SAMPLE LETTER FROM ORGANISATIONS PLACING HESTA ON NOTICE 

[Community Sector Organisation]

[your name]

[your email]

[date]

Debby Blakey, HESTA CEO,

hesta@hesta.com.au

PHASE OUT FOSSIL FUELS OR COMMUNITY SECTOR ORGANISATIONS WILL CHOOSE CLIMATE JUSTICE ALIGNED FUNDS

Dear Ms Debby Blakey, 

[Introduce yourself] 

[OUR ORGANISATION] is committed to [SOCIAL JUSTICE], especially for [WOMEN & GIRLS/THE HOMELESS/FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE/THE POOR ETC]. Our default super fund is HESTA and we are concerned about HESTA’s investments in companies expanding fossil fuels, especially oil and gas producers Santos and Woodside. We are calling on HESTA to divest from companies expanding fossil fuels or we will change our default fund. 

Research has shown that the impacts of climate change – including heat waves, droughts, rising sea levels, and extreme storms – disproportionately affect [WOMEN & GIRLS/THE HOMELESS/FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE/THE POOR ]. Climate modelling from the International Energy Agency, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and several other organisations has shown there can be no new oil and gas if we are to stay within 1.5°C of warming. Both Santos and Woodside are pursuing oil and gas expansion plans incompatible with 1.5°C which would therefore be catastrophic for the climate.

Woodside is pursuing its Scarborough-Pluto project, which independent analysis has concluded “…represents a bet against the world implementing the Paris Agreement.” Meanwhile, Santos is pushing ahead with its highly controversial projects, such as Narrabri and Barossa, which are incompatible with the Paris Agreement and the pathway to net zero emissions by 2050.

The science is clear: if we are to have a chance of limiting global warming in line with the Paris Agreement’s climate goals, there is no room for new or expanded fossil fuel projects. 

According to the United Nations (UN) Environment, around 80% of people displaced by climate change are women. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, has said when women are displaced, they are at greater risk of violence, including sexual violence. As our organisation is committed to the safety and equality of all people, especially women and girls, we cannot in good conscience continue supporting a superannuation fund that invests our retirement savings in companies expanding fossil fuels which is fueling catastrophic climate change. 

We are aware you have recently written to AGL, Santos, Origin and Woodside asking them to demonstrate how their climate strategies align to the goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C. However, scientists have been telling us for years there is no room for new oil and gas fields to be developed if we are to limit warming to 1.5°C. 

We are calling on HESTA to publicly commit to immediate divestment from any company that makes a final investment decision to proceed with developing any new oil or gas fields, or we will need to find a new super fund that reflects our values. 

Sincerely, 

[Signature]