Program areas at 350 Wisconsin
Divest and Defund Program: The companies causing climate chaos are able to continue with their dirty business because of support from Wall Streets biggest banks. This program uses the power of community engagement and nonviolent direct action campaigning to undermine this support and keep oil, coal, and gas in the ground where they belong. Divest and Defund (D&D) focuses most of its energy on Chase Bank, the worst of the worst when it comes to fossil fuel finance. Accomplishments include: 1) Encouraging cardholder activism by asking people to sever their ties with Chase, and to call JP Morgan Chase CEO to demand that his bank stop funding the climate crisis; and 2) Numerous public events to call attention to the continued funding of climate chaos by large financial institutions.
Community Climate Solutions Program: This program creates a livable climate for all by: 1) Helping our regions governments and institutions set and achieve just, equitable climate goals as fast as possible; and 2) Increasing the climate awareness, engagement, and action of our regions citizens and residents. Accomplishments include:1) 350 Wisconsin created resources intended to foster Dane Countys rapid transition to buildings that emit little to no CO2, including: a) Green building brochures for 11 projects that celebrate diverse types of Dane County buildings that have very low emissions; b) Edited video of the Architects Forum on Sustainable Commercial Buildings and Residential Homes that featured three successful green architects.2) 350 Wisconsin helped ensure the adoption of the Building Energy Savings Program (BESP) that will will increase awareness and help large commercial buildings become more energy efficient through regular analysis and tune-ups.3) The Energy Equity Working Group worked to ensure a just and equitable transition to a fossil fuelfree energy system for all Wisconsin residents, including the most economically vulnerable.The group produced reports for several communities on the problem of high energy burden and energy insecurity among low-income households in our region. We reached out to frontline communities and organizations that are advocating for climate-friendly, equitable solutions to energy inequities.
Tar Sands Pipeline Resistance Program: The purpose of this program is to stop oil pipelines in the Midwest, focusing on the expansion of Enbridge Line 5 in Ashland and Iron Counties. Because devastating climate impacts are here and will only worsen, we embarked on an ambitious program to recruit, train, and mobilize scores of people, in order to win the unprecedented victory of shutting down an existing oil pipeline. Accomplishments include:1) 350 Wisconsin elevated opposition to Enbridge Line 5 as a national issue. 2) The number of groups working against Line 5 continued to grow, and decision-makers have received tremendous pressure to shut it down. We have worked with a broad coalition of groups representing a wide array of concerns, including Indigenous treaty rights, climate change, clean water, private property rights, community health and safety, and wildlife protection. 3) We provided direct support to the loose coalition of organizations and communities fighting for the shutdown of Line 5, in addition to helping bring in new participants to these coalition spaces. 350 Wisconsin has been proud to deepen our relationships with allies and communities from diverse regions and backgrounds. We have played a critical role in bringing grassroots power out in support of Line 5s frontline communities, and in highlighting the intersectional issues related to Line 5 - climate justice, Indigenous rights, biodiversity, and more. 4) The judge in the Bad River Band v. Enbridge court case ruled that Enbridge was operating in violation of Indigenous sovereignty and ordered that Line 5 cease operation within three years.