Invitation CEO last chance for ING

We have invited the CEO of ING for a talk. This is the last chance for the bank to avoid a Climate case. After the ruling in the Shell Climate Case, the basis for a one against ING has only become more solid. Read all about it in this article.

What do we want to discuss with the CEO?

We want to show ING CEO Steven van Rijswijk why the Shell Climate Case ruling makes a court case against ING more promising. Among other things, the judge said that:

• all large, polluting companies must reduce their emissions;
• new oil and gas fields are in conflict with the Paris climate agreement.

So, this also applies to bank of the climate crisis ING. However, the largest and most polluting bank of the Netherlands is still financing oil and gas companies with billions of euros. Of course this does not reduce emissions, but instead further fuels the climate crisis.

What do we demand from ING?

We've sent ING a letter better fitting demands that are even more robustly substantiated after the Shell Climate Case.

Milieudefensie demands that ING:

1. Halves its total emissions by 2030 and continues to reduce its emissions in line with science in the years thereafter.
2. Ensures that it at least reduces its emissions in 9 polluting sectors that the bank finances, such as steel and aviation.
3. No longer pumps money into oil and gas companies that start new projects.
4. Demands a good climate plan from all major companies ING works with.

In short: Milieudefensie demands that ING halves its emissions by 2030 and stops collaborating with companies that endanger our future.

Do you want to help? Become a co-claimant.

What did Milieudefensie change in the demands to ING?
We have adjusted the demands due to new insights we have gained over the past year. The court's ruling in the Climate Case against Shell confirmed that with a so-called “sectoral” addition, we are in an even stronger position in a case against ING. We'll explain: 

In addition to our demand that ING reduces all its emissions, we now add targets for reducing emissions per polluting sector. Think of industries (sectors) such as steel, cement, or oil and gas. This is important because, as a 'systemic bank', ING upholds the polluting practices of all polluting sectors by financing them. A systemic bank is very large and influential, and deeply rooted in the economy.

So, we are actually helping ING with a tailored package of demands!

And what if the CEO does not show up?

If we do not hear anything, or ING choses not to respond to our demands and also does not come up with clear proposals for change, then we will proceed with a 'summons'. This means delivering a very long document with legal arguments to ING and the court. This is an official next step in the Climate Case. Then, there is no way back for ING.

Together we will make sure that ING gets to work faster.
Join us, and become a co-plaintiff in the Climate Case against ING.

Photo above: during an action of Milieudefensie at the ING office in Amsterdam someone is wearing a lion suit.