SWISS NATIONAL BANK
The Swiss National Bank Must Take Responsibility!
The climate and biodiversity crises are escalating—and the Swiss National Bank (SNB) continues to fuel them.
Through its monetary policy, investment strategy, and role in financial regulation, the SNB channels billions into industries that destroy ecosystems and accelerate global heating. By clinging to outdated patterns and ignoring scientific warnings, it delays the shift we urgently need and upholds a system that turns our planet into a wasteland.
We demand that the SNB take responsibility and act in the public interest—as its mandate requires. It’s time to abandon tunnel vision, face the facts, and stop investing in destruction. The SNB must become part of the solution and support a just and ecological transformation of our economy.
This is not a question of feasibility, but of political will. Our demands outline the first necessary steps:
1. The SNB must present a plan to achieve Switzerland’s climate and biodiversity goals.
2. The SNB must divest from all harmful and fossil investments.
3. The SNB must introduce ecological regulations for all financial actors.
4. The SNB must act transparently and involve civil society and experts in its decisions.
5. Political interventions must reinforce these demands.
EXAMPLES
1. Duke Energy: SNB’s Money in Coal and Greenwashing
Duke Energy is the largest coal power operator in the U.S. and is currently building more gas power plants than any other American energy company. The company’s pipelines pollute air and water, and it engages in greenwashing while lobbying against renewable energy. Since 2015, the SNB has doubled its investment in Duke.
2. ExxonMobil: Funding Climate Denial and Environmental Destruction
ExxonMobil is the world’s leading fracking company and among the top four for tar sands, offshore drilling, and Arctic extraction. The company plans to massively expand these activities. Exxon continues to finance politicians and lobby groups to deny climate change and block climate policies. Since September 2020, the SNB has increased its investment in ExxonMobil by over one-third, now exceeding $900 million.
3. TotalEnergies: Displacement and Exploitation
Total is currently developing four megaprojects in Africa, including three in deep waters. One of the worst cases is the Cabo Delgado gas project in Mozambique, which has led to massive greenhouse gas emissions, forced displacements, and human rights violations. Due to a lack of transparency, SNB investments in many European companies, including Total, remain unclear, though estimates suggest significant holdings.
4. Industrial Agriculture Sector: ADM, Bunge and JBS
Despite documented environmental and human rights violations, the SNB continues to invest in industrial agriculture corporations. Particularly concerning are its holdings in Bunge, ADM, and JBS, which are linked to large-scale deforestation, illegal practices, and human rights abuses—some of which have already led to legal convictions. The investments in these three companies amount to over one hundred million Swiss francs and clearly contradict ethical and environmental standards.
5. divested: shell and chevron
After years of advocacy by the “our SNB” coalition and growing public pressure, the Swiss National Bank has divested from Chevron and Shell. This marks a major victory for the Swiss climate justice movement, which fought together with representatives of Indigenous communities to achieve this. The SNB must adhere to its own investment guidelines—and the examples above show that large sums are still flowing into destructive companies, which is why we will continue to demand justice and change.
SNB Coalition
The SNB coalition brings together multiple organizations and collectives. The SNB coalition has conducted joint projects and actions over the past years, leveraging strong synergies among its members. A key focus is maintaining a strong presence at the annual general meeting (AGM) of the Swiss National Bank, where we collectively advocate for divestment and regulation. Additionally, the coalition plays a crucial role in facilitating the exchange of research and knowledge, strengthening our collective impact.
PAST ACTIONS
ToxicTour Post-COP26
Genève, 16.11.2021. Dans la foulée de la COP26 et suite au procès de décembre 2020 via lequel Teo - poursuivit pour avoir participé à un évènement du même type - a été disculpé, nous organisons un nouveau Toxic Tour à travers la Genève de l’extraction, du trading et...