Hill Heat’s Brad Johnson caught up with Schumer as he chatted with billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer. The senator said that action from pension funds is needed to get Wall Street to stop financing fossil fuels, because the bankers will not lead.
“The leadership has to come from the people,” Schumer told me. “Pension funds could do a lot.”
Wall Street plays a tremendous role making New York one of the richest cities in the world. It drives the global economy, which is powered on fossil fuels. Even as Mayor DeBlasio is working to decarbonize the city’s energy supply, carbon financier David Koch is the richest man in the city. Meaningful global action on climate change, the type Schumer called for, will require Wall Street to fully divest from financing the fossil-fuel industry. Although pension-fund and other private action is helpful, what is truly needed is legislative action from Congress.
PeoplesClimate.tv is a project of Act.tv, the web video activism site.
Transcript:
SCHUMER: We need to stop CO2 from hurtling into the atmosphere. We need do it, we need to work for climate change both globally and locally. Globally, the whole UN is here. Globally, all the leaders of the the world should get together and maybe begin raising consciousness and doing so. Locally, we have to act on our own. We can’t wait for the leaders of the world. Today Mayor DeBlasio did a very good thing by saying he’s going to greatly increase the efficiency of buildings. That’s important.Q: A lot of people are saying that leaders need to be the first ones to step up. What are you planning to do?
SCHUMER: I’ve been a leader of these things in Congress for a long time. But anybody in New York who doubted the effects of climate change changed their minds after Sandy.
. . .
BRAD JOHNSON: This is the richest city, perhaps in the world. Wall Street plays a tremendous role. It drives the global economy. Right now the global economy is powered on fossil fuels. How can finance, how can Wall Street change the tide?
SCHUMER: Well, one of the ways there’s leverage on Wall Street are pension funds, from the states, from the unions, and others. And if they say some things, sometimes Wall Street listens.
JOHNSON: Do you think there’s going to be leadership from the world of the banks, the bankers?
SCHUMER: No. The leadership has to come from the people, but as I said, pension funds could do a lot. He [Tom Steyer] knows a lot more about this than me.
Protesters Prepare to 'Occupy The UN' During Climate Summit
Occupy Wall Street activists are planning to “occupy” the United Nations Climate Summit.
According to Popular Resistance, a website associated with some members of the Occupy Wall Street collective in New York City, activists meeting in Zucotti Park agreed to attempt an occupation of the Dag Hammerskold Plaza in front of UN headquarters.
The civil disobedience assembly is scheduled to begin during the People’s Climate March taking place several blocks west on Sunday, September 21, and continue until the conclusion of the UN Climate Summit on Wednesday.
The text of the press release is below:
The Ad Hoc Committee to Occupy the Climate Summit announced plans at Zuccotti Park on S17 to occupy the UN beginning on Sunday. People can arrive during or after the People’s Climate March and the hope is to have people there 24/7 until the end of the UN climate meetings.OCCUPY THE U.N. CLIMATE SUMMIT
9.21.14
Join us at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza
Between 46th & 47th Sts and 1st and 2nd Aves, across from U.N.
The Climate March is only the prelude
Throughout the day people will be leaving the March to assemble in Dag Hammarskjold Plaza across the avenue from the U.N. While it is impossible to predict how events there will unfold, there will be a significant number who will attempt to occupy the plaza for the duration of the U.N. Climate Summit, which ends on Wednesday, September 24.
This action is not intended to compete with the messages of either the People’s Climate March on Sunday or the FLOOD WALL STREET action the following day, Monday.
Please feel free to join any two or all three. All three actions amplify a common message:
THE PEOPLE DEMAND ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS ROOT CAUSES
The UN represents the nations of the world.
Nations are not people. They are political constructs that reflect the interests of those who keep them in power. WE ARE PEOPLE.
We want our presence felt throughout the Summit. We want the world to see our resolve and understand our sense of urgency.
PLEASE JOIN US & PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD
People's Climate March Blocs
Below is a partial list of People’s Climate March blocs meeting before the march begins Sunday.
Indigenous People’s Gathering In Central Park next to Heckscher Playground, starting at 6:30 am
Labor Rally On Broadway, sound system at 57th Street Begins at 11 am.
Interfaith Religious Service On 58th Street, between 8th and 9th Ave. Begins at 11 am.
Food Justice On CPW at 71 St., north side of the intersection
Nuclear Free, Carbon Free On CPW at 73rd St., north side of the intersection
Sierra Club Solutions Rally On CPW at 75th St., north side of the intersection
Peace and Justice On CPW at 77 St., north side of the intersection
Anti-Fracking On CPW at 80th St., north side of the intersection
Science Stands At Hayden Planetarium, American Museum of Natural History (CPW & 81st)
Bike Bloc On CPW at 74th St, 10:30 am
For more information:
[email protected] (914) 719-6672