iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ben Cushing @bmcushing.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Here’s where we are and what’s ahead 👇 "This work is not only strategic, it is joyful and meaningful, and we will keep working to build a more powerful movement. This is our story to write." 😤 www.sierraclub.org/articles/202...

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Ben Cushing @bmcushing.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

The NYT piece also got it wrong about our broader movement and the moment we’re in 👇 www.sierraclub.org/articles/202...

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Ben Cushing @bmcushing.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

If you read that @nytimes.com hit piece about @sierraclub.org and thought it didn’t quite smell right, you were right... Here’s our Executive Director, Loren Blackford, setting the record straight — starting with what it got wrong about the organization 👇 www.sierraclub.org/articles/202...

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Ben Cushing @bmcushing.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

The real scandal is regulators’ dereliction of duty on climate risk. But worth noting, Fed Gov. Waller’s entire statement was just: “Good riddance.” This is from someone entrusted with safeguarding our financial system — not some random political hack. But he might as well be.

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Ben Cushing @bmcushing.bsky.social · 27/09/2025

Honored to join leaders from the NYC Comptroller’s Office, Ethic, & Sierra Club Foundation during #ClimateWeekNYC to discuss climate & fiduciary duty. I shared insights from my paper on why & how investors must confront climate change as a systemic financial risk: www.sierraclub.org/press-releas...

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Ben Cushing @bmcushing.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

Too often, pensions & other financial institutions make splashy "climate solutions" pledges with little transparency or credibility. That’s why @sierraclub.org & partners just published new Principles for Climate Solutions Investments to guide what should (and shouldn't) count. 🔗👇

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Ben Cushing @bmcushing.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

Good coverage in the @financialtimes.com @sustainableviews.bsky.social section on my new @sierraclub.org paper making the case for investors to tackle systemic climate risk: www.sustainableviews.com/conventional...

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Ben Cushing @bmcushing.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

📣👋 New paper from @sierraclub.org out today! It's been a long time in the making. It challenges conventional sustainable investing and urges asset owners to confront climate change as a systemic threat to the global economy and long-term portfolios. 👉 Full paper: www.sierraclub.org/systemic-cli...

Cover of paper from the Sierra Club titled "The Long Term Will Be Decided Now: Why Climate Risk Demands System-Level Action from Investors" (June 2025)

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Ben Cushing @bmcushing.bsky.social · 10/05/2025

if you don’t respond to climate disasters and you don’t track the costs, then it’s basically cost-free, why didn’t we think of this before

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Ben Cushing @bmcushing.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

Stuart Kirk has ruffled a lot of feathers in recent years calling out some uncomfortable truths. I don't agree with everything he's said, or even everything in this @financialtimes.com piece—but his prescription here for how sustainable finance must evolve is spot on: on.ft.com/41TKWZS

FT excerpt:
"I would also point out that half of greenhouse emissions come from just three dozen companies — and 16 of those are state owned. Banks, as well as governments and regulators, should focus their efforts where it counts. Investors too. But asset owners and managers must rectify another costly distraction first. As I have written before, they confuse investing with trading.

Buying or selling shares in a secondary market in itself makes no difference to anything. Equity is permanent capital and for every divestment there must be a buyer — and vice versa. To influence a company you need to own its shares to vote. Exclusion strategies are thus perverse. They are also immoral as you are forcing someone else to own the stocks you exclude. The only “investing” that moves the needle happens in primary markets — venture capital, private equity, direct lending and so on — where actual money is given or withdrawn. Sustainable Finance 2.0 should start here."

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Ben Cushing @bmcushing.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

I guess this is what #MAHA means now

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Ben Cushing @bmcushing.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

"The destructive impacts of climate change threaten trillions of dollars in global GDP, but instead of being part of the solution to combat the climate crisis, the bank is capitulating to the right’s anti-climate agenda" @nyccomptroller.bsky.social Long-term investors should indeed be alarmed...

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Ben Cushing @bmcushing.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

"Wells Fargo disingenuously claims that the conditions necessary to facilitate a just transition are outside of its control, conveniently ignoring the bank’s own role in proactively pouring $55 billion into fossil fuel projects." @nyccomptroller.bsky.social comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/sta...

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Ben Cushing @bmcushing.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

In a cowardly and shortsighted move, Wells Fargo just became the first major US bank to abandon its commitment to achieve net-zero emissions. 🤬 Sierra Club's statement: www.sierraclub.org/press-releas...

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Ben Cushing @bmcushing.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

📢 New report from @sierraclub.org & @stand.earth reveals how 32 major US public pensions—with over $3.8 trillion AUM—are using their shareholder power to vote on climate risks. Some are leading, but too many are still failing. See how your state stacks up: www.sierraclub.org/press-releas...

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Ben Cushing @bmcushing.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

“By 2055, 70,026 neighborhoods (84% of all census tracts) may experience some form of negative property value impacts from climate risk, totaling $1.47 trillion in net property value losses due to insurance pressures and shifting consumer demand.” firststreet.org/research-lib...

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Ben Cushing @bmcushing.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

While challenging fossil fuel financing remains a core priority of the campaign’s advocacy efforts, our goals have also long included pushing to accelerate funding for clean energy solutions and harnessing investor power to hold corporate polluters accountable for their impacts. @sierraclub.org

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Ben Cushing @bmcushing.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

You can really feel that populism draining the swamp already... www.nytimes.com/2025/01/19/u...

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Ben Cushing @bmcushing.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

Important passage from Biden's farewell speech last night: www.nytimes.com/2025/01/15/u...

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Ben Cushing @bmcushing.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

Every day’s a good day to support the work of the Sierra Club, but especially today: www.sierraclub.org/ways-to-give

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Ben Cushing @bmcushing.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

As Los Angeles continues to burn, another Wall Street giant has decided to relent to the lies and distortions of climate deniers. Sierra Club’s statement on BlackRock leaving the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative: www.sierraclub.org/press-releas...

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Ben Cushing @bmcushing.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

An important reminder from @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social today, as we watch LA burn, and for many days and years ahead…

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Ben Cushing @bmcushing.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

Every major US banks has now dropped out of the Net Zero Banking Alliance, reportedly due to fear of bogus legal & political attacks. While this is undoubtedly troubling, membership in voluntary alliances was never the real litmus test for action. Our statement: www.sierraclub.org/press-releas...

“Regardless of shifting political environments, the fact remains that the only credible way for financial institutions to meet their long-standing net-zero commitments is to rapidly phase out fossil fuel financing and scale up funding for clean energy solutions. While voluntary industry alliances like the NZBA play an important role, membership has never been the true measure of a company’s climate progress. What matters most is the strength of a company’s policies and targets, and transparent adherence to them.

If Wall Street banks acquiesce further to climate denier politicians and fail to follow through on their climate commitments, it will isolate the US on the global stage, and the enormous costs will fall upon our global economy, financial markets, and vulnerable communities. Ultimately, it’s up to banks’ regulators, shareholders, and clients — including state and local leaders — to hold them accountable.”

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