Kai Jones & Zahan Billimoria Call on the Fed to Stop Financing Climate Change

Every year, world economic leaders gather in the Tetons for the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium to discuss financial policy and trade goals for the entire planet. These independent agents have a massive influence in global and domestic economic policy, which must be steered toward a modern, clean energy economy that can meet the demands of climate change. A massively important step into preventing an even worse outcome to our current climate situation is making sure money flows to sustainable energy economies. Since the Paris Climate Agreement was signed in 2015, American banks just like yours have funneled $1.2 trillion into fossil fuel development, which is actively destroying our outdoor playgrounds.

On August 7, 2021 Teton locals Zahan Billimoria and Kai Jones teamed up to set out on a journey with a purpose. The team ascended 5,600 feet over boulder fields and up prominent rock faces to drape a large “Stop the Money Pipeline” banner off of the summit of Teewinot calling for climate finance action. The effort aimed to inspire conversation and action on the climate emergency during the Symposium.

Zahan Billimoria, a world-renowned mountain guide and Protect Our Winters Alliance member says, “the ecosystem in the Tetons, and natural landscapes like them across the world, are changing right before our eyes - climate change isn’t theoretical, it is well-under way. In the last decade climate change has completely altered how, when and where we move through the mountains with repercussions that flow downhill to all life on the planet. But what's most startling is that we are financing this destruction through irresponsible economic policy. We need leaders in government and business to step up and take action on climate finance putting clean air, clean water and a livable planet first.”

“Living here allows me to wake up every morning, take a breath of fresh air and realize that I live in the coolest place on the planet. I owe everything I have to growing up in the Tetons and I'm planning on protecting them for the rest of my life, so that my generation and future generations can continue to enjoy them,” said 15 year old professional skier, Kai Jones.

“Ending fossil fuel financing and making climate risk a deciding factor in major financial decisions going forward costs nothing, but has the power to move mountains for the climate. It is not only the right thing to do; economically and financially it is also good business,” said Mario Molina, Executive Director of Protect Our Winters.