SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks at a press conference in New York City on March 10, 2021. (Photo: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
UN Chief to New College Grads: To Help Save the Planet, 'Don't Work for Climate Wreckers'
"Use your talents to drive us towards a renewable future," U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said in a commencement address to Seton Hall University graduates.
May 25, 2022
The head of the United Nations on Tuesday implored a new class of Seton Hall University graduates--and college graduates the world over--not to spend their professional lives working for corporate "climate wreckers" whose business models are dependent on the continued degradation and warming of the planet.
"As graduates, you hold the cards," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a commencement address at the New Jersey university. "Your talent is in demand from multinational companies and big financial institutions. But you will have plenty of opportunities to choose from thanks to the excellence of your graduation.
"So," he added, "my message to you is simple: Don't work for climate wreckers. Use your talents to drive us towards a renewable future."
Watch the full speech:
The fossil fuel industry--the corporate sector most responsible for the climate crisis--has faced a so-called "talent crunch" in recent years as many younger workers are reportedly avoiding the industry for a variety of reasons, including ethical and environmental ones.
But oil and gas companies aren't the only firms driving the climate emergency. According to a report published in March, the world's 60 largest private banks--including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Citibank--have provided nearly $5 trillion in financing for the fossil fuel industry since 2016, despite vowing to pursue net-zero emissions policies.
"Simply put, they are lying," Guterres said last month, condemning corporations and governments that are failing to live up to their climate promises. "And the results will be catastrophic."
In his address to Seton Hall University graduates on Tuesday, Guterres lamented that "my generation--and your parents' generation--have fallen short in bequeathing the world you deserve."
"But when I look out at all of you today--strengthened by the skills you have learned at Seton Hall--I have hope," he added. "My friends, you must be the generation that succeeds in addressing the planetary emergency of climate change."
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
The head of the United Nations on Tuesday implored a new class of Seton Hall University graduates--and college graduates the world over--not to spend their professional lives working for corporate "climate wreckers" whose business models are dependent on the continued degradation and warming of the planet.
"As graduates, you hold the cards," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a commencement address at the New Jersey university. "Your talent is in demand from multinational companies and big financial institutions. But you will have plenty of opportunities to choose from thanks to the excellence of your graduation.
"So," he added, "my message to you is simple: Don't work for climate wreckers. Use your talents to drive us towards a renewable future."
Watch the full speech:
The fossil fuel industry--the corporate sector most responsible for the climate crisis--has faced a so-called "talent crunch" in recent years as many younger workers are reportedly avoiding the industry for a variety of reasons, including ethical and environmental ones.
But oil and gas companies aren't the only firms driving the climate emergency. According to a report published in March, the world's 60 largest private banks--including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Citibank--have provided nearly $5 trillion in financing for the fossil fuel industry since 2016, despite vowing to pursue net-zero emissions policies.
"Simply put, they are lying," Guterres said last month, condemning corporations and governments that are failing to live up to their climate promises. "And the results will be catastrophic."
In his address to Seton Hall University graduates on Tuesday, Guterres lamented that "my generation--and your parents' generation--have fallen short in bequeathing the world you deserve."
"But when I look out at all of you today--strengthened by the skills you have learned at Seton Hall--I have hope," he added. "My friends, you must be the generation that succeeds in addressing the planetary emergency of climate change."
The head of the United Nations on Tuesday implored a new class of Seton Hall University graduates--and college graduates the world over--not to spend their professional lives working for corporate "climate wreckers" whose business models are dependent on the continued degradation and warming of the planet.
"As graduates, you hold the cards," U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a commencement address at the New Jersey university. "Your talent is in demand from multinational companies and big financial institutions. But you will have plenty of opportunities to choose from thanks to the excellence of your graduation.
"So," he added, "my message to you is simple: Don't work for climate wreckers. Use your talents to drive us towards a renewable future."
Watch the full speech:
The fossil fuel industry--the corporate sector most responsible for the climate crisis--has faced a so-called "talent crunch" in recent years as many younger workers are reportedly avoiding the industry for a variety of reasons, including ethical and environmental ones.
But oil and gas companies aren't the only firms driving the climate emergency. According to a report published in March, the world's 60 largest private banks--including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Citibank--have provided nearly $5 trillion in financing for the fossil fuel industry since 2016, despite vowing to pursue net-zero emissions policies.
"Simply put, they are lying," Guterres said last month, condemning corporations and governments that are failing to live up to their climate promises. "And the results will be catastrophic."
In his address to Seton Hall University graduates on Tuesday, Guterres lamented that "my generation--and your parents' generation--have fallen short in bequeathing the world you deserve."
"But when I look out at all of you today--strengthened by the skills you have learned at Seton Hall--I have hope," he added. "My friends, you must be the generation that succeeds in addressing the planetary emergency of climate change."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.