Stars call on championships to end Barclays sponsorship – Fiat 2 Coins


Actress Emma ThompsonPicture supply, Reuters

Picture caption,

Emma Thompson is among the many signatories of the letter to the AELTC

By Jemma Dempsey

BBC Information

Movie stars and celebrities are calling on Wimbledon to finish its new sponsorship cope with Barclays over the financial institution’s assist for fossil gasoline initiatives.

Actress Emma Thompson and movie director Richard Curtis are two of the campaigners who mentioned Barclays was “making the most of local weather chaos”.

Wimbledon mentioned Barclays was dedicated to creating entry to sport for all.

Barclays mentioned it was one of many first banks to set an ambition to grow to be internet zero by 2050.

The All England Garden Tennis Membership (AELTC) introduced Barclays as an official banking associate of the Championships in November final 12 months.

Because the 2023 Championships get underneath manner on Monday, Thompson and Curtis are amongst these to signal an open letter to the AELTC.

The letter is from Make My Cash Matter, a marketing campaign group co-founded by Curtis that seeks to rework the monetary system to place “individuals and planet on a par with revenue”.

It additionally has the backing of retail guru Mary Portas, entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden, Inexperienced Get together MP Caroline Lucas and musician Brian Eno, amongst others.

4 Weddings and a Funeral director Curtis mentioned: “With the good respect and love for Wimbledon – and all of the magic from Billie Jean King to Andy Murray – the choice of the AELTC to associate with Barclays is a really dangerous line name.”

Richard Curtis

Picture caption,

Director Richard Curtis co-founded marketing campaign group Make My Cash Matter

Addressed to the chief govt of the AELTC Sally Bolton, it states: “Barclays is Europe’s largest fossil gasoline funder, offering over $190 billion to the business for the reason that Paris Local weather Settlement was struck in 2016.

“Put merely, Barclays is financing and making the most of local weather chaos, and accepting a sponsorship deal from them is an endorsement of those actions,” the letter mentioned.

The marketing campaign group claims the AELTC’s determination to workforce up with Barclays is “not solely dangerous for the setting, but in addition inconsistent with Wimbledon’s cultural legacy and environmental insurance policies”.

“As outlined in your 2023 local weather technique, your intent is to: ‘Maintain… The Championships in a manner that ensures now we have… constructive influence on the environment. We can be sincere, clear and act with integrity in what we will and can’t do.’

“We don’t consider sponsorship from Europe’s largest funder of fossil fuels is in keeping with this strategy,” the letter states.

‘Creating entry’

In a press release the All England Membership mentioned it welcomed Barclays as “the newest addition to our household of official companions”.

“Barclays’ dedication to creating entry to sport for all is one thing that we’re obsessed with… our ambition to have a constructive influence on the setting is central to our day-to-day operations and is a core a part of placing on a profitable Championships.

“We all know this is without doubt one of the defining challenges of our occasions and we’re absolutely dedicated to enjoying our half. From utilizing 100% renewable electrical energy and providing low carbon choices on our menus, to sending zero waste to landfill and selling a tradition of reuse, we’re working laborious to realize a constructive environmental influence throughout all of our operations.”

Barclays mentioned it believed it might “make the best distinction as a financial institution by working with prospects and shoppers as they transition to a low-carbon enterprise mannequin, specializing in facilitating the finance wanted to alter enterprise practices and scale new inexperienced applied sciences”.

Associated Matters

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