Hypocrisy in the environmental movement?

Why Aren't Environmental Groups Divesting from Fossil Fuels?

Naomi Klein | May 2, 2013 | The Nation

Why do some of the largest environmental organizations still invest in fossil fuels? As outlined in my new piece, Time for Big Green to go Fossil Free [1], organizations such as The Nature Conservancy and the Wildlife Conservation Society aren't taking the simple step of divesting their large endowments and publicly traded investments from energy corporations. Below is a cheat sheet (not comprehensive) for how much money big green groups are investing and for who is—and who isn't—getting their financial house in order.

Conservation International

Endowment: $25.8 million**
Investments in publicly traded securities: $22 million
What we know:
-Does not have any environmental screens on investments
-"We do not have any explicit policy prohibiting investment in energy companies." —Patricia Yakabe Malentaqui, Spokesperson
-Has relationships with fossil fuel companies including: BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil and Shell
Considering divestment?
-No comment

Environmental Defense Fund

Endowment: $5.6 million
Investments in publicly traded securities: $34.6 million
What we know:
-Did not disclose status of mixed assets, claiming information is “not public”
-No direct investments in fossil fuel companies: ”EDF does not own any equities or corporate bonds of fossil fuel companies.” —Tony Kreindler, Spokesperson
-Working with Shell, Chevron, and other energy companies to promote "sustainable" fracking
Considering divestment?
-"No, since we don’t own any equities or corporate bonds of fossil fuel companies.” —Tony Kreindler, Spokesperson***

(More groups listed here.)